The mid year exams is just round the corner. I’ve prepared loads of materials to help my son who’s in P2, with his revisions. And to make mugging for exams as interesting as it permits, I searched extensively for  interesting websites, especially those with animations and interactive games. When I could not find the ideal materials, I made them myself!

I toiled through the night to compile a list of of past and present tense for irregular verbs. Next, I made flash cards – present tense on one side, past tense on the other. My son was elated when he saw the flash cards and that encouraged him to memorize most of the irregular verbs.

Download : Past-Present Tense for Irregular Verbs

Grammar drives me up the wall! Why is the comparative of light, light-er while expensive, not expendsiv-ier?

So I learnt – Verbs with more than 2 syllables, the comparative and Superlative forms do not follow the convention of adding er, instead, add more and most before the verb. Again, not without exceptions! Arrggggg!!!!

What is an adjective?

An adjective is a word that tells us more about a noun. I found this this website which arranged the comparative adjectives by groups such as feelings, size, time, shape, etc. Useful for writing stories (composition).

There are 3 ways to compare adjectives.

• Positive degree. The simplest form.
  When we do not compare a noun with another.
  Example : Amanda is tall.

• Comparative degree.
  When we are comparing [strictly]two nouns.
  Example : Amanda is taller than Belinda.
  *clue

• Superlative degree.
  When comparing more than two nouns.
  Example : Amanda is the tallest girl in class.
  *clue

.General Rules

• Add er and est
  Example : great, greater, greatest

• If adjective ends with y, change the y to ier and iest.
  Example : angry, angrier, angriest

• If adjective ends with e, add r and st.
  Example : fine, finer, finest

• For adjectives more than 2 syllables, use more, most before the adjective.
  Example : beautiful, more beautiful, most beautiful

Exception

• big, bigger, biggest (Note: the last letter ‘g’ is repeated)

• bad, worse, worst (irregular verbs)

• perfect (incomparable adjectives)

In my opinion, it is worth the effort to memorize the exceptions. I have compiled a list which you can download and print.

Download : Comparative Adjective

Websites :

The Children’s University of Manchester. Gives a good summary of the topic. Includes interactive games.

I have completed my work in Xuhui campus and I am now at the main campus in Minhang.

As an education consultant, my role is to identify strengths and Area for Improvement (AFIs) through meetings, lesson observations and focus group interviews. As of now, interviews, meeting notes  – all collated. Its just data analysis and putting everything into a report before presenting them to the management end next week.

I am also preparing for a sharing session on how to use blogs as an educational tool to enhance teaching and learning for staff from both campuses.

My work attachment is coming to an end soon and I am looking forward to my extended stay to tour Shanghai with my husband who would be joining me soon.

View Photo Album : Singapore Shanghai International School

Yesterday was dinner with some of the school’s management who were Singaporeans. (I could never have imagined having so much fun dining with the Principal! ) And tonight, was dinner at a colleague’s home with some other Singaporean teachers.

On both occasions, we thanked each other for the company before we part. To me, it was deeper than good byes, more profound than friendship. I would say, its comradeship.

A strange bond, maybe even a queer sense of patriotism brought warmth to the frigid winter night as we spoke fondly about our homeland, crack jokes about our government, lament about our system and salivate at the thoughts of Laksa!

It was like a scene from media back home, laced with nationalism propaganda – We are Singapore..We are Singapore … ! Yet, I relished every moment, as that was the very first time I could truly relate to my nationality.

I am Singaporean.

Beginning to get use to the lifestyle here as I got into a routine. School starts at 8.30am and ends at 3.30pm with one hour lunch in between. But I leave home as early as 6.50am and only gets home by 5pm as the journey to and from school takes more than 1.5 hours, depending on traffic conditions.

I take the school bus, a small 10 seater van. The journeys are real adventures – no regrets pouring money into insurance! I could literally see vehicles coming head on towards us and the driver would skillfully swerves the very last second missing by inches. The bumpy rides get my internal organs completely rearranged!

But nothing beats crossing the roads here where traffic rules are almost non-existence with cars coming from all directions. You just have to summoned every ounce of your courage, take a deep breathe, say a prayer and dash across! Its amazing I am still alive and in one piece!

Got to know some collegeus who were also staying in the same estate. The weekends were packed with fun – visiting places, eating, shopping, parties, get-to-gether, laughing, chattering. Though alone in a foreign land, I was not lonely in the company of my new found friends.

View Photo Album : Singapore Shanghai International School