All About English Creative Writing

[pokemon]

[quote]So far, we have not heard of other schools that get the children to

write a composition in an 'oral' format where they are not
allowed to give names to the characters and to only describe
what they see in the picture. Maybe you would like to ask your
ds's teacher the rationale for doing so. Perhaps they want to
train certain aspects of composition writing?

Usually the trend at P1 and P2 is that the composition topics given
are more 'mundane'- a trip to the zoo, a walk in the park etc.

Once they reach P3 - P6, the composition topics usually have a
'problem' in the story where the children can 'build tension'
Eg- Fire at home, accident at the park, bee attack etc.

TAS[/quote][quote]Hi pokemon,
Similar to your DS's sch, my DD's sch's P1 compo is based on 1 picture with some helping words, with a minimum of 60 words. No changes throughout the terms. The last compo DD2 did was also based on this format.

However, what you described about the teacher asking your DS to write a compo without names etc sounds like what my P5 DD did last year to prepare for oral exams. Due to time and manpower constraints, the teacher got the students to do a write-up on what they would say if it was an oral exam, and presented it to the class. Maybe you can check with the teacher if it was her intention to train the kids for oral exams? [/quote]
TAS and tinkerbelle,

Thks for both of your input. I was also thinking perhaps theres a reason for the teacher's instruction,just thought its like the same format as their chinese SA2 paper 1-看图写话. I do not have the chance to talk to the teacher and since their SA2 is approaching,told ds to write according to his teacher's instruction. i also told him when he in p2 next yr, it should be in 'normal compo' format. That put a smile to his face.

[The Alternative Story]

pokemon:

TAS and tinkerbelle,

Thks for both of your input. I was also thinking perhaps theres a reason for the teacher's instruction,just thought its like the same format as their chinese SA2 paper 1-看图写话. I do not have the chance to talk to the teacher and since their SA2 is approaching,told ds to write according to his teacher's instruction. i also told him when he in p2 next yr, it should be in 'normal compo' format. That put a smile to his face.

Hi pokemon,

No problem, writing in that way would kill the joy of writing, in our
opinion. Hopefully, your child can go back to the 'normal
compo' way of writing. He sounds like he likes to write!

TAS

[Tinkerbelle]

[quote]TAS and tinkerbelle,


Thks for both of your input. I was also thinking perhaps theres a reason for the teacher's instruction,just thought its like the same format as their chinese SA2 paper 1-看图写话. I do not have the chance to talk to the teacher and since their SA2 is approaching,told ds to write according to his teacher's instruction. i also told him when he in p2 next yr, it should be in 'normal compo' format. That put a smile to his face.[/quote]Hi pokemon,

Good luck to your DS with his SA2. If he enjoys writing, there's half the battle won. :celebrate:

[PretzelT]

Hi TAS,


Could you consider doing a grammar workshop soon? If not these few weeks, then during the november and december holidays? I realized from looking at the recent 2010 prelim papers from the 'branded' schools that I do not know how to explain many of the grammar items and even synthesis to my kids. My older one has just finished PSLE so no choice but my younger one is still in P3, if I can get some help now, at least I will be better equipped to help next time.

I really like your postings on English, they are very clear and precise.
I think a grammar workshop will really help many of us. I have read before that there were parents asking about it. I know that you all might be too busy to hold one. But could you really really think seriously about it?

[pokemon]

The Alternative Story:

pokemon:

TAS and tinkerbelle,

Thks for both of your input. I was also thinking perhaps theres a reason for the teacher's instruction,just thought its like the same format as their chinese SA2 paper 1-看图写话. I do not have the chance to talk to the teacher and since their SA2 is approaching,told ds to write according to his teacher's instruction. i also told him when he in p2 next yr, it should be in 'normal compo' format. That put a smile to his face.

Hi pokemon,

No problem, writing in that way would kill the joy of writing, in our
opinion. Hopefully, your child can go back to the 'normal
compo' way of writing. He sounds like he likes to write!

TAS

Hi TAS,

I hv pm you.

[Leanne]

Hello TAS


May I seek some advice from you?

My child can write well, but as he writes on, at times, he tends to forget who person A is and mixed up with B.Also, there is sequencing problem too.How can I rectify this error?I did try to ask him to jot down the main point before write on, apparently, he has his own mind set, doesnt work, he just write.Good day, he will not get lost in his own story, bad days, got penalised.

Thank you.


Best wishes,.
Leanne

[bebe]

Leanne:

Hello TAS


May I seek some advice from you?

My child can write well, but as he writes on, at times, he tends to forget who person A is and mixed up with B.Also, there is sequencing problem too.How can I rectify this error?I did try to ask him to jot down the main point before write on, apparently, he has his own mind set, doesnt work, he just write.Good day, he will not get lost in his own story, bad days, got penalised.

Thank you.


Best wishes,.
Leanne

Hi Leanne - how old is yr son? My gal also has this problem..and the only thing I can get her to do is to check and read after completing her compo..

[GilTang]

Hi TAS,


My girls are in a good school where the other girls are all quite good in their English paper 2. But for paper 1, I find that the teacher does not focus a lot on it. And while they write quite well, it is still plain and simple. They also attend another learning centre for writing but the writing is still about the same. They do read a lot as well but they do not use what they read in their writing. I was wondering how to go about helping them. Maybe you could give some advise about translating what they read to writing. My oldest at P5 reads books like Inkheart and books by Anthony Horowitz. For my middle one, she is P2 and reads Geronimo Stilton and Magic treehouse books. Could you advice on how to help them further? Thank you very much!

[The Alternative Story]

PretzelT:

Hi TAS,


Could you consider doing a grammar workshop soon? If not these few weeks, then during the november and december holidays? I realized from looking at the recent 2010 prelim papers from the 'branded' schools that I do not know how to explain many of the grammar items and even synthesis to my kids. My older one has just finished PSLE so no choice but my younger one is still in P3, if I can get some help now, at least I will be better equipped to help next time.

I really like your postings on English, they are very clear and precise.
I think a grammar workshop will really help many of us. I have read before that there were parents asking about it. I know that you all might be too busy to hold one. But could you really really think seriously about it?

Hi PretzelT,

We will consider doing so but it will probably be in December.
However. we have not confirmed if we are doing the workshop as
we have quite a lot of events happening in December.

TAS

[The Alternative Story]

pokemon:

Hi TAS,

I hv pm you.

Hi pokemon,

We will get back to you soon.

TAS