Friday, 29th March 2024

Friday, 29th March 2024

Learning at Their Own Level in Pri 5

02 Jul 2008

Gongshang Primary subject-based banding

A variety of games help Pri 5 students at Gongshang Primary School with their Mathematics learning.

His eyebrows furrowed in deep concentration, Pri 5 student Daniel Ng Wei Xiang was racking his brains, trying to guess what his partner was drawing on the whiteboard. When realisation dawned, he burst out shouting, “Scientist!” – and was rewarded with whoops of joy and an advancement of one square for his team.

It looks like just a game of Pictionary, but it was also an opportunity for Daniel and his classmates to build up their vocabulary. His teacher at Gongshang Primary School, Mdm Sharifah Rahmah, uses this to increase her students’ interest and confidence level in their Foundation English. Similarly, to help them in their Foundation Mathematics, she uses other activities like memory cards and Sudoku.

Studying subjects at different levels

While foundation subjects are not new in the primary school system, Daniel is part of the pioneer batch of Pri 5 students who take a mix of standard or foundation subjects under the newly introduced Subject-Based Banding. Previously, Pri 5 students would have taken all subjects at foundation level or standard MTL and 3 other foundation subjects (if they were in the EM3 stream) or all subjects at standard level (for all other pupils). Now they can take a combination of standard and foundation subjects depending on their aptitude for each subject.

Gongshang Primary subject-based banding

Gongshang Primary students taking foundation subjects enjoy classes with a smaller teacher-student ratio.

With this approach, students can take each subject at a level that is suited to their ability and pace of learning. Those who have demonstrated that they are strong in a subject can offer it at the standard level, while taking their other subjects at foundation level. Those who face considerable difficulty in coping with all the subjects at the standard level can opt to do some subjects at the foundation level. Taking their weak subjects at the foundation level will allow these students to have a better grasp of the fundamentals and prepare them for progression to secondary school.

Subject-Based Banding kicked off in all primary schools in January this year. Students and their parents were advised on what subject combinations would best suit them . This recommendation was based on their performance at school examinations.

Greater flexibility, greater interaction

At Gongshang Primary School, the keywords behind Subject-Based Banding are flexibility and support. Pri 5 level manager Mr Chua Kwan Heng explains, “For example, some students who were designated to take English at the foundation level, are given the chance to first take it at the standard level in Pri 5. We give them additional support by giving them an additional three periods in English on top of the normal 13 periods. They can later switch to taking it at the foundation level in Pri 6, if they are unable to cope.”

Gongshang Primary subject-based banding

Mdm Sharifah encourages students with different academic strengths to interact and learn from each other.

Parents need not worry that their child will be restricted in their choice of subject combinations due to Subject-Based Banding. Pri 4 level manager Mrs Low Yee Wah explains, “Parents and students who would have previously been in the EM3 stream can choose from seven possible combinations. All these students have now chosen one of these two combinations: 4 foundation subjects or 3 foundation subjects and 1 standard subject. (To check with school again on this point)

In a bid to offer customised learning experiences without the downside of segregation, teachers have devised the timetables such that the students under the Subject-Based Banding initiative are split into two different classes, and merged with other students taking different combinations. Students stay with their peers when they are taking subjects such as Music and Physical Education, but go to separate classes for their foundation subject lessons.

This creates an atmosphere where there is greater interaction amongst students with different strengths, thus boosting morale. Mdm Sharifah explains, “In the past, other students would brand them as EM3 students. But now, because they stay in the classroom for many of the common subjects, it nurtures a sense of belonging for them.” This enhanced morale has even translated into observable improvements in their results, as Mdm Sharifah points out, “They just had an English test, and some of these students performed just as well as some of other students who offer the subject at the standard level!”

In foundation subject lessons, there is a smaller student-to-teacher ratio, benefitting teachers and students alike. Students can receive immediate feedback on their lessons, an advantage which students like Liau Wei Loong, recognise. He quips, “In class, my teacher goes through our compositions and we read through it more thoroughly. Now I can see my mistakes more clearly and learn how to improve.”

Look out on Friday for part 2 of Schoolbag’s look at how other primary schools are implementing Subject-Based Banding.