Primary School P1 English Syllabus: Laying the Foundation for Lifelong Learning

The primary school P1 English syllabus is a vital stepping stone in your child’s educational journey. It equips young learners with the basic building blocks of the English language, fostering skills in spelling, grammar, punctuation, reading, and writing. At this stage, students are encouraged to identify key features of texts and express their ideas confidently through speaking and writing. This foundational stage not only prepares them for academic success but also helps them develop effective communication skills.

Core Aspects of Language Learning in the Primary School P1 English Syllabus

The following are the core aspects of language learning which the Primary 1 students will be focusing on to develop literacy as they enter primary school.

1) Reading and Viewing

2) Speaking and Representing

3) Grammar and Vocabulary

4) Listening and Viewing

5) Writing and Representing

Receptive skills (to do with receiving) like listening, reading, and viewing help learners to understand ideas and information while productive skills (to do with producing and creating) like speaking, writing, and representing let them share and express those ideas. When a learner combines these skills, they can communicate better, whether through speech or writing, and use various tools and techniques to create clear and impactful messages.

As complex as the above sounds, do not fret as language skills take time to build and without doubt, our lil’ ones are already embarking on their journey of learning English in one way or another even before they are in Primary 1. As they continue their journey in primary school, the key goals of the Primary School P1 English Syllabus are to inculcate a love for the language and build a strong foundation for the learning of the core language skills.

No Weighted Assessments and Exams in Lower Primary

At the lower primary level, there will be no weighted assessment or examinations. Instead, non-weighted assessments can still take place in the form of mini tests or tasks. These help teachers check what students have learned and identify areas they need to improve. These assessments provide feedback on students’ understanding of concepts and highlight any learning gaps. Additionally, the results offer an idea of students’ academic strengths and readiness to move on to the next level of education.

Primary 1 English Activities in School

Curious about the Primary 1 English activities which your child will be engaged in? Although there may be slight variations or additional initiatives to promote the love for English in different schools, here are 5 English activities which are commonly carried out in the Primary 1 English classrooms across the island.

1) Big Book Reading

STELLAR2.0 which stands for STrategies for Teaching English Language Learning And Reading is a programme instruction used in all the language classrooms in Singapore and it includes the use of big books in the classroom. Whether it is the actual big book or its digital form, lower primary students will enjoy the shared book reading experience which allows them to read for understanding and enjoyment. Based on the story read, the lil’ ones will also be scaffolded to learn explicit language items, skills and structures in a contextualised way.

2) Guided Writing and Individual Writing

From the titles read in class, P1 students are often guided into class and group writing where brainstorming and modelling of writing takes place. This paves the way and scaffold students towards independent writing. During the shared writing experiences, there will be brainstorming of ideas and sometimes, activities carried out that provide the shared experience to be written about e.g. a tea party in class based on a big book title related to a similar topic.

At the P1 level, students will also develop their writing competence with writing based on picture(s) and helping words given. This can vary in different schools but oftentimes, the writing may be based on one picture and students are expected to write a short paragraph with at least three sentences to describe events in the correct sequence order.

It will also be a goal for students to show good handwriting skills like forming letters, placing them correctly, and keeping the size and spacing neat. 

3) Reading Aloud, Show and Tell, Readers’ Theatre

At the lower primary levels, students will have opportunities to build on their reading aloud and presentation skills to express themselves through activities like Show and Tell and Readers’ Theatre. An example of Show and Tell may involve students bringing their favourite item to the classroom to share about it with their friends in a structured manner. Teachers may guide students with the preparation of a script and work on presentation skills such as maintaining eye contact and speaking with confidence.

In some schools, students will progress from Show and Tell to Pick and Tell in Primary 2 which challenges them to respond according to the item they pick from a given box.

4) Spelling

Primary 1 students will have regular spelling practices with spelling lists containing words often taken from the books covered under the shared book reading each term.

5) Journal Writing

Journal writing in a Primary 1 classroom is a simple and engaging activity where young students express their thoughts, feelings, or experiences in writing. Typically, a prompt may be given by the teaching e.g. “What did you do over the weekend?” or “My hobby”. Students are free to write their desired length although different teachers may have different guidelines to challenge the students. A bonus to students who love drawing is that they can support their writing by drawing pictures. This activity helps develop early writing skills, creativity, and confidence while giving teachers insights into the students’ language abilities and personal interests. It’s a fun way for children to practise writing and share their ideas.

Overcoming Common Challenges

Children learning the Primary School P1 English syllabus may face challenges, such as:

• Limited attention spans: Use engaging visuals and activities to maintain focus.
• Difficulty with pronunciation: Provide ample practice opportunities with clear examples.
• Retention of new vocabulary: Reinforce learning with repetition and real-life applications.
• Limited writing skills: Start with simple tasks and gradually progress to more complex writing activities.

How can Parents Help Support their child on Their Primary 1 English Journey?

Transitioning from kindergarten to Primary 1 is not an easy feat at all. Some challenges faced by children include applying phonics rules, understanding exceptions in spelling patterns and reading, and forming coherent written sentences. These tasks can initially be overwhelming but become manageable with consistent practice.

Parents can create a structured routine for learning the language. At home, start by having a language-rich environment by having magazines, books and newspapers easily accessible. It will also be beneficial to establish a routine on reading to inculcate a love for reading. e.g. reading for 15 minutes before bedtime. Frequent visits to the library is also a wonderful way of exposing your child to the variety of books available to help them find books which they will enjoy in terms of content or genre.

It is also important as the child begins the new chapter for parents to help them establish discipline in completing their school work and preparing for class e.g. learning of weekly spelling. Simple conversations about what your child is learning in school encourages expression of their thoughts and feelings which will go a long way, be it in conversational skills or for them to feel supported as they enter primary school.

Lastly, a partnership and communication with your child’s teacher will also ensure that you are able to celebrate your child’s growth in the language which may be better observed from the classroom interactions the teacher has with your child. Additionally, it will also help you to identify and support your child in specific areas which they may need more attention to grow in.

What resources are available?
At Lil’ but Mighty, we have specially prepared a lower primary tool kit to provide resources to support your child during the transition and also to give them a head start! Tap on the free worksheets, educational games, and Lil’ but Mighty’s P1 preparatory workshop to provide invaluable support for mastering the primary school P1 English syllabus.

By making learning enjoyable and interactive, parents and teachers can help students thrive in the primary school P1 English syllabus, laying the groundwork for their future success. Download Lil’ but Mighty’s free Primary 1 English worksheets today to get started!