All About English Creative Writing

[Vamos]

Noted with thanks, Manorway.


Hope any parents can share & recommend about online creative writing providers.

[ChiefKiasu]

manorway\" post_id=\"2109201\" time=\"1684731403\" user_id=\"9303:

Best if parents can share examples.

Chalkboard academy class only writes 1 story though parents pay for 6 hours of lessons. Pricey. Give kids model compo to read. But reading model compo does not mean kids can apply in their own writing. If kids can apply from JUST reading others' stories, they would ALREADY have done so by P6.

But isn't the process of learning about learning from others? You read a story, then critique it from various angles to explore the different meaning to the story. Of course, if the tutor only chucks the story to the kids and tell them to memorize it by heart, well... that's rote learning, and it doesn't really do anything for the kids. Maybe combine it with a catchy jingle... that's how I still remember 人之初，性本尚...

[manorway]

ChiefKiasu\" post_id=\"2109304\" time=\"1684764936\" user_id=\"3:

But isn't the process of learning about learning from others? You read a story, then critique it from various angles to explore the different meaning to the story. Of course, if the tutor only chucks the story to the kids and tell them to memorize it by heart, well... that's rote learning, and it doesn't really do anything for the kids. Maybe combine it with a catchy jingle... that's how I still remember 人之初，性本尚...

If there isn't another option, then reading model stories are better than praying.

But if one has the option to learn how to write, apply what they have learnt by writing their own stories and get feedback to know if they are on the right track, then isn't it better than just reading?

Learning to critique a story from various angles is an advanced skill that can be taught and learnt but I doubt many 12 year old can pick up in a masterclass or holiday class that is conducted over just 1 or 2 days. Those who can are already advanced writers or high abilities learners, who probably won't be searching for a writing class at this time of Pri 6.

It is so much less work for the teacher if he only has to mark just one story per student. Giving students 20 or 30 stories to read on his own is easy. No way for parents/students to know if after reading, the students can apply.

[mystique_j]

Vamos\" post_id=\"2109192\" time=\"1684726490\" user_id=\"200806:

Hi everyone. Just to find out which is the best online course for PSLE cohort in terms of their teaching & marking feedback? E.g. Chalkboard Academy, Writing Samurai, Big Ideaz etc.

Writing Samurai’s online course is actually pre-recorded, not sure if you are aware. And they release the recorded lessons weekly. So if you are talking about this year PSLE exam, I’m not sure if sufficient skills will be covered by PSLE.

In terms of their teaching and marking, they teach skills for 3 lessons and then 4th lesson write a full compo, more or less follows this cycle. Sometimes it’s 2 skills and then 1 compo. I find the skills they teach, it’s really not bad. My DS did learn a fair bit of useful skills like the different ways of writing an interesting intro as one example. What I like most is their marking scheme, which is very detailed. They gave very good feedback and added a lot good phrases to use. My DS also leant quite alot of good phrases when doing his draft 2. Yes they will mark your draft 2 and even draft 3 ( if needed). I believe you can also send in your child’s school compos for them to mark, which to me, is a HUGE plus point. Their turnaround for marking of compos is also quite good. Within I think 3-5 days but occasionally there’s delays.

The downside I felt was that the topics covered for the compos, may be outdated. Since it’s pre-recorded, I’m not sure when it was last updated. If I rmb correctly, some of the compos are actual PSLE compo topics as well. So if you are looking at writing compos with more updated topics, then it may not fit your needs. But if you are looking at skills, then I think it’s pretty good.
The other downside is more from the kids perspective. It requires a lot of discipline. As the lessons are not live lessons, so sometimes the kids may end up not doing them. And they may also not be disciplined enough to do their draft 2 or 3. Then it’s a waste of money and time.
Oh and the tutor’s voice… abit boring. My son dozed off a number of times while listening to the lesson. 😅

Btw, we didnt complete all the lessons as well, skipped quite a fair bit. Not enough discipline. So we ended up going for a physical writing class.

[Liew Nga Wing]

ChiefKiasu\" post_id=\"2109304\" time=\"1684764936\" user_id=\"3:

But isn't the process of learning about learning from others? You read a story, then critique it from various angles to explore the different meaning to the story. Of course, if the tutor only chucks the story to the kids and tell them to memorize it by heart, well... that's rote learning, and it doesn't really do anything for the kids. Maybe combine it with a catchy jingle... that's how I still remember 人之初，性本尚...

人之初，性本善.

[ChiefKiasu]

Liew Nga Wing\" post_id=\"2109374\" time=\"1684849339\" user_id=\"195250:[quote=\"Liew Nga Wing\" post_id=2109374 time=1684849339 user_id=195250]
人之初，性本善.[/quote]

Wah... I only got 1 character incorrect. Very good already

[smilexy]

Hi All,

My gal is p3 and is weak in compo and comprehension. Im thinking to try out TWC for in jurong centre. Any other recommendations? Her paper 2 mcq almost always full marks, but comes to comprehension its zero. we started to do more reading together in the hopes to help improve her english.

I wanted to try The alternative story but the timing cannot match. She is very involved in activity and many days of training thus need to find something to fit into the schedule. But Im open to suggestions.

She was initially attending an online english enrichment class. we saw improvement, but she has requested for physical classes so to focus better

[ChiefKiasu]

smilexy\" post_id=\"2115213\" time=\"1690871920\" user_id=\"135913:

Hi All,
My gal is p3 and is weak in compo and comprehension. Im thinking to try out TWC for in jurong centre. Any other recommendations? Her paper 2 mcq almost always full marks, but comes to comprehension its zero. we started to do more reading together in the hopes to help improve her english.

I wanted to try The alternative story but the timing cannot match. She is very involved in activity and many days of training thus need to find something to fit into the schedule. But Im open to suggestions.

She was initially attending an online english enrichment class. we saw improvement, but she has requested for physical classes so to focus better

I was very fortunate to have an English teacher in P1 whom I loved. She would pick up a story book and start reading and all the class would sit cross-legged around her and listen enthralled. At the end of the year, I won an MPH $20 voucher for toping the class and went and bought some books. I still remember one of them... Secret Seven Fireworks (with Guy Fawkes as the character). I read, don't really understand, and then got it finally after many tries. I was ecstatic at my power and started wolfing down book after book in the next 5 years, from Enid Blyton, to Alfred Hitchcock, Asimov, Frank Herbert, etc.

I HATE English lessons especially comprehension where you have to read passages done by others and then answer questions. I love English compositions as it really allows me to do whatever I want (within the confines of the pictures :roll: )

The point is, your daughter is still young at P3. Find out her interest and then direct her at books related to that interest. Make it a point to read to her regularly, especially on topics of her interest. Get her a kindle or some ebook reader and teach her how to use it. Don't rely on enrichment centers. Reading is a lifelong skill that needs to be inculcated ASAP. Of course the bad thing is it might get so addictive that all she wants to do is to read storybooks. But she will be a master of the language.

[smilexy]

ChiefKiasu\" post_id=\"2115218\" time=\"1690877545\" user_id=\"3:

I was very fortunate to have an English teacher in P1 whom I loved. She would pick up a story book and start reading and all the class would sit cross-legged around her and listen enthralled. At the end of the year, I won an MPH $20 voucher for toping the class and went and bought some books. I still remember one of them... Secret Seven Fireworks (with Guy Fawkes as the character). I read, don't really understand, and then got it finally after many tries. I was ecstatic at my power and started wolfing down book after book in the next 5 years, from Enid Blyton, to Alfred Hitchcock, Asimov, Frank Herbert, etc.

I HATE English lessons especially comprehension where you have to read passages done by others and then answer questions. I love English compositions as it really allows me to do whatever I want (within the confines of the pictures :roll: )

The point is, your daughter is still young at P3. Find out her interest and then direct her at books related to that interest. Make it a point to read to her regularly, especially on topics of her interest. Get her a kindle or some ebook reader and teach her how to use it. Don't rely on enrichment centers. Reading is a lifelong skill that needs to be inculcated ASAP. Of course the bad thing is it might get so addictive that all she wants to do is to read storybooks. But she will be a master of the language.

Thank you for the post. recently she was very into this comic series. So i have bought it for her. and the deal is read 5 comic books after reading one story book. any story book. and i hope it will help her enjoy reading more. sigh i dont know when i should or should rely on enrichment centres. i really hated the idea of one sentence full of big words. there's no longer emotions in the compo. but its better than not having at all.

kiasu parent so thats why im here seeking help. the good news is, as im trying to encourage her to read, her younger sister has now started to pick up reading. my elder daughter is very involved in ballet, she's crazy over it but not interested in reading much on it. She prefers the physical activity more.

[ChiefKiasu]

smilexy\" post_id=\"2115234\" time=\"1690887921\" user_id=\"135913:

Thank you for the post. recently she was very into this comic series. So i have bought it for her. and the deal is read 5 comic books after reading one story book. any story book. and i hope it will help her enjoy reading more. sigh i dont know when i should or should rely on enrichment centres. i really hated the idea of one sentence full of big words. there's no longer emotions in the compo. but its better than not having at all.
...

Hmm... it sounds like a good idea, but be careful that it doesn't make her lose even more interest in reading. I'm reminded of the days when my sister forced me to make sentences out of 3 words in the dictionary every day which I hated. No reward some more
Actually, reading comics itself is already reading What you can do is to scan the comics yourself first to get the gist of the story, and then recommend to her some story books related to the story. That way, it doesn't seem like she is being forced to read.

smilexy\" post_id=\"2115234\" time=\"1690887921\" user_id=\"135913:

...
kiasu parent so thats why im here seeking help. the good news is, as im trying to encourage her to read, her younger sister has now started to pick up reading. my elder daughter is very involved in ballet, she's crazy over it but not interested in reading much on it. She prefers the physical activity more.

That's good! I find the younger child always seem more proactive than the elder.