All About Grooming & Encouraging Good Reading Habits

[optimistforum]

Hi Cafelatte


DS1, who is in Y2 (same as your P1) has been taught rule-by-rule, by me, in grammar. DS1 does exercises in a book called \"100 Exercises in English Usage - age 8-9\" (this title is published by the company who produce First Aid in English). It is a very old and traditional text book (some may say, it's out-of-date), and it reinforces the grammar rules from first principles. I also use the P1 Complete Practice in Vocab, Comp and Grammar as a diagnostic tool to identify DS1's weakneses.

As I write this, at 8am, first day of the school holidays, DS1 advises me that he is not taught grammar formally; pupils are advised how to use grammar for the purpose of composition-writing. He attends an \"Out-standing! accredited state school, however, our national curriculum has been dumbed-down over the last two decades - hence why I refer to the MOE Eng and Maths syllabi for weekend work.

They do not use text-books in class - God knows what they use!!!

After he finishes breakfast, he will write his tables and do some verbal reasoning - to make sure his brain-cells are stil being used over the holidays. :lol:

[cafelatte]

optimistforum, thanks again ! Looks like we have similar problems here regarding English Grammar and I must say I am impressed with your efforts ! "First Aid in English" is required textbook for ds this year but the teacher did not cover much (insufficient time maybe?).

[optimistforum]

I would stick with Complete Practice in Vocab, Grammar and Comp. It is as good a book as I have ever seen. I would have like to seen the MCQ element taken out of the grammar and vocab sections and repaced by open-ended questions - thats my only reservation about it.


Re First Aid in English, is that required reading in P1 to P6? The 100 Exercises in English Usage - age 8-9, 9-10, 10-11 and 11-12 are essentially books that need to make reference to First Aid in English.

I spent 5 months working the answers to the 100 Exercises in English Usage books, and getting them proof-read by a very good English teacher friend, who now will be tutoring DS1.

[The Alternative Story]

Hi Blobbi,


I found this series that is quite good. It is non-fantasy. It does not involve a mischievious boy who gets into trouble though. It is about 2 children who come upon problems that are linked to natural disasters. Their dad is a scientist who is a little wacky and they try to find a way to beat the disasters. An example of 2 disasters would be ‘The ferocious forest fire mystery’ and ‘The tornado mystery’.

Throughout the books, they would learn about forest fires and what the animals do to survive and how natural fires are sometimes good for the whole ecosystem. It is inserted in a natural manner into the story so the child learns about these facts as they read the story.

The author is Carole Marsh and it is part of a ‘Masters of Disasters’ series.

You can get it from most bookstores:)

Another book about how science gets people into trouble would be one where this boy has to rescue his dad as his dad got lost in time as he misused his own time-machine.

It is "The book of time" and the author is Guillaume Prevost.

This book is good also because you can extract out phrases to teach your child how to stretch the tension in a composition.

TAS (The Alternative Story)

[The Alternative Story]

Hi cafelatte,


Thanks for the detailed information, it is very helpful!

TAS (The Alternative Story)

[Blobbi]

The Alternative Story:

Hi Blobbi,


I found this series that is quite good. It is non-fantasy. It does not involve a mischievious boy who gets into trouble though. It is about 2 children who come upon problems that are linked to natural disasters. Their dad is a scientist who is a little wacky and they try to find a way to beat the disasters. An example of 2 disasters would be 'The ferocious forest fire mystery' and 'The tornado mystery'.

Throughout the books, they would learn about forest fires and what the animals do to survive and how natural fires are sometimes good for the whole ecosystem. It is inserted in a natural manner into the story so the child learns about these facts as they read the story.

The author is Carole Marsh and it is part of a 'Masters of Disasters' series.

You can get it from most bookstores:)

Another book about how science gets people into trouble would be one where this boy has to rescue his dad as his dad got lost in time as he misused his own time-machine.

It is \"The book of time\" and the author is Guillaume Prevost.

This book is good also because you can extract out phrases to teach your child how to stretch the tension in a composition.

TAS (The Alternative Story)

Tks a million, TAS!! Will defintiely go shopping for Carole Marsh and Guillaume Prevost! Will let you know if he likes.

*Very excitedly typing into Amazon and bookdepository.com now*

[Blobbi]

Gasp, am learning so much. This thread and the other one that you started on math, optimistforum, is just right for the 03 kids who are starting school next year.


This is the first time I've seen wendykoh's site, tks so much, cafelatte. It's the last two weeks of hols, so I want us (son and I) to be fully rested before school starts. I'll be shopping at Popular beforehand though .

[cafelatte]

optimistforum


Most current P1&P2 are having English taught with thematic big-story-books with related worksheets. An elementary Grammar textbook is included. Current P3-P6 use either Instep or MypalsArehere English textbooks which has chapters according to themes. Different schools use different supplementary/optional Grammar material and my ds school decides to use First Aid in English. Hence, it is not a required reading P1-P6. Actually our English syllabus is also going through \"reforms\"...for better or worse is really debatable.

optimistforum:

.. I spent 5 months working the answers to the 100 Exercises in English Usage books, and getting them proof-read by a very good English teacher friend, who now will be tutoring DS1.

WOW ! Great job !

Lastly, this is the EPH book you are using ?
http://i781.photobucket.com/albums/yy96/cafelatte22/grambk.jpg\">


Blobbi
The website has been mentioned but probably buried in many other threads:
http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5728&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=wendykoh

For me, I don't buy the packs as there's not enough time to go through all the mock papers. Agree...my son and I also taking it easy before the school term starts. Err....I used all my 3 20% off coupon at Popular already !

[optimistforum]

Yes, Cafelatte this is the book I use. You will also see that it complements First Aid in English, too.


As an aside, I have now made the Kiasu site, my home page. :celebrate:

I have a lot to learn from Singapore parents on this forum, but along the way, I hope that I am able to proffer something constructively, too!

[tamarind]

optimistforum,

I think Singaporean parents have a lot to learn from you too Do feel free to share more about English is taught in UK, I am sure many parents are very interested to know.

My girl will be going to P1 next year. Her school is using the Stellar program.

http://www.acsjunior.sg/docs/Files/STELLAR%20Program%20Supplementary%20Handout.pdf

My understanding of the program is that they will be using story books to teach the language. It is like what cafelatte wrote :
Most current P1&P2 are having English taught with thematic big-story-books with related worksheets

My girl's school also use a grammar textbook.

My own approach at home is similar to the Stellar program. But I think what my kids are reading are much more interesting , they are reading all the children's classics like Charlotte's Web, The adventures of Pinocchio, Alice in Wonderland, the three tales of My Father's Dragon, Little House on the Prairie, Roald Dahl books, etc, all original and unabridged. I believe that there is so much that a child can learn from reading the classics, not only grammar, vocabulary, and the wonderful style of writing, but also knowledge and life experiences like life and death, love, friendship, hardships, poverty, compassion, etc.