Dear all,
Here are some last minute tips and reminders for tomorrow's CA1 Paper.
Remember to highlight the key words and draw the arrows for the clues. Most importantly, look out for the grammar rules and for singular / plural and tenses.
For the passages given to you, please read through first and then jot down the main idea. After which, remember to highlight the key words and look out for the grammar rules in place.
Comprehension Cloze
1. Read the passage first.
2. Jot down the main idea
3. Highlight they key words (tenses/plural/singular)
4. Draw the arrows (You can get some of the answers to the blanks from the words in the passage thus it is important to read through once first)
5. Re-read and check with your answers.
Remember to visualise / form the pictures of the passage in your mind as you read.
Comprehension OE
1. Look at the questions first.
2. Do your Pre-reading activity (What I Know / What I Want to Know)
3. Highlight key words in the questions (5W1H and tenses)
4. Read the passage for understanding
5. Highlight the parts from the passage that answer the question
When you copy a word from the passage from questions that ask you to quote a word or phrase or sentence from the passage, remember to pay attention to the punctuation and spelling.
Synthesis
Remember that you are always tested for grammar structures in the form of conjunctions.
Pay attention to the structures that I have told you to focus on.
Vocabulary
Always read the passage for the given context / situation before you answer. Certain words may have the same meaning but only one word can fit the given situation.
Narrow down your options through the elimination method. Then, check if the word in the passage is used negatively or positively. This will help you greatly.
'lie' and 'lay' rule
Lie (bluff)(present tense) Lied (past tense) Lied (perfect tense)
Lie (rest)(present tense) Lay (past tense) Lain (perfect tense)
Lay (place or put down)(present tense) Laid (past tense) Laid (perfect tense)
Lay (as in to lay an egg)(present tense) Laid (past tense) Laid (perfect tense)
All the best! My target is to achieve all 35 Band 1s! :)
Sincerely,
Mr Nelson Ong
Wednesday, 25 February 2015
Monday, 23 February 2015
Grammar Rules (CA1 Week)
Dear all,
Here is a recap of the grammar rules gone through in class today and that are important for the upcoming CA paper.
1. Adjectives - Comparative Adjectives - Superlative Adjectives
good - better - best
Comparative adjectives compare 2 items.
Superlative adjectives compare 3 or more items.
Here is a good website that has comprehensive notes for your learning.
2. 'whom' rule
Person [whom] Person
e.g He is the boy whom the pupils often praise.
Father whom my grandmother dotes on is buying pineapple tarts for her.
3. 'whose' rule
Person [whose] item (belonging to the person)
e.g Tom whose wallet was lost is making a police report now.
Jerry whose examination paper was torn is making another copy of it now.
4. 'who' rule
Person [who] verb
e.g He is the student who scored well for the Mathematics test.
Peter is the boy who likes to run around the field.
5. 'as well as', 'together with' rule
Noun 1, as well as Noun 2, ..............
Noun 1, together with Noun 2, ..........
Look at Noun 1 to determine if the verb is singular or plural.
e.g Peter, as well as the boys, is at the canteen now.
The dog, as well as the cats, is sleeping at the garden now.
6. 'VNV' rule or 'Verb - Noun - Verb' rule
Verb Noun Verb (2nd verb is always in the root word form - Present tense + plural form)
e.g I saw Peter take the book from the locker.
The boys noticed Tom steal the wallet just now.
I witnessed the dog bark at the suspicious man.
The spectators watched the dolphin swim in the aquarium.
7. Singular words / phrases
One of
Either of
Neither of
None
No one
Everyone
Every
Each
These words are singular.
8. Countable / Uncountable Nouns
Countable nouns can be singular or plural.
The bottle of water is on the table.
A can of drink is being opened by the boy.
Uncountable nouns are always singular.
Sugar is widely used to make coffee sweeter.
9. 'Prefers......to............' 'Rather.......than........'
Prefers Verb(continuous form with the -ing) to Verb(continuous form with the -ing)
He prefers walking to jogging.
Rather Verb (without the -ing form) than Verb(without the -ing form)
He would rather walk than jog.
Vocabulary Words
Biennale (every two years)
Biannual (twice in a year)
Fortnight (once every two weeks)
Decade (every ten years)
Century (every hundred years)
Happy Lunar New Year to each and every one and your families. :) May wealth, good health and prosperity be showered upon you this year of the goat.
Revise hard and look through the sections you have not done well. .
Files are given back to you. Please revise and go through together with your practice papers.
Sincerely,
Mr Nelson Ong
Here is a recap of the grammar rules gone through in class today and that are important for the upcoming CA paper.
1. Adjectives - Comparative Adjectives - Superlative Adjectives
good - better - best
Comparative adjectives compare 2 items.
Superlative adjectives compare 3 or more items.
Here is a good website that has comprehensive notes for your learning.
2. 'whom' rule
Person [whom] Person
e.g He is the boy whom the pupils often praise.
Father whom my grandmother dotes on is buying pineapple tarts for her.
3. 'whose' rule
Person [whose] item (belonging to the person)
e.g Tom whose wallet was lost is making a police report now.
Jerry whose examination paper was torn is making another copy of it now.
4. 'who' rule
Person [who] verb
e.g He is the student who scored well for the Mathematics test.
Peter is the boy who likes to run around the field.
5. 'as well as', 'together with' rule
Noun 1, as well as Noun 2, ..............
Noun 1, together with Noun 2, ..........
Look at Noun 1 to determine if the verb is singular or plural.
e.g Peter, as well as the boys, is at the canteen now.
The dog, as well as the cats, is sleeping at the garden now.
6. 'VNV' rule or 'Verb - Noun - Verb' rule
Verb Noun Verb (2nd verb is always in the root word form - Present tense + plural form)
e.g I saw Peter take the book from the locker.
The boys noticed Tom steal the wallet just now.
I witnessed the dog bark at the suspicious man.
The spectators watched the dolphin swim in the aquarium.
7. Singular words / phrases
One of
Either of
Neither of
None
No one
Everyone
Every
Each
These words are singular.
8. Countable / Uncountable Nouns
Countable nouns can be singular or plural.
The bottle of water is on the table.
A can of drink is being opened by the boy.
Uncountable nouns are always singular.
Sugar is widely used to make coffee sweeter.
9. 'Prefers......to............' 'Rather.......than........'
Prefers Verb(continuous form with the -ing) to Verb(continuous form with the -ing)
He prefers walking to jogging.
Rather Verb (without the -ing form) than Verb(without the -ing form)
He would rather walk than jog.
Vocabulary Words
Biennale (every two years)
Biannual (twice in a year)
Fortnight (once every two weeks)
Decade (every ten years)
Century (every hundred years)
Happy Lunar New Year to each and every one and your families. :) May wealth, good health and prosperity be showered upon you this year of the goat.
Revise hard and look through the sections you have not done well. .
Files are given back to you. Please revise and go through together with your practice papers.
Sincerely,
Mr Nelson Ong
Monday, 16 February 2015
Grammar Rules
Dear all,
As we are about to celebrate Chinese New Year, do enjoy the days leading up to the festive period. There is nothing more important than the coming together of your family. Thereafter, do remember that your CA1 is coming up on the 26th February. We are just left with revising of our revision paper.
Some of the grammar rules covered these few days:
- Uncountable nouns (Always use the singular verb)
- Sally, as well as her sisters, ............
We only look at Sally in this case. 'as well as her sisters' is just extra information. The main subject is simply Sally (Singular), thus you should use the singular verb.
- Sally, together with her sisters, ..............
We only look at Sally in this case. 'together with her sisters' is just extra information. The main subject is simply Sally (Singular), thus you should use the singular verb.
- Prefers ....... to...............
- Rather .......... than.................
- Neither (noun 1) nor (noun 2) ................
- Either (noun 1) or (noun 2) ......................
We always look at the second noun to determine whether to use the singular or plural verb form.
e.g
Neither the boys nor Peter is at the playground.
Either you or I am to complete the work.
Synonyms
are words that mean the same.
e.g Friendly & Hospitable, Evil & Bad, Delicious & Sumptuous
Antonyms
are words that have the different/opposite meaning.
e.g Evil vs Good, Kind vs Cruel
Here are this week's newspaper articles:
Sincerely,
Mr Nelson Ong
As we are about to celebrate Chinese New Year, do enjoy the days leading up to the festive period. There is nothing more important than the coming together of your family. Thereafter, do remember that your CA1 is coming up on the 26th February. We are just left with revising of our revision paper.
Some of the grammar rules covered these few days:
- Uncountable nouns (Always use the singular verb)
- Sally, as well as her sisters, ............
We only look at Sally in this case. 'as well as her sisters' is just extra information. The main subject is simply Sally (Singular), thus you should use the singular verb.
- Sally, together with her sisters, ..............
We only look at Sally in this case. 'together with her sisters' is just extra information. The main subject is simply Sally (Singular), thus you should use the singular verb.
- Prefers ....... to...............
- Rather .......... than.................
- Neither (noun 1) nor (noun 2) ................
- Either (noun 1) or (noun 2) ......................
We always look at the second noun to determine whether to use the singular or plural verb form.
e.g
Neither the boys nor Peter is at the playground.
Either you or I am to complete the work.
Synonyms
are words that mean the same.
e.g Friendly & Hospitable, Evil & Bad, Delicious & Sumptuous
Antonyms
are words that have the different/opposite meaning.
e.g Evil vs Good, Kind vs Cruel
Here are this week's newspaper articles:
Sincerely,
Mr Nelson Ong
Wednesday, 11 February 2015
Synthesis & Phrasal Verbs
Dear all,
As we are about to complete all the booklets, here is a recap and focus on the important Synthesis structures:
Rather.....than........
Rather [verb - Never in the continuous -ing form] than [verb - Never in the continuous -ing form]
I would rather walk than jog.
The boys rather complete their work than continue playing computer games.
Prefer......to............
Prefer [verb - changed to the continuous -ing form] to [verb - changed to the continuous -ing form]
I prefer walking to jogging.
The boys prefer kicking the football to throwing the ball.
Despite / In spite of
One of the easiest way to tackle such structures is to use the words ' the fact that ' after 'despite' and 'in spite of'
Despite the fact that he was taller than the rest, he could not jump the highest.
Mr Lim fell down in spite of the fact that the floor was slippery.
Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs are a common feature of grammar and vocabulary items, often appearing in grammar mcq / grammar cloze / comprehension cloze / editing / vocabulary mcq
A phrasal verb involved a verb + preposition as a phrase.
e.g
Fall back
Climb over
Run through
Take in
This link here <-- is a good web page to learn about the various phrasal verbs which you can apply to your work.
For Synthesis & Transformation, it really requires you to be mindful of the grammar rules and structures. Make a point to remember and apply them accordingly.
Thank you,
Sincerely,
Mr Nelson Ong
As we are about to complete all the booklets, here is a recap and focus on the important Synthesis structures:
Rather.....than........
Rather [verb - Never in the continuous -ing form] than [verb - Never in the continuous -ing form]
I would rather walk than jog.
The boys rather complete their work than continue playing computer games.
Prefer......to............
Prefer [verb - changed to the continuous -ing form] to [verb - changed to the continuous -ing form]
I prefer walking to jogging.
The boys prefer kicking the football to throwing the ball.
Despite / In spite of
One of the easiest way to tackle such structures is to use the words ' the fact that ' after 'despite' and 'in spite of'
Despite the fact that he was taller than the rest, he could not jump the highest.
Mr Lim fell down in spite of the fact that the floor was slippery.
Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs are a common feature of grammar and vocabulary items, often appearing in grammar mcq / grammar cloze / comprehension cloze / editing / vocabulary mcq
A phrasal verb involved a verb + preposition as a phrase.
e.g
Fall back
Climb over
Run through
Take in
This link here <-- is a good web page to learn about the various phrasal verbs which you can apply to your work.
For Synthesis & Transformation, it really requires you to be mindful of the grammar rules and structures. Make a point to remember and apply them accordingly.
Thank you,
Sincerely,
Mr Nelson Ong
Saturday, 7 February 2015
Recap of Week 5 & Summary of Meet the Parents session
Dear all,
Here is a brief recap of week 5.
We have completed all the Comprehension OE exercises. Once again, I need to emphasize the following points:
- The skills and approach to attempting your comprehension OE is important if you want to score well for the section.
- Read the questions first to focus on what you are looking out for.
- Spend tome time to do your pre-reading activity (What i know / What i want to know)
- The questions tell the story in a brief manner. It is important to activate some knowledge before you read.
- Highlight the key words in the questions (5W1H and tenses)
- Pre-reading should be done BEFORE reading the passage if not it defeats the purpose.
- This is something in which all of you should be doing first.
- As you read the passage, be sure to underline and highlight the important points to your answers.
- Punctuation should be clear in your answers. Many of you are still missing out full-stops and that should not be the case. Be very careful.
Also, I have set a small task for you this weekend to design your own 'I am a Reader' file. I am starting this file to get you started on reading. For those who have been reading diligently, keep it up. For those who barely read, it is time to get you started.
Reading is always an important tool to improve your command of English. However, when you read, you need to be focused too. There are two main ways to read.
1. Reading for content / ideas
- Each author has a different style of writing. I will not tell you a specific author to just read on. Keep your options open and expose yourself to different styles of writing. Read for the ideas and relate the ideas to specific themes/topics which you can use for your own writing.
2. Reading to improve vocabulary
- When you come across difficult words in your reading, how often do you really jot down these words and their meanings? If you have not done so, it is time to start with this good habit. Now that you have your English notes, jot down the words you come across in the book with the meaning. It need not be every word. It can just be 3 - 5 words each time you read.
- After jotting down the meaning, you also need to be able to see how the word relates to a topic. Is the word a positive or negative word? Under what topic can I use the word? Is it to describe something happy / sad / angry / scary?
- A word loses its meaning when you only understand its meaning. It becomes embedded in your memory when you not only know the meaning but also how to use it.
This reading file will be your tool to apply what you have read and how reading can be effective through a series of activities and sharing.
Do not just read fantasy stories. Read information reports, newspaper articles, diaries, autobiographies, biographies and local stories. You do not apply ideas in fantasy stories in your composition writing. You do not write that your character will fly over the mountains or hop onto mystical creatures. As such, fantasies will only be really effective to learn about emotions and description of characters.
Comprehension Cloze
The key here to scoring well is also to apply the following skills. We have attempted 2 exercises thus far and as we practised more, I hope to build your confidence and not have you to be too afraid of this section.
1. Read once through for ideas first. Identify the main idea of the passage
2. As you read, you need to form images in your mind too. Visuals brings out understanding the story even more.
3. Highlight the key words (Tenses / singular / plural)
4. Draw the arrows for the clues. You can definitely find the answers to a couple of the blanks in the passage itself. It is a giveaway provided you really read through carefully.
Dear Parents,
In case if you have missed the session or are unable to make it, here is a recap:
Q. How do I help my child to improve his writing?
A. It starts with speaking. Being able to speak well is the key to get started as a writer. Writers are able to express their thoughts clearly with details. As such, do get your kids to speak to you and clarify their thoughts. Do not let them get away with just a yes/no answer. Get them to explain why and how. It is always the 'why' and 'how' portion which plays an important role to scoring well and writing well.
I would also recommend picking up model compositions books and vocabulary words/phrases books (thematic). Thematic here would mean having different topics with the application of different words and phrases under them.
Have your child to pick up a set of words/phrases that he or she is comfortable with and to apply them consistently. It is not about worrying about how many words you can use each time but being able to use a set of words consistently in your writing no matter what the topic is. We will not fault your child if he uses the same good vocabulary each time. Credit is given when a child is able to use the apt vocabulary words appropriately.
As mentioned above, reading is also important but focus on the reading. Choose your books wisely. The genre and type of book plays an important role.
Q. Are newspaper articles important? What is the relevance of it to helping my child?
A. Newspaper articles are important to allow your child to be updated of current affairs and to stay relevant. The curriculum is moving towards application of real life situations to practice and examination questions. You do notice a trend of infusing news reports into our daily practice and examination questions. It is more meaningful and relevant to have pupils to relate what they know in real life to assessing them.
What I will do each week is to get the pupils to share their articles with their peers to exchange ideas and practise on their oratorical skills. The reason why I get pupils to draw up an image of their understanding of the article is get them to use their visualisation skills to relate to the story and form the mental image of the story in their mind as they read.
Pupils are first told to get their peers to guess the story through the pictures they have drawn. In this way, it is also an opportunity to practise for the oral examinations.
At the end of the sharing session, I would then post some of the works of the pupils on the blog for viewing and learning of ideas.
Some of the other queries would relate to reading and comprehension which are stated as above.
Thank you everyone for your support and comments about the blog. This blog is essentially for the pupils and for every single parent to be updated of what is going on in your child's classroom. :)
Have a good weekend,
Reminders for pupils:
- Practice paper MCQ questions only!
- I am a reading Cover page design
- Spelling & Dictation 4 corrections + signature
Sincerely,
Mr Nelson Ong
Here is a brief recap of week 5.
We have completed all the Comprehension OE exercises. Once again, I need to emphasize the following points:
- The skills and approach to attempting your comprehension OE is important if you want to score well for the section.
- Read the questions first to focus on what you are looking out for.
- Spend tome time to do your pre-reading activity (What i know / What i want to know)
- The questions tell the story in a brief manner. It is important to activate some knowledge before you read.
- Highlight the key words in the questions (5W1H and tenses)
- Pre-reading should be done BEFORE reading the passage if not it defeats the purpose.
- This is something in which all of you should be doing first.
- As you read the passage, be sure to underline and highlight the important points to your answers.
- Punctuation should be clear in your answers. Many of you are still missing out full-stops and that should not be the case. Be very careful.
Also, I have set a small task for you this weekend to design your own 'I am a Reader' file. I am starting this file to get you started on reading. For those who have been reading diligently, keep it up. For those who barely read, it is time to get you started.
Reading is always an important tool to improve your command of English. However, when you read, you need to be focused too. There are two main ways to read.
1. Reading for content / ideas
- Each author has a different style of writing. I will not tell you a specific author to just read on. Keep your options open and expose yourself to different styles of writing. Read for the ideas and relate the ideas to specific themes/topics which you can use for your own writing.
2. Reading to improve vocabulary
- When you come across difficult words in your reading, how often do you really jot down these words and their meanings? If you have not done so, it is time to start with this good habit. Now that you have your English notes, jot down the words you come across in the book with the meaning. It need not be every word. It can just be 3 - 5 words each time you read.
- After jotting down the meaning, you also need to be able to see how the word relates to a topic. Is the word a positive or negative word? Under what topic can I use the word? Is it to describe something happy / sad / angry / scary?
- A word loses its meaning when you only understand its meaning. It becomes embedded in your memory when you not only know the meaning but also how to use it.
This reading file will be your tool to apply what you have read and how reading can be effective through a series of activities and sharing.
Do not just read fantasy stories. Read information reports, newspaper articles, diaries, autobiographies, biographies and local stories. You do not apply ideas in fantasy stories in your composition writing. You do not write that your character will fly over the mountains or hop onto mystical creatures. As such, fantasies will only be really effective to learn about emotions and description of characters.
Comprehension Cloze
The key here to scoring well is also to apply the following skills. We have attempted 2 exercises thus far and as we practised more, I hope to build your confidence and not have you to be too afraid of this section.
1. Read once through for ideas first. Identify the main idea of the passage
2. As you read, you need to form images in your mind too. Visuals brings out understanding the story even more.
3. Highlight the key words (Tenses / singular / plural)
4. Draw the arrows for the clues. You can definitely find the answers to a couple of the blanks in the passage itself. It is a giveaway provided you really read through carefully.
Dear Parents,
In case if you have missed the session or are unable to make it, here is a recap:
Q. How do I help my child to improve his writing?
A. It starts with speaking. Being able to speak well is the key to get started as a writer. Writers are able to express their thoughts clearly with details. As such, do get your kids to speak to you and clarify their thoughts. Do not let them get away with just a yes/no answer. Get them to explain why and how. It is always the 'why' and 'how' portion which plays an important role to scoring well and writing well.
I would also recommend picking up model compositions books and vocabulary words/phrases books (thematic). Thematic here would mean having different topics with the application of different words and phrases under them.
Have your child to pick up a set of words/phrases that he or she is comfortable with and to apply them consistently. It is not about worrying about how many words you can use each time but being able to use a set of words consistently in your writing no matter what the topic is. We will not fault your child if he uses the same good vocabulary each time. Credit is given when a child is able to use the apt vocabulary words appropriately.
As mentioned above, reading is also important but focus on the reading. Choose your books wisely. The genre and type of book plays an important role.
Q. Are newspaper articles important? What is the relevance of it to helping my child?
A. Newspaper articles are important to allow your child to be updated of current affairs and to stay relevant. The curriculum is moving towards application of real life situations to practice and examination questions. You do notice a trend of infusing news reports into our daily practice and examination questions. It is more meaningful and relevant to have pupils to relate what they know in real life to assessing them.
What I will do each week is to get the pupils to share their articles with their peers to exchange ideas and practise on their oratorical skills. The reason why I get pupils to draw up an image of their understanding of the article is get them to use their visualisation skills to relate to the story and form the mental image of the story in their mind as they read.
Pupils are first told to get their peers to guess the story through the pictures they have drawn. In this way, it is also an opportunity to practise for the oral examinations.
At the end of the sharing session, I would then post some of the works of the pupils on the blog for viewing and learning of ideas.
Some of the other queries would relate to reading and comprehension which are stated as above.
Thank you everyone for your support and comments about the blog. This blog is essentially for the pupils and for every single parent to be updated of what is going on in your child's classroom. :)
Have a good weekend,
Reminders for pupils:
- Practice paper MCQ questions only!
- I am a reading Cover page design
- Spelling & Dictation 4 corrections + signature
Sincerely,
Mr Nelson Ong
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