1. STELLAR TALK FOR PARENTS
Saturday, 7 February 2009
9.00am – 10.30am

2. The STELLAR Journey
Welcome on board the STELLAR journey! In this journey, we hope to partner you in helping your children learn English well in an enjoyable manner.

3. Overview of Workshop Part 1: Story-telling
Part 2: An Insight of STELLAR Pedagogies
Part 3: Hands-on Experience
Part 4: Q & A Session

4. First, a story…

5. STELLAR: Strategies for English Language Learning and Reading
What is STELLAR?
STELLAR: Strategies for English Language Learning and Reading

6. The STELLAR Pedagogic Model (Lower Primary)
Modified Language Experience Approach
Shared Book Approach 1
Reading for understanding and enjoyment 2
Explicit teaching of language items, structures and skills
word study & phonics
grammar & vocabulary
media & visual literacy
speech & drama
Follow-up activities e.g.
art & craft
music 3
Shared experience followed by Class Writing 4
Group writing 5
Individual writing
Scaffolding for Success
6 Differentiated Learning through Learning Centres: E.g. Reading Centre, Word Study Centre, Listening Centre

7. The STELLAR Unit Plan (Upper Primary)
Part/Component 1 2 3 4 5 6
Activity
Sustained Silent Reading
Supported Reading
Or KWL
Or Retelling
Language: Oral and Written Activities
Class writing
Group writing
Individual writing
Learning Centres
Examples of Targeted Skills/Knowledge
Reading strategies, thinking study skills
Explicit instruction in oracy, word study
Writing, both composing and editing processes with some opportunities for speaking, listening and visual literacy
Differentiated practice of all language skills

8. Shared Book Approach 1 Reading for Understanding and Enjoyment
Procedures
1. Tuning-in: Share a relevant poem or song.
2. Reread a familiar favourite Big Book.
3. Introduce the new Big Book.
- Relate the cover content to prior knowledge.
- Show cover and read the title, author and illustrator.
- Ask questions/ask for predictions about the story.
4. First reading:
- Read the book aloud, pointing to the words fluidly as you read.
- Ask for predictions or ask questions to focus on illustrations.
5. Second Reading:
- Reread the book straight through without stopping.
- Have pupils respond to the story in some way (book-based.)

9. Shared Book Approach 1
Video
SBA1

10. Questioning Techniques
When questioning and making predictions
Keep your child involved
Stimulate his/her thinking
Aid in developing comprehension strategy
Open-ended questions rather than “yes”-”no” questions to encourage your child to talk
Avoid killing interest in the story by asking too many questions
What are some of the types of questions one can ask?

11. Shared Book Approach 2 Explicit Teaching of Language
Procedures
1.Tuning-in: Share a relevant poem or song.
2.Reread a familiar favourite Big Book.
3.Rereading the current Big Book:
Recall the story.
Reread the book straight through without stopping.
Have pupils relate their personal experiences to the book.
4.Follow-up activities.

12. Shared Book Approach 2 Video SBA2
As you view the video, take note of the types of follow-up activities shown.

13. Follow-up Activities From the video: 1. Identifying concepts of print
2. Identifying target vocabulary
3. Teaching phonemic awareness
4. Learning letters and sounds
5. Developing reading comprehension with riddles
6. Learning language structures – a guessing game
7. Practising language through dramatisation

14. MLEA Experience & Class Writing
Procedures for MLEA 1
Tuning in: Sing a song or recite a poem related to the current Big Book.
Reread a familiar Big Book chosen by the pupils.
Reread the current Big Book.
Provide a thematic link
Provide experience
Class writing
Reading class writing

15. MLEA Experience & Class Writing
Video
MLEA 1b & 1c

16. Examples of Class Writing

17. MLEA 2 Group Writing Tuning in: sing a song or recite a poem.
Procedures
Tuning in: sing a song or recite a poem.
Rereading a familiar Big Book chosen by the pupils.
Rereading the current Big Book.
Rereading the Class Writing from Part 1
Brainstorming
Group Writing (Mixed Ability Grouping):
1) Drafting
2) Editing
3) Publishing & illustrating
Reading Group Story

18. MLEA 2 Group Writing
Video
MLEA 2

19. MLEA 3 Individual Writing
Procedures
Tuning in: sing a song or recite a poem
Rereading a familiar Big Book
Rereading the current Big Book
Rereading Class Writing from Part 1
Rereading the Group Writing from Part 2
Individual Writing
1) Drafting
2) Conferencing
3) Publishing & illustrating
Reading Individual Writing

20. MLEA 3 Individual Writing
Video
MLEA 3

21. MLEA 3 Pointers for Individual Writing
It is important that your child uses the target language in the writing.
Encourage your child to be creative and vary his/her usage of the target language.

22. STELLAR Learning Centres
The Listening Centre
The Reading Centre
The Word Study Centre
Additional for upper primary:
The Drama & Creativity Centre
The Computer Centre
The Writing Centre

23. STELLAR Learning Centres
Video
LC Lessons 1 to 3

24. Supported Reading Procedures Sustained Silent Reading
Setting a Purpose
Introduce the text – using PowerPoint slides or the text on a visualiser
- Relate the cover content to prior knowledge.
- Ask questions / ask for predictions about the story.
- Have pupils read the text silently and discuss the text in
sections.
4. Rereading
- Give pupils the text.
- Have pupils read the entire text again silently.
- Elicit responses about the text.

25. K-W-L Know-Want-Learnt
Begin by asking pupils to brainstorm on everything they Know about a topic.
Ask pupils for questions about what they Want to Know about the topic.
Any new information that they have Learnt is recorded.
K-W-L

26. A K-W-L Chart
Know
Want to Know
Learnt

27. Writing Process Cycle
The basic and interrelated steps of the writing process
cycle involve:
Planning
Writing – includes word processing
Reviewing – rereading for revising (e.g. redrafting, editing for correcting spelling, punctuation, changing word order, etc.)

28. Hands-On Experience
Parents as Pupils

29. Q & A Session

30. Thank you for your time & interest in the STELLAR Programme.
Please fill up the evaluation forms before you leave.
Have a great day ahead!