Happy Children's Day!

Thank God for you. :) Do spend the weekend wisely.

Things to Do

I understand you have many things to do, so the following homework is optional. However, if you want me to mark, you need to complete (1) and (3) by tomorrow. I will go through (1) in class on Monday so if you can't finish it by tomorrow, you'll still have access to the answers on Mon.

(1) PSLE Booklet Specimen Paper (Do your best!)
(2) Vocabulary MCQs (Will go through on Monday)
(3) Composition (Not mentioned in class, but you may do Question (5) in the PSLE Booklet if you need the practice)

For (3),
If you submit it tomorrow - I will mark and return it on Mon.
If you submit it on Mon / Tue - I will go through it orally with you.
If you do not submit it - It's fine, but please do spend time reading up your composition notes and exposing yourself to the vocabulary list.

Situational Writing Practice (5) - PSLE Booklet

Model answer:

Dear Manager,

My name is Tina Lee and I am a pupil from Clever Primary School. I am writing to inform you of how helpful one of your staff, Miss Lily, was towards me.

On 5 October 2009, I was at the Bedok Public Library borrowing some books. As I was about to leave the library, I dropped my wallet on the ground. I only discovered that it was missing when I was about the board the bus at the bus stop. At that moment, Miss Lily came running towards me and returned me my wallet. I could not thank her as the bus driver was hurrying me to board the bus.

I would like to express my gratitude towards Miss Lily. If it had not been for her, I would have been stranded at the bus stop. Once again, I would like to convey my appreciation towards her. Please help to convey my gratefulness to her. Thank you.

Regards,
Tina Lee

Points to note:
1) Introduce yourself.
2) At the end, give a short conclusion. Do not end abruptly.
3) At the end, some of you wrote "I look forward to your favourable reply." However, you did not ask the manager to do anything, so why do you need a favourable reply? Put yourself in the shoes of the manager and see what information is needed.
4) Include your surname when signing off.

Homework and what to bring

1) Vocab Q41-70
2) Bring Practice Paper file tomorrow
(As mentioned previously, do not bring it unless I tell you to..... Tomorrow is one of the rare occasions when I will use it.)

Situational Writing Test

Model answer:

Dear John,

How are you? On the evening of 14 August, Saturday, Dad, Mum, Joy and I were having a barbecue at our condominium's barbecue pit. Dad started the fire at the pit while Mum skewered the chicken.

As Dad was fanning the flame, his apron caught fire. All of us rushed to get water from the swimming pool and splashed it onto Dad's apron to douse the fire.

Fortunately, Dad was unhurt, aside from the big hole that was formed on his apron. We managed to enjoy ourselves at the barbecue after ensuring everyone's safety.

Do write back as we have all missed you.

Love,
Peter

Common mistakes:

1) Mistake: Dear brother
Correct: Dear Brother
The word "Brother" has to start with a capital letter.

2) Mistake: Dad, mum, sister and I were at the barbecue.
Correct: Dad, Mum, Sister and I were at the barbecue.
The words Mum and Sister have to start with capital letters as they are names you use to address your family members.

3) Mistake: My father, my mother and my sister were also at the barbecue:
Correct: Father, Mother and Sister were also at the barbecue.
You should not use terms such as "my father" or "my mother" here as you are writing to your brother and you usually do not refer to your parents as such to your sibling.

4) Mistake: Having only one long paragraph
Correct: Use paragraphs to present your ideas. There should be at least 2 paragraphs.

Homework

Complete Grammar MCQs 91-125 by Friday.
Hand in the St Andrew's paper tomorrow.

There will be a mock English exam on Friday (11.50a.m. - 1.40p.m.).
As such, lunch will be from 1.40p.m.-2.15p.m. Eat more during recess.
English lesson will continue from 2.15-2.50p.m.

There will also be a mock compo exam on Monday during English periods. You will be tested on both situational writing and continuous writing. Please revise your notes and vocabulary lists.

Composition Ideas

A few of your classmates persuaded you to join them in playing a trick on a boy in your class whom all of you disliked. You agreed to do so.

Make use of the points below:
- how you were persuaded
- why you agreed to the ploy
- what you and your classmates did to the boy
- how the boy reacted
- what happened in the end

Possible ideas:
1) Clarence
- The boy was a hypocrite and your classmates who all loathed him persuaded you to play a trick on him.
- You did not want to be a wet blanket.
- The plan was to switch off the master power in the hall while the boy was giving a speech.
- The boy was embarrassed.
Complication: Just as you turned on the switch again, things did not turn out the way you intended. There was a power trip.
- The boy cried and the AV crew was punished.
Conclusion: Two wrongs do not make a right.

2) Joel Ting
- Your classmates made the plan sound tantalizing.
- You agreed to play the trick as you did not like the boy – state why.
- You and your classmates stole the boy’s money. You left your own wallet on the table.
- The boy told the teacher about the loss of money.
Complication: The money was found in your own wallet. Your classmates had framed you for the crime!
- You were reprimanded and later, when you confronted your classmates and beat up one of them, your teacher caught you in the act and punished you again.

3) Matthew
- Your classmates were irritated with Paul, a Christian who kept evangelizing.
- They got angry when you did not want to join them in the ploy. Pressurised by your peers, you agreed to join them.
- You destroyed Paul’s Bible.
- Paul burst out in unstoppable tears, but forgave you instantly when you confessed to the act.
- You became good friends.

4) Ching Wah
- A new student was transferred to your class. He was short and fat and was taunted mercilessly by your classmates.
- Your classmates put paint on the victim’s seat.
- He rushed out of school during recess as he could not tolerate the taunts.
Complication: The boy met with an accident as he was running out of school.
- You were punished for the act.

Homework

St. Andrew's Practice Paper (Due on Thu)

Homework

1) Practice Paper from Christian Brothers' School
2) Comprehension OE 4 from PSLE Booklet

All the best for the LC. Calm down and do your best. Praying for you.

Statistics from prelim (English)

Average for 6B:
Overall score - 77.7%
Paper 2 - 70.6 / 95
Composition - 30.3 / 40
Oral - 23.5 / 30
Situational writing - 13.4 / 15
Listening - 17.7 / 20

Highest overall score - 86.3% (Level position: 9th) (Congratulations, Isaac, and keep it up!)

As I have shown you, a number of you have the potential to score A* in the PSLE. Aim high and take steps to reach your goal. :)

Homework

First 30 MCQs from Grammar WS

Holiday Homework

1) Queenstown Paper Booklet A and B

2) Composition (Choose 1)

3) Revise

Reminder

1) EL Prelim Practice Paper 10

2) Bring EL Worksheet File on Tue

3.5 weeks more to go......14 school days (not counting the Sep hols). Persevere and you will enjoy the fruit of your labour on 25 November.

God bless.

Except / Except for

Except

1) They do nothing except complain all the time.
2) The weather was good except in the east.
3) He's not very friendly except when he needs help.
4) I have no answer to his criticism, except to blame the management.

Except for

1) There was complete silence except for the sound of someone whispering.
2) Except for John, the boys were enthusiastic about the party.

Except / except for

1) They did all their homework except / except for English.
2) Everyone was there except / except for Sam.

Thank you

Thank you for organising the class party. "Don't Forget the Lyrics" was a great idea. Really appreciate the pupils who went the extra mile to look for the songs, download the lyrics and design the PowerPoint slides.

Thanks for the gifts and cards too. Owen, I like your card - so innovative. :) I like all the other gifts too. Thanks for ordering the pizzas and bringing the chips, for putting up the singing item - you're the most united class and for being so considerate during the class party. A big thank you to you all! Have a good holiday tomorrow, but don't forget to do PP9.

Curiosity Kills the Cat by Jeremias Shae

Setting

The sun was setting. The crimson sky was turning dark as beautiful, flashing lights lights dotted it. The cool night air made me shiver. My friends and I were camping in the heart of the forest. The trees looked ominous and frightening. Their leafless branches were shaped like the claws of a beast. The holes made by bugs were like eyes, staring at us like we were their dinner.

"Hoot, hoot," an owl howled. Our teeth chattered in fear. A howling wind made a ghostly wail. Chills went down our spines.

Problem 1: Zack, Jason and I were wandering far from our campsite. We saw a deserted mansion, looking like it was haunted. As frightening as the house might be, curiosity got the better of us. As we crept into the the mansion, the doors opened with an eerie creaking sound. We walked in unsteadily, our legs feeling like jelly. After a few steps into the mansion, the old willow door slammed. "Nice one, Zack," I said. Zack was always playing pranks, being the class clown. "But it wasn't me this time," Zack said with fear in his voice. Jason grabbed the gold-pained maple bars of the door. Complication 1: "The door's stuck!" he shouted, face as pale as a sheet of paper.

Fortunately, we had all our camping tools with us, even our sleeping bags. We had brought everything along with us as we were not going to let our expensive items get stolen or our sleeping bags blown away by the wind at the campsite.

I took out a hammer from the toolbox which had all the tools we needed to set up the tent with. "Stand back," I said, determined to escape. I smashed a hole in the window and we jumped out from it. "That was a close one!" Jason sighed, relieved that the terrifying experience was over.

The doors of the mansion flew open again and this time, we zoomed off. Problem 2: After ten minutes of running, I realised I had a problem. I was far from the campsite. In fact, I did not even know where I was and to make matters worse, I was alone. The three of us had been separated while we were running for our lives. Complication 2: I took out my cell phone to call my friends, but unfortunately, there was no reception.

I was alone, cold, hungry and cut off from the outside world. I was wondering around, animals all making their mating calls. I totally freaked out. My heart was slamming against my rib cage.

"Jerry!" I heard someone call my name. I looked around, my heart in my throat, legs like jelly, face pale. I saw a shining light and I regained hope of finding my friends and getting out of here.

"Jason, Zack!" I cried out in joy. My two friends had found me. I was full of joy, but moments later, I realised our predicament. Problem 3: We were still far from our campsite. We continued wandering, with our last hope of finding our destination. Hope was completely regained again as we found a compass lying on the ground. Complication 3: However, the dust-covered device was in no working condition. I looked up in the sky, praying to God, asking for a sign.

I remembered suddenly that the brightest star in the sky showed us where North was. Our campsite was in the east. I scanned the sky, finding the northern star. I found it! "So if north is there, east must be here!" Zack said, pointing to the left.

We ran towards the east. Tears streamed down our faces, hoping that this was for real - the chance to find our campsite and go home in the morning.

Outcome: We praised God - He gave me the hint of finding our way back. We were safe under the covers of our tent. For a second while we were stuck, I began to lose hope, thinking that we would be stuck in the forest forever and to survive, we had to eat leaves and twigs.

Conclusion: I realised how important it was to remember what we had learnt at school, like how I remembered the brighest star in the sky led to the north. I also truly understand what the saying "Curiosity kills the cat" really meant. This incident was really terrifying, but at the same time, both enjoyable and educational.

The memory of this incident will be forever stuck in my mind.

How did it go?

How did the oral go today? Sorry I could only wish Group 1 well. Hope everyone excelled. :)

Do revise for the prelim on Monday.

What you can do this weekend:

1) Review the grammar, vocabulary, editing and synthesis sections in the 19 Practice Papers, CA1 and SA1 papers, especially those you made mistakes in before.

2) Do your corrections for Prelim Practice Paper 8 and Prelim Mock Exam, referring to the answer keys only when necessary.

3) Ensure you know the spelling of words that appeared in the editing and vocabulary sections of your practice papers

4) Read through your notebook.

5) If you haven't completed your mind map, please do so as it helps to consolidate your learning.

6) After you have finished the paper on Monday, check for mistakes. Underline keywords. For cloze and comprehension, make sure you have answered in the correct tenses.

ALL THE BEST! PRAYING FOR YOU. :)

Question tags

Remember:

positive (+) in one clause, negative (-) in the other

E.g.

1) You have (+) done your homework, haven't (-) you?

2) You come (+) to school by bus, don't (-) you?

3) You saw (+) the burglar, didn't (-) you?

4) You hardly visit (-) your grandmother nowadays, do (+) you?

5) Henry seldom falls (-) ill, does (+) he?

Be careful with cases 4 and 5. The first clause looks positive in each case, but it is actually negative. Explanation: "hardly visit" means "do not often visit" and "seldom falls ill" means "does not often fall ill".

Oral Tips - Final Words

1) Use the given five minutes wisely. Read aloud softly. If you do not know how to pronounce any word, please break the word into its syllables during this preparation time.
Next, look at the picture and prepare your speech. Remember DIEO.

2) Enter the room confidently. Approach the examiners with a smile and greet the examiners cheerfully upon reaching them.

Say, "Good morning, teachers. My name is __________. My index number is __________. May I be seated please?"

3) Examiners will tell you when to start reading.
Remember to read expressively and pronounce each word clearly and carefully.
Remember the end consonants.

4) Picture Discussion (E.g. Parents' Copy Picture 4)

Introduction
E.g. This picture shows a scene at a park. The sun is peeking out from the clouds. It is a great day for outdoor activities.

Body
A) A family has laid out a mat on the grass patch. The members are enjoying a scrumptious feast. From the smiles on their faces, they are delighted with their sandwiches and seem totally oblivious to their surrounding.

B) Next to them, a little girl is pointing at a kite that has been trapped in a tree. She is also shouting desperately for help. She is probably the daughter of the two adults in the family. She seems to be upset as her pleas for help have been ignored. If I were her, I would approach the adult man on the mat, who is presumably her father, and get his attention. The kite is too high for her to reach and it is wise for her to ask someone to help her.

C) On a path next to the grass patch, a boy has fallen off his bicycle. Perhaps he has been cycling too quickly. He is injured rather seriously and blood is trickling down from his knee. From his facial expression, I deduce he is feeling miserable and has difficulty standing up.

D) A man is cycling towards him at a seemingly rapid pace. The man seems to be very anxious as he is perspiring heavily and has a worried expression on his face. He could be the father of the injured boy and is hurrying over to the boy to render help. Alternatively, he could be a passer-by who is cycling too quickly to stop. He could be afraid of colliding into the boy on the ground.

E) I hope the family could be more aware of their surrounding instead of being engrossed in their food. There are many opportunities for them to show their concern and help.

Conclusion
In conclusion, the park is a suitable place for various activities. However, we should always consider the safety and well-being of other park users in our actions and ensure that the park is conducive for relaxation.

You are awarded marks for language, so do use appropriate vocabulary and ensure accurate grammatical structures. Speak consistently in the present tense.

5) The examiner will prompt you that the conversation is about to begin.
Be interactive and introduce connected points on your own.
Smile and have eye contact.
Be enthusiastic so that the examiners will not be bored.
You may want to inject humour if possible.

E.g. Parents' Copy Practice 4 again

Q: Do you go out on family outings?

A: Yes, I do. My family loves the outdoors so we usually go to the park. The park we frequent most is the Botanic Gardens. When we are there, we sometimes play soccer or simply lie on a mat to relax. As my little brother is only three years old, he loves playing with bubbles. Occasionally, we bring a bubble machine and we will have a competition to see who can poke the most bubbles.

We also go to the Jacob Ballas' Children's Garden on the grounds of the Botanic Gardens. There, we learn interesting facts about plants, like what they need to photosynthesise. My parents will patiently read the signages with us and at home, they conduct a quiz to ensure that we have assimilated the information. At the Children's Garden, there is also a water play area. Again, my little brother loves playing here. Once, he ran right into a fountain of water fully clothed. He was all drenched but he did not seem fazed at all. Instead, he ran right into another fountain and giggled in merriment as he got wetter. In the end, the whole family decided to join in the fun and soon, we were all soaked in water. It was truly a memorable outing.

Q: Do you think it is important to spend time with the family?

A: Yes, I think it is important to spend time with the family. Spending time together will strengthen our bond. It helps us know each other better. We can also encourage each other to excel in each other's area of interest or talent. If we are weak in a particular area, our family members can be there to fill in the gap. I think we can count on our family members more than we can count on our friends. There is somehow a tie that exists in the family that is hard to explain.

Unfortunately, some people do not think it is necessary to spend time with the family. I know of parents who work very hard, seemingly to provide for the family. As a result, they do not spend enough time with their children. This is deplorable as many social problems are results of the lack of parental guidance or discipline. Perhaps that is also why more children are labelled as Beyond Parental Control.

Recently, in the news, there was a feature about a girl who was abandoned by her mother. Her mother had her out of wedlock and had been leaving her with various family members while she worked. Currently, the girl is left with her step-aunt who is only 18 years old. The girl had never met her father. I felt very sad when I read about this case.

To conclude, I will reiterate that spending time together with the family is very important for the reasons I have already mentioned and I am very glad that I have a closely-knitted family who treasures time with each other.

I pray that you will all have good results. Do practise, practise and practise! Do all the 15 practices in the Parents' Package. That will give you the confidence you need. God bless you with good results.

(I will be in another school on Thu and Fri as oral examiner so I can't be in Fairfield to give you support, although I would very much like to. However, I will be praying for all of you. I would have liked to go through PP8 and the mock exam with you before Mon but I have meetings on the afternoons of Thu and Fri. So, please refer to the answer keys that I will be dishing out tomorrow. Revise all the past PPs and school papers and complete your mind map.)

Songs

Hi,

I received a strange request from some of you to suggest songs for relaxation. Here are some suggestions:
1) Most classical pieces have the ability to soothe
2) Disney songs
3) Christian songs

I guess there is a generation gap as we are almost two 12-year cycles apart. :)

Lastly, revise your notes for oral and practise using the Parents' kit. All the best!