The Alternative Story (TAS) - Discussion

[stressedmom]

Oh… Is there a black creative writing book?


My gal only gets a book for vocab and another book which is for grammar & synthesis.

[hquek]

stressedmom:

Oh.. Is there a black creative writing book?


My gal only gets a book for vocab and another book which is for grammar & synthesis.

Yes there is, but it's not required buy. it's a compilation of the compos written by TAS kids. Apparently, vol 2 is underway but no news as yet.

[wywy2]

Hi hquek,


My kid got a book that is v interesting but can’t find more of such books my the author, it is the Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne. Any idea which libraries have better selections? I tried AMK and Toa Payoh libraries but no other books by the author.

[hquek]

hi wywy,


For John Boyne, I saw the following titles in NLB catalogue
Noah Barleywater runs away
The house of special purpose
Next of Kin
Crippen : a novel of murder
Thief of time

if the book you want isn’t in the library closest to you, I strongly suggest to reserve. $1.55 ain’t much when you compare how much our public transport costs. Plus it’s very headbanging if you go down to the branch and can’t find it (even if it’s supposed to be on the shelves).

[hquek]

On reading, we have had good recommendations from TAS and I managed to find other good stuff from Jim Trelease's homepage. I find also that award winners are pretty safe bets (eg newbery medal http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/newberymedal).


Some of the titles/authors we had followed/are following are:
- Charlie Small (this is very extremely good and exciting),
- Lois Lowry (she has books in both JS and J sections),
- Ali Sparkes (also books found in JS and J section; kiddo loves her Monster series, her S.W.I.T.C.H. series, and her Shapeshifter series).
- Shoo Rayner (monster boy, just so stories - under JS section)
- Dav Pilkey (captain underpants - JS section; it's quite low brow and I can't stand it but DS loves it)
- Stephen Cole (Astrosaurs, Slime squad).

*JS section caters to 7-9 yr old in NLB, J section is for a bit older children, JP is for young preschool kids.

DS1 is starting on Andrew Norris and Anthony Horowitz books. These are more wordy but apparently he likes these too. I will try to mix wordy and simpler books, but mostly I will cater to his interest (ie no scary stories). DS1 gets a bit sian if I give him wordy books all the time. Am trying to instil that same love of books in DS2 but somehow nature seems to triumph over nurture - then again mummy never gives up.

[hquek]

umm, I personally like Michael morpurgo books but then it’s probably becos I like history. so far have not introduced to DS as he doesn’t seem so keen on serious sad stuff.


If your child likes war stories, War Horse is good (WWI from perspective of a horse, and it was made into a movie). His other stuff are pretty poignant also.

[wywy2]

Hi hquek,


Tk u for your help, we went to the library and borrowed a Charlie Small book, it is interesting. I like Michael Morpurgo but my kid does not seem to like his books too maybe the era is different.

He is now reading a book by Elizabeth Kay- the divide from TAS. It is another interesting series, maybe your son will like it too.

For the boy with the striped pajamas, there is a show on it, we went to get the dvd since my kid is so interested in knowing more after reading. Good movie also, makes u cry and think. I find myself reading his books now too, I did not know kids books were that interesting.

[peillyn]

I heard good comments about TAS from a neighbour and that they sell their books at Popular?


Anyone knows what these titles are and what are the strengths of tas and how is their teaching diff from other centres like MindStretcher, TLL, Learning Point? My neighbour’s own kid is not in TAS, he has his own tutor but she says her friends say TAS is good but I would like to know more before enquiring.

I have tried a few other centres before but so far did not work out for my older girl, teachers so so and wksheets given are good but the teacher does not really teach and just goes through answers.

[ccgoh]

Yes teachers make a lot of difference. Not completely sure about all the other centres. But what I know is most of the centres you mention have good worksheets but it is the delivery of the lesson that perhaps makes the difference. I think every centre would have good teachers, just need to go down to take a look and ask around for the good teachers.


I like TAS because of the way the teachers explain clearly and they do not seem to always just use the same techniques, the other day my child was explaining about point vs example and how it helps him to understand better. Strength of tas is they keep refining and adding to their techniques, they advance and are not stagnant. Teachers seem to be able to engage kids which is important for me so my kids are paying attention. Grammar and synthesis rules are explained clearly and for compos, the kids learn faster cos they do have to memorise but they are also taught to apply. So I can see a system to the teaching and that the system is followed as I have been with them for a while and sometimes my kids go for make up classes and the tchers on the whole seem to teach the same way.

[hquek]

wywy2:

Hi hquek,


Tk u for your help, we went to the library and borrowed a Charlie Small book, it is interesting. I like Michael Morpurgo but my kid does not seem to like his books too maybe the era is different.

He is now reading a book by Elizabeth Kay- the divide from TAS. It is another interesting series, maybe your son will like it too.

For the boy with the striped pajamas, there is a show on it, we went to get the dvd since my kid is so interested in knowing more after reading. Good movie also, makes u cry and think. I find myself reading his books now too, I did not know kids books were that interesting.

Thanks wywy2, always good to know another author I can look up. Will note down to hunt in NLB.

Yes, I find children books nicer than adult books. Equally touching and entertaining without the gore or the censored bits. We finished the Groosham Grange books by Anthony Horowitz (2 in the series) last weekend. Very entertaining but a bit macabre. I enjoy reading the same stuff as DS becos we can giggle and gasp over the same things.