Taking the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) is the first major milestone in your child’s education journey. During this period of heightened stress, it is vital to manage their health and wellbeing by eating healthy to receive the essential nutrients. A growing child needs proper nutrition for cognitive brain development. Nutrient deficiencies can lead to less effective communication between brain cells, which could impair language development. A balanced diet provides the energy and mental clarity needed for your child to excel in subjects like English, which requires contextual understanding and proofreading skills.
In Singapore, the Singapore Standard 692 Guidelines for Nutrition and Food Services for Infants and Children (SS 692) was developed by the National Healthcare Group. The standard launched in 2023 recommended that children’s lunch and dinner should include four main food groups – whole grains, lean meat, vegetables and fruit. This is to ensure that they receive a well-balanced diet and have adequate serving portions. (Source: Straits Times)
Let us delve deeper into why each food category is important:
1. Whole Grains
Whole grains are an excellent source of complex carbohydrates, which break down into glucose and form the body’s primary energy source. Our brain accounts for approximately 20% of our total energy consumption. Hence, the consumption of healthy complex carbohydrates helps maintain concentration and energy levels throughout the day, crucial for sustained study sessions and physical activities.
Additionally, whole grains like brown rice and oatmeal are high in dietary fibre and vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin B, Magnesium and Iron.
2. Lean Meat
Lean meats are lower in saturated fat but rich in high-quality protein, which provides essential amino acids that are required for muscle repair and growth, as well as neurotransmitter production. This ensures that your child can maintain his/her physical strength and keep his/her mind and memory sharp.
3. Fruit and Vegetables
If your child is a picky eater, chances are it is fruits and vegetables that they struggle with. Fruits and vegetables are high in vitamins (A, C, K and Folate), minerals (Potassium and Magnesium), antioxidants and fibre. This can help strengthen your child’s immune system and fight illnesses, especially during the exam season.
Studies have shown that antioxidants protect the brain from oxidative stress and improves cognitive function due to their ability to fight off harmful free radicals. Thus, to reap the brain-boosting benefits, encourage your child to consume berries, nuts and dark chocolate, which are rich in these beneficial antioxidants.
A nutritious diet not only supports your child’s overall health, but also enhances cognitive skills that are essential for them to tackle the PSLE English Examinations. For example, the ability to organise thoughts when planning compositions, craft coherent sentences and express ideas clearly can be improved with proper nutrition and diet. Let’s look at some past year PSLE composition questions to get a better idea of what could be tested.
2023 PSLE Paper 1: Write a composition of at least 150 words about a change for the better.
Consider the following points when you plan your composition:
- What change was needed?
- What actions were done to make the change?
- What improvements did the change bring?
2022 PSLE Paper 1: Write a composition of at least 150 words about a long wait.
Consider the following points when you plan your composition:
- What was the wait about?
- What happened in the end?
Looking at these questions, you might be wondering: What are some skills my child can apply during the English Paper 1 to achieve high marks for his/her composition? Is there a need to memorise “good phrases” and model compositions to impress the marker? Rest assured, these questions can be answered at Writers At Work, where we offer English composition writing classes in Marine Parade, as well as many other locations around Singapore. Remember to encourage your child to eat healthily by following the “My Healthy Plate” and ensuring that he/she gets the necessary nutrients from eating a variety of food. If you are keen to find out more about how you can better support your child during the exam season, do check out our other blogs!
Attain Stellar Results with WRITERS AT WORK!
English is a compulsory subject which all students must undertake. However, mastering the English language is not something which happens overnight – it takes consistent practice and effort to learn the nuances of the language. Students must read more and practice writing to gradually improve. Cramming for a language subject nearer to the exams is an impossible feat. After all, Rome was not built in a day! Attaining such a skill will have positive implications for not only your child’s education in school, but also employment prospects in future.
At WRITERS AT WORK, we are committed to providing the smoothest learning experience for your child sitting for their English exams. With our carefully curated methods of teaching your child how to write well, your child will learn how to present their thoughts and arguments in a coherent and concise manner. WRITERS AT WORK reinforces your child’s language skills and provides a strong foundation for their academic success, keeping up with all aspects of their progress both inside and outside of the classroom to nurture them holistically. For more information about how WRITERS AT WORK makes a difference, feel free to explore our website, watch our YouTube videos and catch us LIVE on TikTok!
If you are interested in our primary English tuition and secondary English tuition in Singapore, WRITERS AT WORK has expanded to 9 convenient locations. To find the nearest location that suits your needs, please explore our options. If you have any inquiries regarding our range of programs or class schedules, please feel free to contact WRITERS AT WORK!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
1. What Do You Learn in English Writing Class?
2. How Can I Improve My Child’s Creative Writing Skills?
One way to enhance a child’s creative writing skills is by reading model compositions. After all, children cannot write about what they do not know. By reading how good essays are written and attempting to imitate them, children will pick up sentence mechanics and vocabulary they can use in their own exams. Reading more will also give students ideas about the various contexts they can write an essay about as they will be able to broaden their horizon of experiences.
3. Why is It Important to Take Writing Classes?
4.What Age Do Kids Start Creative Writing?
