Primary ONE English Assignment

[Busymom]

autumnbronze:

Just wondering out loud and out of curiosity .....


Do Kindys/CCs prepare K2 for such exercises?

In my children's CC, yes, they do a bit of writing in K1 & K2, initially with help from teachers in forming the sentences.

[buds]

FQW:

To consider all possible [major] scenarios, may I suggest that you add option 5) Yes, if the kid has been taught by his parents/family all along and option 6) No, even if the kid is taught by his parents/family all along.


Parents are the primary provider of knowledge to young children; can't under-estimate that. Agree?

Edit: In addition, this survey will be more accurate if you are specific about which period in the P1 calendar you're interested in. For P1's, especially for those with strong parental support, their progress between both ends of the calendar year can be quantum leaps.

Very :goodpost:!

[buds]

Busymom:

Actually, for P1, it can be just a simple one liner or two per section.


Intro
I went to the Botanic Gardens with my class on xxx. It was a field trip to see xxx.

Body
2 sentences to describe what they saw or did. Doesn't have to be fanciful. I'm sure we do ask our kids to describe what they saw or did when out on such school trip. Only difference is, here, they need to write it down.

Conclusion
I had a good time at the Botanic Gardens.

Very :goodpost: Busymom.

[buds]

Busymom:

autumnbronze:

Just wondering out loud and out of curiosity .....


Do Kindys/CCs prepare K2 for such exercises?

In my children's CC, yes, they do a bit of writing in K1 & K2, initially with help from teachers in forming the sentences.

In my years of teaching preschoolers and primary school students... YES.

I have shared one before here at this link.
http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/blogs/buds?page=3

Click P1 Written Expression.

Teachers already covered different favourites with children at that level. Concrete and abstract. Meaning done hands-on AND written.

Assignments brought home for further practice. Likewise school provided activities (suggested) to do at home with children (if they want to or if time permits of course) and also given notes/pointers and starters on \"how to\" plus model/sample completed piece.

Eventual score/grading was based on child's own work in school \"on his/her own\". Children's work exhibited in school. Very impressive. Dunno about general population but all kids if not majority; wrote very well.

Ours was based on Teach Less Learn More : Stellar Programme.

Neighbourhood school.

[iRabbit]

Lynn2010:

I believe if the teacher gave this piece of assignment to bring home for homework or expecting the child to do independently, the teacher would have gone through similar work with the children. I have seen this done before.


The teacher would be a moron or out of his/her mind to expect the child to do it well if this was not taught prior.

Which one? (1) taught in class before (2) the child has not seen this in his/her life??

Just saw that the assignment is due in July, i.e. T3. For my son's case, it's exactly as you mentioned. In end-T2, his class was guided by T to start writing simple essays. In T3, they were given more leeway to write on their own.

[Sun_2010]

autumnbronze:

Just wondering out loud and out of curiosity .....


Do Kindys/CCs prepare K2 for such exercises?

My son's(2 yrs ago) and daughter's preschool( 9 yrs ago) did, not so structured. Just the idea is to put into simple sentences what they Experienced.

No parental involvement . After school outing, teacher asks the children what they did, the enthusiastic ones tell . This the teacher guides to write down.

My son's current primary school does after every LJ in different forms. such a general write up are post LJ activity. They also have some written activities right after thr LJ like a questionnaire specific to the place they visited with Some Qs are about the facts they would have observed, some their opinion, some times they would have to draw what they liked, etc.

The below is my general opinion, not a reply to you , autumn.

I feel such activities are a step in the right direction. And strongly encourage it. It is far better than the picture compos that years ago formed the introduction to writing , enough to put kids off writing. Writing about some thing a chid has experienced is far far easier and meaningful than compo writing.

For such activities, Teachers guide and explain what is expected, ask questions and take answers from children to show what is needed, give them examples, the dos and the donts. And they do it soon after the LJ to tap in to the freshness. True not all children pay full attention, but all children are given the opportunity to learn and do. So to me that is good education.

If parents/tutors help with the sentences to write then it is a unfair. If the parents just guide then it should be ok. just because some kids who attend enrichment/ parental involve,it doesn't make it a wrong thing. The ones who do not have enrichment, or parents who have given a good exposure in the early years will pick up, very fast.

Like busymon said the write up can be pretty simple. the fact we parents tend to get upset our child's performance is not to the level we expect of our child or what we expect of the assignment is our flaw.

Don't let's deny the average kid the benefits of a good Learning exercise because we did not do it that way. It may seem out of comfortzone for us, but it doesnt mean it really is for the child. Things change , and when they do for the better , we must learn to embrace it.

Ok let the bashing begin, I am scooting off to the gardens by the bay. :siam:

[iRabbit]

Busymom:

Limlim


Is this a paper test or is this a \"tell\" test?

Why I am wondering:
1) I see the word \"say\" instead of write.
2) the date of test is from 9 to 16 July?

If this is a paper test, why is it not done in school but brought home? If brought home, not fair to give any weightage to the marks.

As for your question whether a P1 is able to write a field report, my answer is yes, some would be able to do it even without enrichment, especially if they are good in the language or have been reading widely.

My DD's school has also never given this type of assignment or test in P1. In P1, all the writing that they do are on a group basis.

You're eagle-eye, Busymom [I was squinting at the pics thru my iphone previously]. Shall I proclaim you Queen of Eagle Wings or something similiarly tacky .... mabbe not.

Yes, this definitely looks to me to be a show-and-tell. Why would an offical assessment [with 10% weightage] be allowed to be brought home?

[iRabbit]

Busymom:

Actually, for P1, it can be just a simple one liner or two per section.

Intro
I went to the Botanic Gardens with my class on xxx. It was a field trip to see xxx.

Body
2 sentences to describe what they saw or did. Doesn't have to be fanciful. I'm sure we do ask our kids to describe what they saw or did when out on such school trip. Only difference is, here, they need to write it down.

Conclusion
I had a good time at the Botanic Gardens.

Agree. DS was given several such writing exercises - they're not graded assignments - since P1 T2. At the beginning, of course there're these missing punctuation/capital letters, non-congruent ideas. It's a learning journey ... nobody expects him to write in immaculate Eng.

Only in P2 was he graded in CW, by which time he would have 1 yr of regular practice; and those were supposed to be completed within lesson time.

limlim,
If this is a show-and-tell rather than a graded CW exercise, I'm afraid your survey is not valid liao [bcos some early voters may mistakenly assumed that it's CW assignment]. So I guess I should refrain from voting until you confirm.

[iRabbit]

Sun_2010:

I feel such activities are a step in the right direction. And strongly encourage it. It is far better than the picture compos that years ago formed the introduction to writing , enough to put kids off writing. Writing about some thing a chid has experienced is far far easier and meaningful than compo writing.

Agree with your tots.

[Lynn2010]

FQW:

Lynn2010:

I believe if the teacher gave this piece of assignment to bring home for homework or expecting the child to do independently, the teacher would have gone through similar work with the children. I have seen this done before.


The teacher would be a moron or out of his/her mind to expect the child to do it well if this was not taught prior.

Which one? (1) taught in class before (2) the child has not seen this in his/her life??

Just saw that the assignment is due in July, i.e. T3. For my son's case, it's exactly as you mentioned. In end-T2, his class was guided by T to start writing simple essays. In T3, they were given more leeway to write on their own.

FQW, then i think it is possible since the teacher already covered. It will be like what busymom said, simple sentences - 1 sentence for the intro and conclusion and 2 sentences for the main/body.