What is STELLAR? How Primary 1 and 2 English is taught in Singapore

What is STELLAR?

STELLAR is the Ministry of Education's (MOE) English Language programme for primary schools in Singapore. The name stands for Strategies for English Language Learning and Reading. Its central idea is that children learn English most readily when they enjoy it: stories come first, and the language teaching grows out of them.

In the lower primary years, STELLAR is usually described as three connected parts:

• Shared Book Approach: the class reads a big book together with the teacher, over several lessons.
• Modified Language Experience Approach: the class does an activity linked to the book, talks about it and then writes about it, first together, then in groups or pairs, then alone.
• Learning centres: small-group activities at different levels that practise the reading, listening and word skills taught with the big book.

In the upper primary years the strategies change to suit older readers, with more independent reading and writing. Schools adapt all of this to their pupils, so the books, the timetable and the extra programmes vary from school to school. Most schools explain their own approach at a parent briefing early in Primary 1, which is a good time to ask questions.

What is the Shared Book Approach?

The Shared Book Approach is reading a big book together as a class, with the teacher showing how reading works. A big book is an enlarged picture book that the whole class can see at once. The teacher reads aloud, points to the words and invites children to join in, guess what happens next and talk about the pictures.

The same book is revisited over several lessons, each with a different focus:

1. 1A first reading for enjoyment, with talk about the story, the characters and what children notice.
2. 2Rereadings where children join in more, and the teacher points out how print works: where to start, which way to read, capital letters and full stops.
3. 3Focused teaching of words, sentence patterns, grammar and phonics taken from the book.
4. 4Follow-up activities such as drama, songs, art or retelling the story.

Because the book stays the same, children meet the same words and sentences many times. That repetition helps new vocabulary stick, and it lets children who are still learning to sound out words join in confidently alongside those who already read.

How does the Language Experience Approach build writing?

After the big book, the class shares an experience linked to it, such as making sandwiches after a story about a hungry giant, or watching a caterpillar grow. Children talk about what they did and the teacher writes their ideas down as a class text. Then children write in groups or pairs, and finally on their own. Because the writing grows from something they have done and talked about, children always have something to say.

How is reading checked in Primary 1?

Mostly through everyday classwork rather than tests. Teachers listen to children read, watch how they join in during shared reading and learning centres, and look at their writing. Many schools also set short tasks of their own, such as reading aloud to the teacher or a speaking activity like Show and Tell.

Near the start of Primary 1, schools also screen children's early literacy as part of MOE's Learning Support Programme. Children who need a boost with reading and spelling may be offered small-group support lessons in school. This is a normal part of Primary 1, not a judgement on your child, and the school will contact you if your child is offered a place.

If you want to know how your child is doing, ask their English teacher. They hear your child read every week and can tell you what would help most at home.

Are there exams in Primary 1?

No. MOE removed all weighted assessments and examinations for Primary 1 and 2 from 2019, including the Primary 2 year-end examination. Teachers still use classroom assessments to check understanding and give feedback, but the results are not counted towards an overall mark or grade.

Instead of marks, schools report learning in Primary 1 and 2 using qualitative descriptors: short descriptions of how well a child is meeting each learning goal. The wording, and how often reports come home, depends on the school. Policies can change, so check with your child's school or the MOE website for the latest position.

How can parents support STELLAR at home?

Do at home what STELLAR does at school: read together, talk about books and write about real experiences. You don't need worksheets, and there's no need to reteach the lesson.

• Reread favourite books. Children love repetition, and each rereading builds vocabulary and confidence. Let your child join in with repeated lines.
• Talk before, during and after reading. Ask “What do you think will happen?” and “Why did she do that?”, not only questions with one right answer.
• Point to the words sometimes. Running a finger under the text shows how print works and helps your child match spoken words to written ones.
• Write about shared experiences. After a trip to the zoo or baking together, let your child tell you about it while you write it down, then read it back together. Later, they can add a sentence of their own.
• Practise letter sounds and blending. If your child is still learning to sound out words, a few minutes of phonics games helps them join in with shared reading. Our guide to what phonics is explains how it works.
• Ask about the class book. If you know which big book the class is reading, talk about it at home or look for similar stories at the library.

For the wider set of skills that help children settle in, see our Primary 1 English readiness checklist.

How can CurioKids help alongside school?

CurioKids gives children aged 4–12 live, 1-to-1 online English lessons, 25 minutes each, with a real teacher. Most children start with Phonics Starter; a child who already reads can be placed straight into a CEFR-based level after the free first lesson. Our lessons are separate from school and don't follow any school's STELLAR materials. Instead, they build the letter sounds, blending, vocabulary and confident speaking that help children take part in shared reading in class. See our curriculum, or visit our Singapore page to book a free first lesson, no card needed.