The Alternative Story (TAS) - Discussion

[quirkymum]

Hi,


Would like to add my 2 cents worth to this discussion. It is true that TAS does memorisation. But the teachers do not ask the kids to memorise the whole compo, just important phrases. And I find it has helped my kids a lot as they are able to write their compos better. They also teach the kids to vary their sentence structures so my kids know that in compo writing, they need to use sound effects, one word sentences, starting sentences with ‘ing’ instead of usually starting with a noun like ‘I’.

Now they are also teaching the kids to apply what they have learnt to compo topics that they have not done before and they are showing the kids how to use the phrases they already know to themes that they have not learnt before so it is not just memorisation and copy and paste to the compo that they learnt.

From my understanding, they mix the children because they group the children according to their ability, I have come across some very bright P2s who can do even better than my P4 nephew who is in the same class as them. Their rationale is they do not want to limit the children just by their age group.

I myself have not experienced much change of teachers but from my experience with other centres, I see this quite a lot. It could be because the tuition industry trade is one where most of the teachers are either ex-teachers who want more time for family, students or retired teachers and they can quit anytime once they do not have the time to give to the job. This issue can sometimes be quite hard for the centre to control. It will be an area of concern for me if there are a lot of classes that experience a change of teachers. But so far, for my friends, my nephews class and my kids, there is no change of teacher. There was only a change for one of my friend’s and it happened once because that teacher left to take up some extra classes in uni or something like that.

Like I mentioned before, I think both centres are good in their own way and what may not have worked for one child may work for another.

[Monster Mummy]

quirkymum:

Hi,


Would like to add my 2 cents worth to this discussion. It is true that TAS does memorisation. But the teachers do not ask the kids to memorise the whole compo, just important phrases. And I find it has helped my kids a lot as they are able to write their compos better. They also teach the kids to vary their sentence structures so my kids know that in compo writing, they need to use sound effects, one word sentences, starting sentences with 'ing' instead of usually starting with a noun like 'I'.

Now they are also teaching the kids to apply what they have learnt to compo topics that they have not done before and they are showing the kids how to use the phrases they already know to themes that they have not learnt before so it is not just memorisation and copy and paste to the compo that they learnt.

From my understanding, they mix the children because they group the children according to their ability, I have come across some very bright P2s who can do even better than my P4 nephew who is in the same class as them. Their rationale is they do not want to limit the children just by their age group.

I myself have not experienced much change of teachers but from my experience with other centres, I see this quite a lot. It could be because the tuition industry trade is one where most of the teachers are either ex-teachers who want more time for family, students or retired teachers and they can quit anytime once they do not have the time to give to the job. This issue can sometimes be quite hard for the centre to control. It will be an area of concern for me if there are a lot of classes that experience a change of teachers. But so far, for my friends, my nephews class and my kids, there is no change of teacher. There was only a change for one of my friend's and it happened once because that teacher left to take up some extra classes in uni or something like that.

Like I mentioned before, I think both centres are good in their own way and what may not have worked for one child may work for another.

Hi,

I totally agreed with quirkymum as the teaching approached might not suit to every kids and it subject to the kid preference as well.

[akbh]

The admin personnel just mentioned that the teacher does not want to teach afternoon class, so the assistant take over.

[Kissgurami]

akbh, sounds pretty normal…to switch teacher then? I thought they had high turnovers. For high ability students, it is actually quite common with other enrichments as well. DD1’s maths has high ability students and they mingle with primary students older than themselves. If they are restricted totheir own age group, they might get bored of going to the enrichment, it helps developed further where the school can’t…


Just my thoughts…

[jtparent]

hi,


had heard many gd reviews on tas but m thinking whether should i put ds at amk instead of singpost cos singpost class is limited & is in the night time & there is class for my elder, nt my younger. can any parents pls share the experience that u have at amk branch cos heard that amk class is bigger compare to singpost. m not sure whether can they absord in big class as their are only borderline…n also the travelling…

or any1 can share any other place beside tas. m staying in kallang.

tia

[Monster Mummy]

jtparent:

hi,


had heard many gd reviews on tas but m thinking whether should i put ds at amk instead of singpost cos singpost class is limited & is in the night time & there is class for my elder, nt my younger. can any parents pls share the experience that u have at amk branch cos heard that amk class is bigger compare to singpost. m not sure whether can they absord in big class as their are only borderline..n also the travelling.....

or any1 can share any other place beside tas. m staying in kallang.

tia

Hi,

From what i observe, usually at weekends in amk, the class are in bigger group but they have an assistant teacher in the class. In other words, there are 2 teachers for bigger class size.

[Trina]

I withdrew my P3 child from TAS last month after spending 2 terms there. Had a change in teacher in the second term who is an undergraduate. What triggers the withdrawal was that the teacher's marking of composition and comprehension was terrible! Incorrect answers and grammatical mistakes were marked as correct :slapshead: and I only took note of this after another parent pointed it out to me. Although I was told that the teachers received training, I personally think that undergraduates are too young and inexperienced to provide sufficient guidance to the children.


Furthermore, am confused over the teaching material. Was told that my child is in P3 high achiever class but the teaching materials state P2/P3.

The only benefit from attending the classes is that my child is now able to use some of the phrases and style in her compo writing. But in the end, I reckon that it is better that I invest in assessment books rather than giving my child the wrong impression that he is doing well in TAS without being corrected for the mistakes made.

[BigDad]

Hi Trina,


Which class was your child in? My 2 kids have been at TAS for more than a year, under different teachers and so far the teachers have been great. My younger one is in P3 but also goes for P2/3 class but the materials used at P2/3 level is for higher level P3 from what I can see.

Both my children have benefitted a lot from TAS, their composition writing has improved a lot. Their comprehension as well. For my older boy, he used to be getting just a passing grade but nowadays he can get 18 over 20 marks. My younger one attends science classes there as well and his science has improved as well.

Could be that the teacher you had was not very experienced in teaching at TAS?

[jtparent]

Monster Mummy:

jtparent:

hi,


had heard many gd reviews on tas but m thinking whether should i put ds at amk instead of singpost cos singpost class is limited & is in the night time & there is class for my elder, nt my younger. can any parents pls share the experience that u have at amk branch cos heard that amk class is bigger compare to singpost. m not sure whether can they absord in big class as their are only borderline..n also the travelling.....

or any1 can share any other place beside tas. m staying in kallang.

tia

Hi,

From what i observe, usually at weekends in amk, the class are in bigger group but they have an assistant teacher in the class. In other words, there are 2 teachers for bigger class size.

hi bigdad,

so how big is the class? can the teacher control & will every child b well taken of? btw any idea on the timing for p3/4 & p1/2 class for wkend. cos didnt got a reply from tas despite email / calling.

tia

[HaleyCopterz]

Hi Trina,


Oh that does not seem good. Have you talked to the teacher? So far, my experience with TAS has been very good. Great teachers and great teaching. For the friends I recommended, all have only good things to say. I think every centre will have 1 or 2 not so good teachers. Sad to say you encountered one.

If you can coach you child at home, then maybe its better you teach yourself. Can guarantee quality.