All About English Creative Writing

[sky minecrafter]

bluegal6:

for creative writing enrichment, do they give a lot of homework? Usually what kind of homework does a student expected to do for the next lesson?

Hi bluegal6, Joy of Learning 111, nicnac,

(1) Writing draft 2/corrections of particular expressions/copying out a model composition
(2) Spelling (about 10 words/expressions taken from the model composition)

I agree w Joy of Learning; for writing, one needs to write regularly (a piece a week should not burn out e child I suppose) to improve. Hope the sharing helps.

[nicnac]

sky minecrafter:

bluegal6:

for creative writing enrichment, do they give a lot of homework? Usually what kind of homework does a student expected to do for the next lesson?

Hi bluegal6, Joy of Learning 111, nicnac,

(1) Writing draft 2/corrections of particular expressions/copying out a model composition
(2) Spelling (about 10 words/expressions taken from the model composition)

I agree w Joy of Learning; for writing, one needs to write regularly (a piece a week should not burn out e child I suppose) to improve. Hope the sharing helps.

Before joining the centre, I heard about doing draft 2 and copying model compos from my kiddo's friends' parents. But so far, for the coming 2 yrs she has not done any copying of model compo for homework. Dd's friends started taking lessons in P1 but DD only started when she was in P3. Not sure, if it is because they only do it in the lower primary classes.

[bluegal6]

sky minecrafter:

bluegal6:

for creative writing enrichment, do they give a lot of homework? Usually what kind of homework does a student expected to do for the next lesson?

Hi bluegal6, Joy of Learning 111, nicnac,

(1) Writing draft 2/corrections of particular expressions/copying out a model composition
(2) Spelling (about 10 words/expressions taken from the model composition)

I agree w Joy of Learning; for writing, one needs to write regularly (a piece a week should not burn out e child I suppose) to improve. Hope the sharing helps.

My child's homework is exactly the same as sky minecrafter mention. I am not sure if our child attended the same centre or all creative writing centre works the same... But right now my child can't cope with the homework on top of school homework. But does copying model composition really help? Pardon me but i really do not understand why get the child to copy model composition when at the end of the day the test question won't be the same... It's only the 10 words/expressions is good for the learners... We have been with the centre for almost two years but right now i am wondering if we should continue.

[Joy of Learning 111]

Several centres treat the act of writing as a process, that is, consisting of several relatively discrete steps: brain-storming, first draft, revising (adding and deleting content), second draft, editing (spelling and grammar) and final version (publishing). On top of that, the child is often asked to copy the final version out, yet again, in the end-of-term assessment. All this copying is really tedious and soul-destroying for many children; literally drill and kill.


Copying out a model composition would be an added twist to drill and kill.

In my opinion, some centres simply do not know how to teach creative writing. Copying out a model competition seems an exercise in ‘make work’ and removes the need for the teacher to engage the child in getting the creative juices going. An acceptable variant would be for the child to copy a model composition but to change the ending.

I tend to be somewhat subversive and do not always follow what the centre where I teach expects. I am much more interested in inculcating a love of the language and helping the child to bring out his/her own writer’s voice; one has to be especially mindful that the children in a class tend to be of varying ability. So long as the kids in my class are actually productively writing and developing their writing skills, I feel that educational objectives are being achieved. Parents seem happy enough.

[Joy of Learning 111]

bluegal6:

Pardon me but i really do not understand why get the child to copy model composition when at the end of the day the test question won't be the same... It's only the 10 words/expressions is good for the learners...

I very much take the attitude that when it comes to teaching English the approach should be to help children have such strong language skills that they can cope with any test thrown their way; that is, the teaching is not specifically for a given test.

[bluegal6]

Joy of Learning 111:

bluegal6:

Pardon me but i really do not understand why get the child to copy model composition when at the end of the day the test question won't be the same... It's only the 10 words/expressions is good for the learners...

I very much take the attitude that when it comes to teaching English the approach should be to help children have such strong language skills that they can cope with any test thrown their way; that is, the teaching is not specifically for a given test.

That's why i wonder what is the rationale of copying the model compo again and again... The whole class copy the same compo, the whole class has the same compo, is this call creative.... But i must admit i really like the spelling, which describes the expression very well... But the thing is after one or two weeks my child will forget what was taught because she has to clear her brain for new spelling list every week... I asked another mummy who was in the centre for many year if her children really score very well in their composition writing, eventually no lor...
I think more or less i got the answer of continue the lesson or not...

[mumspaceout]

bearybeary2000:

Keen to sign up my child at this centre set up by ex-teachers. Serena Greenhouse. Any feedback? Think parents' and pupils' feedback is good website so want to know more about their approach.

Hi bearybeary2000

Did you sign up in the end? I went to the centre today and was lucky to see a parent waiting outside the centre. Managed to chat with the parent and found out more about the teachers and the approach. The parent told me that the weekend classes for all subjects are always full. The parent shared that the teachers spend time to prepare their own resources and do not want to have many classes. Only hope is weekday classes which are not many. Wanted to sign up for the current P5 writing class but no vacancy so have to wait for them to start registration and open up another P6 writing class. Keeping my fingers crossed. If no vacancy, have to look for alternative cos next year psle!

[phtthp]

which tuition centre is good for P4/P5 English composition ?

[baobei06]

My girl failed her English composition.

I am very desperate now. She is P4 this year. Next year P5.
Need help and hope you can share which centre is good. She is currently in one of the ‘popular’ centre in thomson but sadly no improvement at all.

[Joy of Learning 111]

baobei06:

My girl failed her English composition.

I am very desperate now. She is P4 this year. Next year P5.
Need help and hope you can share which centre is good. She is currently in one of the 'popular' centre in thomson but sadly no improvement at all.

Hi baobei06

In my opinion, it is not so much the centre as the individual teacher/tutor: an excellent teacher can make effective use of poor materials; a poor teacher cannot make effective use of excellent materials. Still, some centres have more strengths in certain areas that others. If you care to pm a copy of one of your daughter's compositions, I'll happily give you some general advice about what you need to look for in a centre for your daughter's case and which centres that I know of might be able to help.