P6 Motivation Card, Oct 2010

As parents, we would always wanted to motivate our children to do better. What better way to have a personalised card from us to our children to motivate to work hard and do well in their PSLE. That was exactly what PSG did. We organised for lovely cards (above) to be made by our own PSG members and we gave it to each and every one of our P6 parents to write personalised message to their children in preparation of 2010 PSLE.

With such encouraging words and support from the the Parents Support Group certainly act as a boost to our students to do better for their PSLE exams. Kudos to the PSG for coming up with such a great idea and for our parents who wrote inspiring messages for their children.

P6 Motivation Kit- a gift from the heart.

Since last year in 2008, PSG has put together a little gift for every P6 student in EPPS. These little bags of sweetness carries with it PSG's encouragement and support for our P6 students facing Primary School Leaving Exams( PSLE).

* Each item represents the following to our students:
Milo : To give them strength, stamina and energy
Kit Kat : Give themselves a break when they are tired
Mentos Mints : To freshen up their minds
Chupa Chups : To keep them happy!
Bookmark : Specially handmade by EPPS PSG members, use it when revising with encouraging words to keep them going.

It also contains encouraging messages from the Principal, Mrs Wong as well as the PSG Chairperson, Mrs. Yvonne Chin.

Special Bookmark.

This year, each of the bookmarks that accompany the kit has been individually and specially handcrafted by PSG members. Not one single bookmark are the same. The bookmarks drawings was done by our talented Mdm Karen Ann Lesslar and reproduced. Subsequently, 270 bookmarks distributed to some 30 PSG members to handcolour it. The end result is that the bookmarks came back with spectacular colours and hues....it's heartwarming and so lovely!

Our students performed very well in their PSLE in 2008. It goes to show the dedication and commitment on both the teachers and students to do EPPS proud. PSG is happy, in part, to be able to provide further encouragement and support for our students to do even better this year.

Our dedicated parents and PSG members gathered to put this kit together.
It is our hope that with whatever effort we put in, to support our students, even in the smallest way will help make a difference.

Famous Quotes dedicated to our P6 students.

Do not dismiss your dreams.

To be without dreams Is to be without hope;

To be without hope;
Is to be without purpose

Never measure the height of a mountain,
until you have reached the top.
Then you will see how low it was.

- Dag Hammarskjold

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of
their dreams.- Eleanor Roosevelt

Every worthwhile accomplishment, big or little,
has its stages of drudgery and triumph; a beginning, a struggle
and a victory.- Mahatma Gandhi

Happy 42nd Birthday Singapore!

Young, confident and exuberant...

Happy 42nd Birthday Singapore

Developing a Concept for Composition Writing

1. Encourage your child to read. Provide children with opportunities to read quality children's literature.

2. Have your child retell what she's read instead of having her answer specific questions about a story. Answering questions usually only requires the child to say a few words. Retelling the story requires the child to generate more language and organize their ideas. Use information provided by the child in the retelling to construct probe questions. After the retelling is completed, you may ask questions about important aspects of the story that haven't been included in the retelling.

3. Implement a variation of the Scrambled Story strategy. Select an unfamiliar story with a traditional beginning, middle, and ending. Divide the story between paragraphs into four sections. Remove all evidence of the title and page numbers. Pictures may be included if desired. Shuffle the order of the story pieces and place in a clasp envelope labeled with the story title and author's name. Have your child read the title of the story (that is printed on their story envelope). Tell him to read each section silently and try to find the beginning and ending sections of the story. Then have him read the other sections and put them in order. When the child thinks that he has sequenced the sections appropriately, have him reread the story silently to check his work. He may rearrange story pieces as needed. When he has checked his work have him share the story with you. Probe to have your child analyze how he made his decisions. Highlight elements of story grammar in his explanations as appropriate. Keep in mind that this differs significantly from the traditional sequencing events activity. When sequencing events, children have previously read the entire story; they are simply using a literal level of comprehension to put the events in order. The Scrambled Story strategy provides a child with pieces of an unfamiliar story and requires him/her to use higher level thinking and story grammar to determine how the story fits together.

4. Implement the Macro Cloze strategy. Select an unfamiliar story with a traditional beginning, middle, and ending. Read the story and select one or two paragraphs (in different places in the story) that are predictable considering the text that leads up to the paragraph and the text that follows the paragraph. Prepare the story so that this/these paragraph(s) are omitted. Leave plenty of space for your child to write what they think happened in each spot. Implementation: Have her read the story silently and write her own paragraph for each "spot." Have her read the story to you inserting what she wrote in each "spot." If your child wishes, you may share the actual paragraphs that you had deleted from the story. Children often like to compare their paragraphs to the original paragraphs that the author wrote. This strategy involves children in meaningful silent reading, strengthens story grammars, and provides children with an opportunity to write in relation to reading.

P2 Special Project 2006 by Yvonne Chin

This project will be as special to me as it is with the 7 boys I spent 3 months ( Sept to Nov 06) with. They are Gavin Ong, Zon Liew, Adriss Shah, Lee Yi Yang, Noel Lim, Isaac Tan and my very own son, Brendon Chin. They are energetic and bouncing off the walls. It was challenging just to get them to listen but we managed.. somehow.

The objective of the project was to build a model of Singapore acording to scale. For a start, we needed a huge map as a reference which we did. The students started the project by working on quizzes given to them. They are required to search for answers from 2 main websites. Each week, they are given 20 to 30 questions to answer.

Once the research was completed, we started building the map from scratch. Tracing the map off the main map, making miniature trees and papier marche for the landscape.

After tracing, we started building the landscape with papier marche and when its dry, we paint the sea and land surface while making miniature trees and labels. While waiting for the model to dry, we started making buildings off styrofoam and clay.

Once the paper marche is set, we painted all the surface, start placing the labels and building and start building the roads, highways and MRT tracks. Once all this was done, we started preparing for the presentation to the school.

Most times the boys argue non-stop. Other times I would lose my cool. Overall, we just managed to get alot done despite all the bickering. There were many sweet and memorable times too. During quieter time with one or two of the boys who would tell me things abt themselves . As they warm up to me, they told me things they would only tell their mothers. So sweet.

I remember we went cutting twigs for the miniature trees and I said to Zon that the twigs he snipped off was very good and I called him a darling. He was smiling ear to ear and beaming. He said, " You called me darling!" Awwww. So sweet.

Aldriss told me one day that he loves his mommy very much. I told him I am sure his mommy loves him just as much. I was so touched.

Gavin would rather not eat at recess time but come by and help me build the landscape with papier marche or he'd eat really quick and come in to help me. He even told my son not to call me mommy in class as I am THEIR teacher!

Yi Yang and Noel builds the smallest islets and were so focused, I was so astonished by their commitment and interest. They worked quietly and industriously and before you know it, they have made all the southern islets by themselves!

Isaac makes the most beautiful buildings among all the boys. He made beautiful small houses out of clay.

Brendon was the best speaker during the presentation and try not to compete with the rest for my attention during lessons as per my instruction. He helped me with all the research work, source for materials and make papier marche at home. He was so happy and proud to be working with me on this project. This is something he will remember for a very long time.

As they start treating me like second mom, it 's almost time to present and that will be the end of this project. The boys did well and I am very proud of them. Just like a mother would. I felt a tinge of sadness when the project ends.. one of the boys asked me earnestly.. " So Mrs. Chin, when will be our next class?" I was almost moved to tears.