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Lesson has been pushed back by yet another week... However, that should allow us to be more prepared for the lessons ahead. Rattanin would prepare his lesson materials by Friday so we would have the weekends to familiarize ourselves with it. Meanwhile, the rest of us ought to embark on another part of our research.

Like all researches, we need our own literature review. And by literature review, I do not mean merely listing related literature, but doing an analysis of the articles or reports found. Thus, as Rattanin works on his lesson materials, the rest of us should get started with it. I have came up with a word document to summarize how the literature review should be done so do refer to that which has been sent out via email.
I hope that we can all take this literature review seriously as it would be a pillar of support for our research throughout the course of our project. Thus, do get started with it. Here is the work distribution for the weekend:
Ping Chong: Search for articles for literature review, doing up of lesson plan 1 in details with Rattanin
Rattanin: Finish up the Preparation for Lesson 1 and send them all out by Friday night
Jon-Hann: Work with Shi Jian on the Literature Review
Shi Jian: Work with Jon-Hann on the Literature Review
Shaun: Search for articles for Literature Review

Hope that we can make as much progress over the weekends and please start preparing for individual lesson that you are in charge of so that by that time, we would be adequately
prepared. Also, I understand that sometimes the workload may seem unfair but we all have times here we end up doing more work so don't be too petty about the workload.
Hope you guys have a nice weekend.

Ping Chong

Dear Group members,

The meeting yesterday was quite a big mess. I admit that we weren't really prepared and ready to produced that completed lesson plan at that time, it was more than that which prevented us from accomplishing what we aimed to. Perhaps I should have reminded everyone of the goal the meeting yesterday, which I did mention in previous emails, but I think everyone was very distracted yesterday. We sort of lost focus and wasted a lot of time doing nothing. I think given the tight schedule, we cannot afford to do so anymore. So, I implore for everyone to stay focus during the upcoming meetings and be prepared for them.

Now however, we would have to deal with some matters of utmost importance and urgency. WE NEED TO GET THE LESSON PLAN DONE! So we'll split up the work and everyone would be in-charge of one lesson. Thus, I need the details to be included in each of your lesson plans and we would need this done by tonight.... Please refer to the email ive sent out to you for the allocation of lessons.
Another issue is the schedule. Here is the schedule I propose:
Lesson 1: 31st March 3pm- 4pm
Lesson 2: 14th April 3pm- 4pm
Lesson 3: 28th April 3pm- 4pm
Lesson 4&5: Day 1 of the 2-day program during the June Hols 2pm- 5pm
Lesson 6: Day 2 of the 2-day program during the June Hols 2pm- 3 30pm
(Parents may be invited to be present at the showcase during lesson 6)

What do you guys think?

So much being said, I really wish that the same amount can be done, and although each one of us has other commitments, I wish we can all set aside some time for this extremely meaningful project.

Thanks,
Ping Chong

Another meeting passed and our idea and proposal has yet again changed. As much as this shows that we are striving to do our best and make the most out of our lessons with the children, it also goes to show that we have not been able to settle down with a confirmed project proposal. That being said, I think this new idea sets a much clearer path and method as to how the lessons would be conducted, so hopefully we can piece everything together soon and start our lessons!


For the benefit of Shaun and Shi Jian who missed much of the meeting on Thursday, here is what we have decided on:
Our new idea overthrows the previous one about using books as a storyline. We would now dramatize a story, set in the neighborhood, and allow the children to observe. This storyline would provide chances of interaction where the children may decide on certain actions of the characters. There would also be scenes were the actors freeze in their positions and vocabulary cards are introduced to explain the action and meaning of the word. The story would revolve around a main theme of 'Consideration in my Neighborhood'.
Next, the children would be asked to rewrite the story they have witnessed, in their own way, guided by photographs of scenes, and the vocabulary cards used.
Lastly, The children would be asked to illustrate the scene(s), with the help of the photographs of scenes, and also the arts lesson which shall be planned by Rattanin.
That is the brief overview of the idea we have discussed about and most probably decided on.

Hopefully, no massive changes to our project idea have to be made again. In this light, everyone would need to do your part to ensure the success of this idea. Here is the current distribution of work:
Ping Chong: Reconstruct the project proposal with the new idea. Email should include the new idea, justification, draft of storyline and art segments of the lessons.

Jon-Hann: Create a suitable storyline which includes theme of consideration in neighborhood and include possible vocabulary words to be introduced. Add in the scenes to pause at for flashing of vocabulary words and also points where the children get to decide on the storyline. About 5 to 10 minute story, considering having to speak at a slower pace.

Rattanin: Provide detailed lesson plan for the art aspects of lessons. Cover the different aspects of art and elaborate on the details of procedures of teaching or providing the different art types.

Shaun & Shi Jian: Find out more about the education of language, in fields of Grammar and Vocabulary, and justify our method of conducting lessons. For example, vocabulary cards allow the children to link the words visually, to the action and thus meaning of word.

Find out more about Dramatization, especially having children as the audience. Link how dramatization is a good way to present our story, and how it helps to teach the language and arts, linking back to our lesson objectives.


Please refer to the Meeting minutes sent out recently for more details. We would most probably be meeting on Thursday again.

Hope everyone has a happy, meaningful March Holidays!

Ping Chong


Basically, today's meeting was to distribute the work that was to be done over the weekend.
Here is the rough guide:
Ping Chong: 1) Email Mrs Tan about Friday's program
2) Fill up RESL Contract form
3) Edit others' tasks

Rattanin: 1) Draft out our lesson plan
2) Look through RESL Contract and feedback

Shi Jian: 1) Draft out 'test' for the children on Friday.
2) Look through RESL Contract and feedback

Jon-Hann: 1) Research on relevant topics of early childhood theories, foundation language mastery, arts and social trends to substantiate and support our research.
2) Look through RESL Contract and feedback

Shaun: 1) Research on relevant topics of early childhood theories, foundation language mastery, arts and social trends to substantiate and support our research.
2) Look through RESL Contract and feedback

Basically, everyone should get their parts done preferably by Sunday afternoon, so that we can take a look at every thing and edit accordingly.
With all this prepared and familiarized with, we would need to confirm the following on Wednesday's meeting:
1) Lesson Plan - more details
2) Friday's program - every single part
3) A date to meet up to head down to a library/ bookshop to search for materials.

So that's all for now.

Draft outline of the lesson~

Posted by Name: Junior (Rattanin) comments (0)

Since I'm early and Ping Chong have yet to send me the template, I'll just post it here for the time being.


Lesson 1
- Ice Breaker ( 15min )
- Data Collection
English ( 20min )
Art ( 10min )
- Introduction to simple illustrations of stories [very short text] ( 15min )

Lesson 2
- [Short Text] x Illustration session ( 15min )
- Lesson : Adjectives x visual pictures of objects + expression of character's emotion [through facial/actions] ( 20 min )
- [Text] => Illustration [Art Focus] ( 15min )

Lesson 3
- Introduction to landscape + outdoor session [observation] ( 30min )
- [Text] => Illustration : Indications and signs of movements, positioning of objects in landscape scenarios [Art Focus] ( 30min )
* Homework : Key vocab for the following lesson

Lesson 4
- Recapping of words ( 10min )
- Lesson : Formation of simple-structured sentences ( 20min )
- [Illustration] => Text : Usage of connectors and correction of grammatical errors/misconceptions [English Focus] ( 30min )

Lesson 5
- Recapping of adjectives <=> application on objects ( 5min )
- Recapping of sentence structure, usage of punctuation and proper syntax ( 10min )
- Activity : [Illustration <=> Text] - Students given both words and picture of objects and they are supposed to come up with a short story and its illustrations ( 40min )
- Debrief ( 5min )

---- This outline is very susceptible to changes -----

Starting off..

Posted by Name: Junior (Rattanin) comments (0)

After our first actual visit to our partnership place, I really thought that we can get through this together. Our initial worries that the students' standard of english may be too poor for us to communicate with them were completed lifted and it's reassuring to know that the staffs there, especially the Principal herself, welcomed us and are willing to give us their fullest support.

With much more about the students learnt, we are now able to start off on our detailed planning of the lessons. More research will need to be done with regards to the progress of a child and their artistic (aesthetic) capabilities and expectations. Our outline of the 'illustration' idea pretty much highlight most of the concerns in the field of language but there are much more we can do to ensure the best out of our lesson. Above of all this however, I still believe we lack fundamental knowledge on how to interact/communicate effectively with young children. More works to be done, so to say.

P.S. - Link for the art development of children
http://www.learningdesign.com/Portfolio/DrawDev/kiddrawing.html

The LW visit on Friday is very meaningful and useful for both myself and the group. We learnt many things, e.g. structure of the kindergarden, how to handle kids and things to take note of. We finally decided on the module we are going to do- teaching english through illustrating and caption of picture books. I am aware that a very difficult and stressful, but I am sure that it will be a meaningful and fruitful experience, both for the children and ourselves. Now, we need to work hard to prepare a good lesson plan that need to go through many people and I am honestly
afraid. However, I will not lose hope and try my hardest, hoping for the best.

Yang Shijian/User:Ysjzysn

About this blog

RE-SL Group 39
Mentor by :
Mrs Lim Yoke Tong
• Yeo Ping Chong (Leader)
• Yeo Jon-Hann
• Rattanin Siripornpitak
• Yang Shi Jian
• Shaun Ming Choo

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