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!
4 sets of resources that cover the transition from autumn to winter.
Lots of opportunities to gain insight about these wonderful seasons.
Resources include:
relevant facts to enjoy
cut and stick activities
matching tasks
early sentence construction relating to the seasons
online links to relevant seasonal stories
poems to share and enjoy
drawing tasks
introduction of seasonal vocabulary
active learning
winter word walls, handwriting,winter writing tasks
winter key words task ( mini whiteboards),
‘Jack Frost’ poem ,
winter weather cut and stick task,
winter clothes drawing and labelling task,
Further literacy tasks based on animals of the Arctic.
It contains:
factual passages about 4 Arctic creatures -
Snowy Owl
Arctic Fox,
Polar Bear
Arctic Wolf
There are:
grammar tasks about each creature,
writing tasks about each creature.
All of these resources are ideal for a winter themed topic.
I have included simple tasks for learners who need more support as well as more demanding tasks for learners that enjoy challenge.
Enjoy!
This pack composes of 2 colourful and engaging presentations about Robert Burns - Scotland’s treasured poet.
The first presentation deals with his life from boyhood to man. The visuals provided for each slide enhance and encourage class/group discussion. There are also some online links provided to add to the lesson. It is ideal as an introductory experience/lesson for learners in preparation for a study of Robert Burns’ life and the celebration of 25th January each year.
The second presentation is a quiz about his life and times. I have provided questions about his life and poetry. Each slide is followed by an ‘answer’ slide to provide learners with immediate recall. It is intended as an active learning experience for a group or a whole class.
I would welcome feedback and hope your learners enjoy and engage with these resources.
This poetry resources pack consists of two colourful presentations:
Poetry Techniques
‘Sea Fever’ by John Masefield - An Analysis
‘Poetry Techniques’ covers the use of language to create effect within poems such as figurative language,similes and metaphors. It enables the learners to develop an insight into basic poetry word/phrases that are employed by poets and writers. It sets the learners up before reading, appreciating and analysing the poem, ‘Sea Fever’ by John Masefield.
‘Sea Fever’ is a presentation which details the language used in this popular and engaging poem. The poem is analysed and the poet’s technique is examined as well as the effects of the word choices,
A printable copy of the poem is provided for the learners to highlight or annotate.
There is an additional artistic opportunity to produce a drawing of a tall ship as a finishing task. It could be also used for a seascape art lesson.
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.
This bundle composes of 3 attractive , colourful PowerPoint presentations.
PowerPoint 1 & 2
Christmas Spelling & Nativity Spelling provides:
active tasks with key words clearly and thematically displayed
spelling words embedded in sentences so children can experience words in context
writing sentences activity to reinforce learning
easily editable presentation for further spelling tasks
PowerPoint 3
Christmas Maths provides :
opportunity to calculate subtraction sums ( clearly and thematically shown)
answers displayed for immediate correction and assessment
easily editable presentation for further maths tasks
Three enjoyable and seasonal lessons which your classes will actively enjoy whilst practising their spelling and maths skills.
Writing Complex Sentences and Extending Simple Sentences - suitable from Primary 2/3/4( Scotland) onwards and Year 1/2/3( England) onwards as well as a support for children experiencing barriers to their learning.
Learning Intentions include:
To write complex sentences
To order complex sentences
To extend complex sentences with connectives**
This resource pack consists of:
a colourful , comprehensive and concise PPT presentation which provides a scaffolded approach to sentence construction plus word documents that provide follow on activities
engaging visuals that promote composition of complex and extended sentences (interactive white board pupil activities)
straightfoward tasks that allow children to learn about sentence construction and build writing skills ( writing tasks)
precise instruction in extending complex sentences using connectives (interactive white board pupil activities)
explicit instruction on adding sentence starters to enhance simple sentences
opportunities to order complex sentences (interactive white board pupil activities)
scaffolded tasks that require children to compose sentences (visuals provided and sentence stems to support learners)
written tasks on word documents for completion ( word bank provided to support learners)
slides and word documents are editable so that teachers can personalise the visuals and sentences e.g. to correspond with topic or PSE etc.
I have included several images in the preview so that teachers can see the quality of the resources offered and my efforts to make the literacy activities as engaging as possible.
The font I have chosen is one which is installed in most systems- Bradley Hand. However, when uploading the preview shots to the site , the TES system sometimes changes it -not sure why! Be assured that within the presentation and word documents provided within the pack, the font is the same throughout.
I welcome feedback and reviews from fellow teachers and hope that their learners enjoy the unit of work on sentence construction as much as my classes. Enjoy!
Writing Simple Sentences and Extending Simple Sentences - suitable from Primary 2( Scotland) onwards and Year 1( England) onwards as well as a support for children experiencing barriers to their learning.
Learning Intentions include:
To write simple sentences
To order simple sentences
To extend simple sentences with connectives
This resource pack consists of:
a colourful , comprehensive and concise PPT presentation which provides a scaffolded approach to early sentence construction plus word documents that provide follow on activities
engaging visuals that promote composition of simple and extended sentences (interactive white board pupil activities)
straightfoward tasks that allow children to learn about sentence construction and build writing skills ( writing tasks)
precise instruction in extending simple sentences using connectives (interactive white board pupil activities)
explicit instruction on adding adjectives to enhance simple sentences
opportunities to order simple sentences (interactive white board pupil activities)
scaffolded tasks that require children to compose sentences (visuals provided and sentence stems to support learners)
written tasks on word documents for completion ( word bank provided to support learners)
slides and word documents are editable so that teachers can personalise the visuals and sentences e.g. to correspond with topic or PSE etc.
I have included several images in the preview so that teachers can see the quality of the resources offered and my efforts to make the literacy activities as engaging as possible.
The font I have chosen is one which is installed in most systems- Bradley Hand. However, when uploading the preview shots to the site , the TES system sometimes changes it -not sure why! Be assured that within the presentation and word documents provided within the pack, the font is the same throughout.
I welcome feedback and reviews from fellow teachers and hope that their learners enjoy the unit of work on sentence construction as much as my classes. Enjoy!
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.
There are 3 comprehensive presentations which deal with adjectives in phrases, sentences and text. They provide grammar differentiation, revision and reinforcement in a colourful and engaging manner. Lots of opportunities to involve the learners with additional answer slides that give immediate feedback plus easily edited to provide further practice. I have also included several grammar tasks on Word documents as follow up written work. These can be used individually or as booklet.
I would be grateful for feedback.
There are 3 colourful, clear and concise PowerPoint presentations included in this pack.
Presentation A - The 5 Sentence Challenge presents summer visual prompts with added vocabulary. The learning intentions are to compose 5 sentence paragraphs with an emphasis on:
crafting short/long sentences
descriptive language choices
including a question to the reader
using sentences with exclamation marks
Presentation B & C- Seashore and Outdoors Spelling Whiteboard Tasks
The learning intentions are to study, cover and write specific 'summer' vocabulary.
To compose a 'seashore' word wall and an 'outdoors' word wall for sentence and/or short burst writing tasks.
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.
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
Two presentations that contain a variety of literacy tasks based on a Winter/ Arctic theme.
The first presentation contains:
winter word walls,
winter handwriting,
winter writing tasks,
winter drawing and labelling tasks,
winter key words task ( mini whiteboards),
‘Jack Frost’ poem ,
drawing and writing task,
winter weather cut and stick task,
winter clothes drawing and labelling task,
The second presentation has literacy tasks based on animals of the Arctic.
It contains:
factual passages about 4 Arctic creatures -
Snowy Owl
Arctic Fox,
Polar Bear
Arctic Wolf
There are:
grammar tasks about each creature,
writing tasks about each creature.
All of these resources are ideal for a winter themed topic.
I have included simple tasks for learners who need more support as well as more demanding tasks for learners that enjoy challenge.
This presentation helps children to structure simple sentences about winter.
The initial slides ask the children to read a simple sentence with pictorial prompt.
Then they trace over the sentence and write the sentence within handwriting lines.
Lastly, they cut out each word, order them and glue them on the sentence strip. Ideal for early writers.
Further tasks ask the children to look at 3 winter pictorial prompts.
They then ‘turn and talk’ to a writing partner to aid sentence composition.
The children ‘have a go’ and write 3 simple sentences to match each picture.
Each slide can be displayed on a smart board for a ‘talk for writing’ session. Children can also compose on whiteboards before recording on task sheet.
Finally, some slides ask more confident writers to compose 2 sentences independently using connectives,
An additional colouring task is provided with a writing opportunity.
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 pack contains a comprehensive presentation of the narrative/legend 'The Pied Piper'. I have included thumbnails that show some of the tasks included as well as the complete presentation.
It details the complete story with illustrations and teaching notes provided for each slide. It has sound effects as an additional feature.
Within the presentation there are a variety of literacy 'follow on' tasks that learners could complete after familiarisation with the story and related vocabulary. The tasks are varied with active learning ,some written outcomes as well as speaking and listening outcomes. This story is like most fairy tales a wonderful experience for children to revisit the past and has magic and mystery within. My learners have always thoroughly enjoyed it and it is wonderful for discussion because of the unique and unexpected ending. Whiteboard 'quick fire' tasks are within the PowerPoint as well as some online links for further exploration.
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.
These presentations provide a comprehensive pack of writing comments based on Assessment for Learning principles. The comments describe the positive features in relation to the learning objective and clarity of the writing. For some children, it is advisable to give one positive comment and one suggestion for improvement. The comments remind children about the learning objectives and allow group, class or individual feedback to ensue easily. They deal with the children’s writing performance (both strengths and weaknesses). In addition they observe and recommend a strategy that would improve their writing. They are mostly genre specific but also include comments about technical skills and punctuation.
PRINTING THE LABELS (L 7162 & L7163)
It is easy to download Avery Wizard (free).
It will appear on your top menu bar.
Open one of my PowerPoint presentation with comments - strengths /how to improve
Open a blank Word document
Click on Avery Wizard
Choose either code (L 7162 & L7163)
Select comment from PowerPoint presentation
Paste onto Avery label and follow instructions to finish
Page of labels ( 16 or 14) will appear on word document - just like that!
I have included several documents that are already transferred to Avery label format for easy printing - Code L7162 ( 16 labels to a page) & Code L7163 ( 14 labels to a page). If you are looking for a range of writing comments to scaffold and suggest improvements- this should do the trick.
This pack introduces children to early sentence construction using an autumnal theme.
The ’ Let’s write about Autumn’ presentation allows the teacher to model simple sentence construction on a smart board.
The teacher then has the option to scaffold a few sentences from the visual prompt on the following slide.
Alternatively, the children can actively ‘share the pen’ with the teacher and write on whiteboards using the visual prompt.
They could also record on whiteboards after the teacher has modelled using the simple word wall provided.
I have also included a printer friendly version where children can record sentences on sheets which provides independent tasks.
The ’ Autumn Scarecrows’ presentation provides simple information in a clear and engaging way.
It is followed by:
a factual writing task
a ‘cut and stick’ activity with background provided
a colour coded scarecrow task
a symmetrical task.
There is also an online link provided for a ‘scarecrow’ action song. This is particularly suited as a cross curricular link for Autumn. Hope your learners enjoy the seasonal resources. I welcome feedback/reviews. Enjoy Autumn with your classes.