Thanks for stopping by my shop. I am an experienced chartered primary teacher who has taught predominantly in Scotland. I also taught in England, Australia and in the Middle East. I produce a range of quality resources that provide depth and breadth. These resources should enhance the learning experience of pupils. There are many opportunities for active learning as well as structured tasks that consolidate and reinforce knowledge and application. Enjoy!
Thanks for stopping by my shop. I am an experienced chartered primary teacher who has taught predominantly in Scotland. I also taught in England, Australia and in the Middle East. I produce a range of quality resources that provide depth and breadth. These resources should enhance the learning experience of pupils. There are many opportunities for active learning as well as structured tasks that consolidate and reinforce knowledge and application. Enjoy!
A comprehensive pack of resources - non-chronological report writing
These resources include a:
1st presentation that introduces the general features of report writing in a colourful, child friendly format that clearly leads the learners through the signposts of the genre.
2nd presentation that continues with the assessment of reports including online link and differentiated checklists - peer and self editing.
Additional resources provide:
A clear concise and interesting model report on Egypt for learners to read, discuss, analyse, highlight and ‘pull apart’ - active learning.
An annotated report to provide the teacher with the main teaching points of the model report.
A colourful word mat with sentence starts and vocabulary to support report writing.
A mind map for the planning stage which is partially completed to support learners ( can be easily edited to provide less support).
Word strips with facts about Egypt - ideal for ‘cut and stick’ activities ( learners can categorise facts under headings in a carousel type activity)
This detailed pack of resources will support the learners thoroughly from the initial lesson on the structure of a report through assessment ,the analysis of models and finally to a finished piece that can be assessed and celebrated.
The imaginative poem ‘The Magic Box’ by Kit Weight provides a wonderful opportunity to appreciate, perform and compose a fantasy poem. These resources are presented beautifully to also evoke an individual written response from the learners.
THE LEARNING INTENTIONS INCLUDE:
to read, appreciate and perform a fantasy poem
to compose verses based on the model poem
to include descriptive and imaginative vocabulary within their verses
Within the pack:
Presentation A provides an initial starting point to read, appreciate and perform the poem.
It leads the learners through each verse and encourages them to appreciate the rich language of the poem. A web link is provided for learners to see and hear the original poet perform the poem.
It also provides visuals to help the learners understand and analyse the composition.
The initial written task is to compose 3 verses based on the model - learners concentrate on feelings, creatures, the natural world - What would they put in their box?
Presentation B provides an opportunity to concentrate on the final 3 verses of the model poem - the ‘impossible things’ verse, what their box is made of and where they will travel in their box.
I have provided opportunities for children to work with their talking partners to support their composition.
The final result should be very individual poems structured on the original poem.
A word mat is also provided to aid composition , a separate copy of the poem for annotation as well as a planning sheet. Within this presentation, there are slides that the teacher can use with interactive pens for shared writing to further support differentiation and an assessment checklist.
I have also provided a simple comprehension task which can be used to aid comprehension of the model poem if required. There are many opportunities for incidental learning e.g. grammar and word choice, particularly adjectives, powerful verbs, similes and alliteration.
Additional Tip : Print off nets of cubes and cuboids ( photocopiable card ) and ask children to decorate their magic boxes, then assemble them.
I hope your learners enjoy the poem and activities and would be delighted if you left feedback.
N.B. Ideally these resources should be used over several days
A series of Mental Maths PowerPoint Presentations which can ideally be used as starter activities or plenaries . They focus mainly on numerical calculation and provide a 'quick fire' activity to promote mental recall. Children use mini whiteboards to record answers and most presentations provide answers which children can mark immediately as they proceed through the tasks. A few of the presentations provide slides where the teacher records the answers below using an interactive white board pen. Tasks include: adding, subtracting, doubling, halving, multiplying by 10,100, finding simple fractions of numbers and some problem solving, There is no preparation required and the slides are easily edited to provide further practice.
Would be delighted if you could leave feedback.
This resource is intended to develop descriptive writing, in particular -settings. It aims to inspire confidence and motivate pupils as writers. It is intended for KS2 / Primary 4-7.
A selection of different visuals, model paragraphs and planning formats are provided. Specific language devices are covered such as similes and metaphors. A video link is provided to enhance understanding of similes and metaphors in imaginative writing.
The introduction is thorough and allows the teacher to :
USE EFFECTIVE MODELS
a structured approach is achieved by providing ‘5 sentence’ descriptive model paragraphs to explore typical features of the descriptive genre
ENCOURAGE STRUCTURED PLANNING
simple planning grid is provided that encourages pupils to generate effective vocabulary before sentence construction
The continuation requires the pupils to generate 5 sentence paragraphs, either in collaboration or individually, using high quality images that evoke imaginative and descriptive language.
This resource can be used or adapted in a variety of ways:
Introduction to descriptive writing - settings
‘Short burst’ writing tasks
As an additional resources to develop effective writing using figures of speech e.g. similes, metaphors
It is easily editable and further images may be used to complement topics if required.
This comprehensive PPt allows children to craft paragraphs following a 5 sentence challenge format. It deals with description of a variety of scenes and characters.
It follows a tight planning structure to build confidence and quality of description. The graphics are colourful and engaging with supportive vocabulary that can aid more reluctant writers.
The slides can be easily edited to include other graphics which might enhance a topic or a novel study.
Learners can be initially supported through the writing process and many will then embrace the planning and writing more independently.
Although vocabulary is provided as an aid, learners can add their own alternatives. Teachers can also use the provided word banks as a prompt to encourage expansion of word choices.
There is a self edit grid provided on the planning sheet. I welcome feedback.
‘Who lives here?’ PowerPoint introduces a ‘conversation’ poem about the creatures and habitat of the rainforest.
It provides a structured step by step lesson to support composition.
It also allows reinforcement of parts of speech, particularly verbs and prepositions.
Extended poetry task also provided for variety and possible differentiation.
Several verse examples are provided for clarity.
Rainforest booklet is provided for children to write their final draft for display or poetry portfolio.
‘Rainforest List Poem’ PowerPoint continues with a poetic theme and uses a simple format to motivate composition. This clear, concise and colourful presentation leads the learners step by step through the composition of a list poem based on a ‘rainforest’ theme. There is a grammar element throughout with an emphasis on nouns, adjectives and ‘ing’ verbs.
I find a poetic context an effective way to embed incidental grammar teaching.
Although the outcome is a simple list poem, it can easily be differentiated for older learners. This would involve extending each line using e.g. adverbs or an additional clause.
Children are encouraged to compose an opening line, closing line and’ list’ lines inbetween.
A Variety of Literacy Tasks based on a Pirate Theme.
Word mat provides useful words and phrases to support writing tasks.
Pirate Character Description Sheet with Writing Prompts and Graphics
Island Setting for a Pirate Adventure with further writing prompts
Simple Drawing Tasks
Label a Pirate
Sentence Strips
Mapping Task
Pirate Spelling - Whiteboard Tasks
A great additional resource to support and enhance a pirate topic. I would be delighted to receive feedback.
Two Packs included are intended to develop inferential skills in both reading and writing.
Pack A - 'Read between the Lines' incorporates :
15 differentiated passages
Literal and Inferential questions
True/False and ‘Don’t Know’ statements
to encourage close reading, skimming and scanning for details and reading for meaning.
Pack B - 'Over to You!' incorporates:
18 differentiated story starts - opening passages
‘Openers’ word wall
Prompts to encourage ‘quality ‘writing
Writer’s craft editing sheet to encourage continuation of events, characters and setting.
It is intended to provide writers with an initial start and to help develop a continuation of the writer's craft.
Ideal as a ‘short burst’ writing task or can be used for more extended writing tasks.
Would be delighted if you could leave feedback.
The initial presentation provides facts and information about Saint Andrew the Patron Saint of Scotland whose feast day is 30th November. Each slide is clear, colourful and presents information simply to promote discussion.
There are two online links: one that shows a short clip about Saint Andrew’s life with an additional one that links to the lyrics and music of Saint Andrew’s Hymn.
The second presentation has a range of activities to allow choice of task depending on the age range of the learners.
They include:
a word mat to support factual writing about Saint Andrew’s life
a cut and stick activity with sea background for younger learners
a simple handwriting task
a mind map to support writing an extended report on Saint Andrew’s life
a colouring activity
The first presentation is ideal for an assembly to inform and raise awareness about our Patron Saint and to celebrate his feast day. The activities should follow on after the initial presentation has been shown and discussed.
I have also included a few additional jpeg files to show fellow colleagues a more comprehensive preview.
Writing a 5 line poem - CINQUAIN
The introductory presentation includes:
the signposts of a cinquain poem
models to read, perform and analyse
a planner for composition
several suggestions for poetry tasks/activities
an editing sheet
The four seasonal presentations include:
poems to read, enjoy and analyse
poems where vocabulary can be explored and highlighted
completed planners
blank planners for poetry tasks
These poetry activities also provide opportunities to explore vocabulary and consolidate grammar points.
Children enjoy this type of poetry task because once they have mastered the pattern of the poem, they can compose several with different topics.
These resources support the persuasive writing genre.
The tasks involve designing a poster to advertise:
a fireworks sale
a cauldron shop
a magic wand shop
They can easily be adapted to include :
a broomstick shop/sale
spell shop.
Both presentations detail the signposts of persuasion :
‘catchy phrases’
‘bold slogans’ etc.
I have included a homework task which could be used as a warm up before a ‘Big Writing’ class session.
The word wall activity promotes:
independent dictionary referencing
thesaurus work.
The word mat supports composition for any children who need more support and helps with illustrations - a key feature of a persuasive poster.
A very enjoyable task which engages the learners, and particularly relevant in this season.
This unit explores the traditional tale: The Elves and the Shoemaker with online links as well as a comprehensive range of literacy tasks for your learners.
It contains:
speaking and listening tasks
reading the narrative
syllable tasks
handwriting tasks
sentence construction /ordering tasks
an art task
as well as oral retelling of the narrative.
It is particularly useful if the teacher uses many of the slides to explain and discuss tasks as well as involve the children in whiteboard tasks.
A word wall is provided which can be used for further vocabulary development.
It places literacy within a meaningful context and allows plenty of incidental and active learning to take place.
This pack contains 3 colourful , clear and concise PowerPoint presentations that deal with:
introduction to similes
silly similes
writing a simile poem
more challenging similes and adjectives with visual prompts
There are several follow up tasks:
completing similes
colour matching similes
choosing the best simile ending
choosing the best simile adjective
silly similes
This pack of resources are a valuable addition to basic core materials.
I would be delighted to receive feedback.
This pack contains 3 colourful and engaging Ppt presentations:
Multiplying by 2
Multiplying by 3
Arrays and Positioning - draw and calculate
The presentations provide opportunities for children to engage in active learning regarding the introduction of tables as well as opportunities to pictorially represent multiplication arrays.
They help consolidate the basic understanding of multiplication and can be easily edited to provide variety of tasks.
I have provided a link for the 2 and 3 times tables songs to reinforce the stations of the tables.
I welcome feedback and hope that your classes enjoy the resources as mine have.
A selection of PowerPoints that introduce Literature Circles and the benefits of promoting this within a literacy /reading session. One is devoted to introducing Literature Circles to teachers and practitioners who are unfamiliar with them. The other two presentations are intended for children and can be used to guide them through the roles plus the approach needed for successful collaborative work.
The badges for each role are provided for lamination.
The pro formas for each role are also included.
This approach encourages independent reading and supports active reading within the classroom.
A Literature Circle word mat provides stimulating questions to scaffold and enhance speaking & listening within a group . This word mat could also be used by the teacher as a plenary activity.
This clear, concise and colourful presentation leads the learners step by step through the composition of a list poem based on a ‘magic purse’ theme.
There is a grammar element throughout with an emphasis on nouns, adjectives and ‘ing’ verbs.
I find that a poetic context is an effective way to embed incidental grammar teaching in class.
Although the outcome is a simple list poem, it can easily be differentiated for older learners. This would involve extending each line using e.g. adverbs or an additional clause.
I have included the extension task for older learners on the latter part of the presentation .
I have also provided pro formas for the children to use for their initial draft before they revise, edit and improve.
A comprehensive maths pack which provides practice, consolidation and reinforcement of number bonds within 100.
The emphasis on addition and subtraction provides many different opportunities to calculate within 100 .
The word problems ensure that the children can use and apply addition and subtraction rules within real life situations.
I have differentiated many of the resources to 3 levels to accommodate a range of learners within a class.
The pack consists of:
Addition within 100 calculation (differentiated)
Subtraction within 100 calculation ( differentiated)
Word Problems ( Using and Applying Mathematical Knowledge)
Ten a Day ( A set of resources to provide more practice - a mixture of calculation and problem solving)
Number Square Challenges -fun activities which provide reinforcement
Can be used in for differentiated groups, individually or as whiteboard activities.
Poem is annotated to illustrate the poetic techniques used such as - alliteration, metaphor and simile.
It provides an easy to follow guide for the teacher to discuss the poem .
The children go on to compose about this subject or other subjects using the exemplar as their guide.
Poetry plan for biography poem / several exemplars/ models and structural plan. Pro- forma for written composition.
Word mat to scaffold writers who need more support. Obama biography which could be used as a stimulus for a shared biography poem.
These exemplars can be adjusted for other characters/ also composed and then extended to produce a sustained piece of biographical writing
on the subject.
This is a detailed PowerPoint about online blogs
LEARNING INTENTIONS are:
to learn about the various types of blogs on the Internet
to learn how to post to a blog appropriately
to define selected vocabulary connected with blogs
to independently post a review of a book on a book review blog site
I have uploaded several jpg files so teachers can see the resource more comprehensively.
Enjoy with your classes.
I would be delighted if you leave feedback.