English Language
Goals
The EL Department supports the school’s vision Stamfordians of Competence and Character, who Care and Contribute by having the following foci:
Our Vision: Every Stamfordian, A Confident and Effective Communicator
Our Mission: To empower Stamfordians to use the English Language for learning, living and connecting.
(a) ‘Competence’ - We want to develop pupils to be:
I. Confident, effective and gracious communicators
II. Passionate readers
III. Active listeners
(b) ‘Character’ – We aim to groom pupils to:
I. Demonstrate sound moral and social values in words and actions
II. Be caring collaborators who contribute to community growth
III. Be compassionate listeners
Programme
1. Strategies for English Language Learning and Reading (STELLAR)
STELLAR, aligned to the 2010 EL Syllabus by the Ministry of Education, provides a framework for the teaching and learning of the English Language and aims to strengthen both language and reading skills, as well as promote a positive attitude towards reading in the foundational years through the use of well-established, learner-centred and developmentally appropriate pedagogical approaches using authentic children's literature. (Source: http://www.stellarliteracy.sg )
2. TALENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Talent Development programme aims to:
· Acquaint students with things happening in Singapore and in the world.
· Encourage students to think independently and reflect on issues happening around them and express their opinions on them. In so doing, develop in students a sense of right and wrong.
· Develop students in habits of intelligent behaviour which include being:
· Curious through asking deep and thought-provoking questions
· Collaborative through engaging in thoughtful discussion
· Critical through giving reasons and evidence
· Creative through generating and building on ideas
· Caring through developing awareness of self and care of others
The programme aims are achieved by introducing the current affairs curriculum to the Talent Development classes. The newspaper has been a timeless and rich supplementary material used to broaden students' knowledge of current affairs as well as enhance students' exposure to good language use. The current affairs curriculum is infused into the English lessons because the newspapers offer a living curriculum (Rhoades and Rhoades 1980). The newspaper provides students with raw, unfiltered data that they must process themselves. The experience in gathering, sieving and translating data helps students develop analytical skills that influence their abilities to learn in the classroom and to make practical and value-oriented decisions in their everyday lives (Short & Dickerson, 1980).
3. Learning Support Programme
The Learning Support Programme (LSP) is an early intervention programme aimed at providing additional support to students who enter Primary 1 with weak English language and literacy skills. Students are identified for the LSP through a systematic screening process. They attend special parallel EL lessons with trained personnel to engage them in activities to help them attain the level of language skills as their peers. Students are discharged from LSP when they meet both of the following criteria: A pass in the school's English Semestral Assessment, Attainment of age-appropriate reading age.
4. English Language Week
The English Language Week is held annually. Activities conducted aim to promote the usage of standard spoken English and spread the joy of learning the language in a fun manner. The students have always enjoyed tremendously the activities conducted for them.
The following were some of the activities conducted:
- Readers’ Theatre
- Drama
- Conversation With
- Stories ALIVE! with Props
- Class Reading Aloud Sessions
- Storytelling Sessions by Parent Volunteers
- Board Games
- Craft Work
Prizes are awarded winners of the various activities conducted during the meaningful and enriching English Language Week.
5. Extensive Reading Programme
The Extensive Reading Programme aims to ignite the passion for reading in every Stamfordian. Class reading aloud sessions are conducted regularly to encourage them to read more, widely and together. Primary 4 and 5 students are trained to read stories to Primary 1 and 2 students during the Buddy Reading Programme sessions. Engaging activities are organized to promote the use of library services.
6. EL Curriculum - Strategies for English Language Learning and Reading (STELLAR)
Teachers use STELLAR to teach the critical life skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. The aim is to strengthen students’ language and reading skills as well as promote a positive attitude towards learning in the foundational years.
Learning Experience
Teachers use a myriad of activities to engage pupils and scaffold language learning. Examples of activities:
a) Class discussions to explore a diversity of perspectives and develop habits of collaborative learning
b) Group and individual presentations to inculcate public speaking skills
c) Storytelling sessions to develop a love for reading