Mission

Building A Strong Foundation and Rich Language for All.

The English Department aims to develop effective language use through a two-pronged approach of building a strong foundation and providing rich language for all.

Teachers will focus on developing the following areas of language learning in students:

• Listening and Viewing
• Reading and Viewing
• Speaking and Representing
• Writing and Representing

Key Programmes

1. STELLAR (P1 to P6)
STrategies for English Language Learning And Reading

STELLAR 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.

With the rollout of the English Language Syllabus 2020 (ELS 2020), the STELLAR programme was reviewed and refined to better prepare learners for the changing context of language use. This includes:

• a greater need for linguistic and communicative competence, adaptability and flexibility for a more disruptive global environment
• rapid development in information technology that has shaped our understanding of literacy and linguistic skills in English to include multiliteracies
• future workplace readiness with rising emphasis on interpersonal skills, higher-order cognitive skills and information systems skills.

STELLAR2.0 is an enhancement of the STELLAR (Strategies for English Language Learning and Reading) programme. While the STELLAR2.0 programme continues to develop students who love reading and have a strong foundation in the English Language, language learning and use in the 21st century must go beyond the basic notion of literacy to include multiple competencies to enable our young to capitalise on the rich opportunities of the digital age. Given the increased communication demands expected of students in the 21st century, EL teaching and learning is re-examined to strengthen EL teaching practices through the key shifts in ELS2020.

2. Learning Support Programme (LSP) (P1 & P2)

LSP aims to provide learning support to children who enter P1 with weak language and literacy skills, These students are taken out of the English main class for small group teaching for 30 min daily.

3. School-Based Dyslexia Remediation (SDR) (P3 & P4)

SDR is a programme developed by MOE to enable students to read and spell confidently; and understand a variety of texts, using a range of comprehension strategies.

4. Reading Remediation Programme (RRP) (P3 & P4)

RRP is a programme developed by MOE to enable students to read grade level texts with fluency and comprehension. Students attend lessons conducted after school hours.

5. High Progress (HP) Enrichment (P3 to P5)

HP Enrichment is in the form of literature appreciation such as novel study where students engage in extensive reading and understanding of different types of rich texts for pleasure. Students learn to read critically by focusing on implied meaning, higher-order thinking, judgement and evaluation.

Signature Programme

‘Developing a Reading Culture’ Programme

The school adopts a whole school approach to prepare students to be proficient readers by developing in them a passion to read and also teaching them how to read. Students will be taught to set goals for reading and to select books that cater to their age and interest levels. Programmes and activities have been planned to build a reading culture that develops students into avid readers:

1. Reading Period

One period per week is set aside for reading where students engage in book exploration and extension activities. The aim is to allow students to spend time on leisure reading and encourage them to read more. Positive reading experiences are created through activities such as book talks, storytelling sessions and providing incentives for good readers.

2. Reading Activity Programme

The EL and MT departments have a Reading Activity Programme to promote the reading of both EL and MT books with their respective rewards systems. Students are encouraged to complete EL/MT Reading Activity booklet comprising a number of reading activities over the course of a year.

3. Reading Event

An event that students look forward to is the Book Fiesta which started in 2017. The purpose of the event is to create a vibrant environment for students and teachers to enjoy stories and to enact these stories in fun ways. Based on themes such as ‘Fairy Tales’, pre-event classroom activities are conducted to help students enjoy the stories. Students and teachers are encouraged to dress up as their favourite characters using recycled materials, making the stories come alive before our very eyes.