At Lorna Whiston Schools, we aim to equip students with strategies to help them learn better and install soft skills and values critical for success. We deliver our curriculum through collaborative, inquiry-based tasks that foster fundamental understanding and develop a natural curiosity for seeking knowledge.
Language skills are taught progressively in a multisensory environment by our teachers, who go to great lengths to understand each child’s abilities and needs, differentiating activities to bring out the best in our students.
Our teachers undergo regular training to develop an understanding of the English Language syllabus prescribed by the Ministry of Education and to be exposed to new pedagogical approaches. Lorna Whiston Schools’ English Enrichment classes complement the MOE syllabus in the following ways:
Students receive regular exposure to a wide range of authentic texts. In addition, we focus on empowering our students with writing traits to grow as confident writers.
Students are exposed to a wide range of listening comprehension tasks that enable them to listen to, understand and interpret the information given from a variety of native English speakers’ accents.
Students interact with multimodel texts presented through various platforms. Students also learn the necessary comprehension skills and develop a greater awareness of tackling multiple comprehension questions.
Lorna Whiston Schools focuses on students developing communication skills in authentic situations. Students learn how to present their personal response to a visual stimulus and link their general knowledge to the conversation. Students build confidence in presenting to the class and their peers, and they learn strategies to be effective communicators of Standard English.
We have a unique programme called the Individualised Reading Programme in all our English Enrichment classes. This is shaped based on our belief that reading is not just essential for competently completing school work, but also a vital life skill.
Students have access to a comprehensive library, where books are categorised by “reading levels” and colour-coded accordingly. Students will be encouraged to read many different books at those levels until they show a high level of comprehension and fluency. Our teachers carefully monitor students’ understanding of the words, expressions and storyline and their mastery of decoding skills and correct pronunciation before promoting them to the next reading level.
Through our 2-hour weekly English Enrichment classes, students develop a wide variety of vocabulary and an understanding of language nuances that enable them to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
| PROGRAMME / AGE | SIZE | ACTIVITIES | CLASS OBJECTIVES | |
| Little Explorers 18 months - 3 years | 10 | Multisensory learning centres help children make sense of the world around them, developing their cognitive skills, social skills, and ability to communicate and express themselves verbally in English. They include:
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| Nursery 1-3 years | 10 | Students will enjoy experiential learning in a secure and stimulating environment through carefully selected stories, songs, rhymes and a wide variety of hands-on learning activities that appeal to the children’s interests and suit their relatively short concentration spans. Hands-on activities such as threading, jigsaws, colouring, painting and Play Dough will help students develop fine motor skills and master their pencil grip. |
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| Nursery 2 to Kindergarten 2 4 - 6 years | 12 | We aim to nurture a fundamental love of books and reading. Each lesson is based on a theme and an exciting story that allows students to:
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| Lower Primary 7 - 9 years | 12 | We focus on developing oral language skills, vocabulary, grammar, comprehension and composition at this age. Lessons alternate between a focus on composition writing and comprehension. Other skills are integrated throughout the class. A formal oral language activity (stimulus-based conversation) and listening comprehension will be undertaken at the beginning of every term. |
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| Primary 4 and 5 10 - 11 years | 12 | Our comprehensive and challenging Programme focuses on building upon the children’s vocabulary and developing proficient reading and writing skills. Lessons alternate between a focus on composition writing and comprehension. Other skills are integrated throughout the class. A formal oral language activity (stimulus-based conversation) and listening comprehension will be undertaken at the beginning of every term. |
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| Primary 6-12 years | Besides focusing on academic and life skills, teachers coach students in the social-emotional areas required to succeed in the Primary School Leaving Examination.
Detailed feedback is given for composition writing and situational writing that enables students to progress confidently with their writing. Strategies are also taught for comprehending texts at a deeper level. Weekly class activities include
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With 40 years of expertise and 70,000 alumni, Lorna Whiston is committed to helping children develop a lifelong love for learning, and the confidence to become whatever they want to be.
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