Standardised and authentic English learning in BMH can ensure that children's learning is rigorous and formal.
In Pre School, we set up three tailored and systematic courses to provide comprehensive English learning for our children. These three courses are Phonics, Guided Reading and Talk for Writing. These three English learning courses are all approved by the British Ministry of Education. Children at our Pre School, guided by the English-speaking curriculum system, learn English in the same way as their peers in the UK.
We previously hosted a coffee afternoon where we discussed two essential literacy strategies: Guided Reading and Talk for Writing (T4W). These approaches play a pivotal role in nurturing our students' development in both reading and writing, and we were excited to share how we implement them across different year groups.
In K2, we begin with a shared reading program in Term 1 to cultivate a love for reading and an appreciation for books. Students use pictures to infer meaning and practice simple sentences like “I see a flower/ an elephant.”
Sight words and high-frequency words are introduced to boost reading fluency. Students also take home an emergent reader that incorporates these words and CVC words practiced in class.
In Term 2, students are grouped based on their reading levels, and they start using library books suited to their individual abilities.
Guided reading in K3 is a key part of our weekly routine, where children engage with reading and phonics-based tasks. Fun and interactive challenges linked to their phonics learning and key words from the guided reading book help reinforce the skills they are learning. While students work independently on accessible tasks, small groups receive in-depth sessions for more focused support.
How Parents Can Help at Home?
·Check Managebac daily for updates on phonics and reading
·Read the guided reading book together every day to reinforce what’s learned in class
·Upload your child’s reading videos which will be broadcasted on the BMH morning broadcast, helping to boost students' confidence
Talk for Writing enhances vocabulary and critical thinking through interactive storytelling and creative activities.
The process includes:
Hook: Engaging activity to capture interest
Cold Task: Imaginative task to ignite creativity
Story Reading: Reading the story multiple times to familiarize students with its structure
Action Creation: Developing actions for key phrases to make the story memorable
Story Mapping: Creating drawings to visualize and organize the story
Hot Task: Students change parts of the story, allowing for creative expression while maintaining the story's flow
Similarities & differences
for T4W in K2 and K3
Both levels focus on developing oral language skills, igniting creativity, encouraging active participation, and expressing ideas. However, in K2, the focus is on listening to stories and understanding their content, while in K3, the emphasis shifts to deeper understanding of story and character motivations through guided discussions.
In K2, students retell parts of the story using simple phrases, while in K3, they use more complex vocabulary and are encouraged to add descriptors.
How Parents Can Help at Home?
·Being enthusiastic about reading and sharing stories
·Reading books together every day, especially at bedtime
·Involving siblings or family members in the storytelling process
·Celebrating successes to build confidence and encourage creativity
At the Pre school, we have implemented a readers wall that encourages children to develop active reading habits and to improve their literacy skills. The programme begins with children reading five books and progresses to the 'Lightspeed Literate' level. We are excited to see more children engage with literature and progress through the programme.
We look forward to continuing to build a strong foundation in reading and writing for all our students!
