Melissa Victoria is a former English teacher with over 15 years' experience in a variety of secondary school settings, including comprehensive and grammar schools. She provides English resources mainly for high-ability students studying for GCSE and A level (AQA).
Melissa Victoria has an MA in English from the University of Birmingham, UK.
Melissa Victoria is a former English teacher with over 15 years' experience in a variety of secondary school settings, including comprehensive and grammar schools. She provides English resources mainly for high-ability students studying for GCSE and A level (AQA).
Melissa Victoria has an MA in English from the University of Birmingham, UK.
Four fully-adaptable PowerPoints on the simple past, past continuous, past perfect and past perfect continuous tenses. Suitable for high-ability KS3, mid-to high ability KS4, and intermediate ESOL. Suitable for home-learning.
The PowerPoints introduce the student to different ways of using each of the four past tenses.
Includes:
*a brief recap of pronoun/verb agreement, plus the use of past participles, the verb ‘to have’, the verb ‘to be’ , and the forming of gerunds
*an explanation of how the tenses are used with examples
*challenge exercise one which all students should complete to show they understand how to form the tenses
*extra challenge exercises which students can work through, or choose from, to show different uses and understanding of the tenses
*sample answers after each exercise
Teachers can choose to teach all or some of the functions of the tenses, dipping in or out, or selecting as necessary.
Could be used as a series of starter activities or as longer grammar lessons. Could also be set remotely for home-learning as independent study exercises.
The PowerPoints are not definitive, but offer a clear approach to understanding the different uses of the four past tenses.
Best wishes,
Englbee x
A fully-adaptable PowerPoint on the pasy perfect continuous tense. Suitable for high-ability KS3, mid-to high ability KS4, and intermediate ESOL. Suitable for home-learning.
The PowerPoint introduces the student to different ways of using the past perfect continuous tense: continuing past actions in the past now completed; questions; verbs that cannot be used in the past perfect continuous tense
Includes:
*a brief recap of pronoun/verb (‘to have’) agreement (always ‘had’ in this instance), the use of ‘been’ , and the forming of gerunds
*an explanation of how the past perfect continuous tense is used with examples. Discussion of how when not to use the past perfect continuous.
*challenge exercise one which all students should complete to show they
understand how to form the past perfect continuous
*challenge exercises two and three which students can work through, or choose from to show different uses and understanding of the past perfect continuous tense
*sample answers after each exercise
Teachers can choose to teach all or some of the functions of the past perfect continuous tense, dipping in or out, or selecting as necessary.
Could be used as a series of starter activities or as a longer grammar lesson. Could also be set remotely for home-learning as an independent study exercise
The PowerPoint is not definitive, but offers a clear approach to understanding the different uses of the past perfect continuous tense.
Best wishes,
Englbee x
A fully-adaptable PowerPoint on the past perfect tense. Suitable for high-ability KS3, mid-to high ability KS4, and intermediate ESOL. Suitable for home-learning.
The PowerPoint introduces the student to four different ways of using the past perfect tense: to show the sequence of past events; to show a length of time in the past now completed;questions, using the 5Ws1H; the third conditional.
Includes:
*a brief recap of pronoun/verb (‘to have’) agreement (‘had’ in this instance throughout), and the forming of other past participles
*a table on how to form questions using the past perfect tense
*an explanation of each use of the past perfect tense, with an example
*challenge exercise one which all students should complete to show they
understand how to form the past perfect tense
*challenge exercises two-four which students can work through, or choose from to show different uses of the past perfect tense
*sample answers after each exercise
Teachers can choose to teach all or some of the functions of the past perfect tense, dipping in or out, or selecting as necessary.
Could be used as a series of starter activities or as a longer grammar lesson. Could also be set remotely for home-learning as an independent study exercise
The PowerPoint is not definitive, but offers a clear approach to understanding the different uses of the past perfect tense.
Best wishes,
Englbee x
A fully-adaptable PowerPoint on the past continuous tense. Suitable for high-ability KS3, mid-to high ability KS4, and intermediate ESOL. Suitable for home-learning.
The PowerPoint introduces the student to five different ways of using the present continuous tense: basic sentence; interruption of a continuing action in the past by another action; an action which continued to happen at a precise point in the past; questions using past continuous; events repeated habitually in the past.
Includes:
*a brief recap of pronoun/verb (‘to be’) agreement and the forming of gerunds
*an explanation of each use of the past continuous, with an example
*challenge exercise one which all students should complete to show they
understand how to form the past continuous
*challenge exercises two-five which students can work through, or choose from to show different uses of the present continuous tense
*sample answers after each exercise
Teachers can choose to teach all or some of the functions of the past continuous tense , dipping in or out, or selecting as necessary.
Could be used as a series of starter activities or as a longer grammar lesson. Could also be set remotely for home-learning as an independent study exercise
The PowerPoint is not definitive, but offers a clear approach to understanding the different uses of the past continuous.
Best wishes,
Englbee x
A fully-adaptable PowerPoint on simple past tense verbs. Suitable for high-ability KS3, mid-to high ability KS4, and intermediate ESOL. Suitable for home-learning.
The PowerPoint introduces the student to the infinitive verb form and explores conjugation for simple past tense.
Includes:
*an explanation of the infinitive verb
*three differentiated challenge exercises: conjugating verbs; conjugating phrasal verbs; free-writing activity using simple past tense verbs. All include with answers/sample answer (less able might choose challenge one, with increasingly able choosing challenges two and three OR students could work from challenges one to three)
Could be used as a series of starter activities or as a longer grammar lesson. Could also be set remotely for home-learning as an independent study exercise
The PowerPoint is not definitive, but offers a clear approach to understanding how to conjugate the infinitive into the simple past tense.
Best wishes,
Englbee x
Four fully-adaptable PowerPoints on the simple present, present continuous, present perfect and present perfect continuous tenses. Suitable for high-ability KS3, mid-to high ability KS4, and intermediate ESOL. Suitable for home-learning.
The PowerPoints introduce the student to different ways of using each of the four present tenses.
Includes:
*a brief recap of pronoun/verb agreement, plus the use of past participles, the verb ‘been’ , and the forming of gerunds
*an explanation of how the tenses are used with examples
*challenge exercise one which all students should complete to show they understand how to form the tenses
extra challenge exercises which students can work through, or choose from, to show different uses and understanding of the tenses
*sample answers after each exercise
Teachers can choose to teach all or some of the functions of the tenses , dipping in or out, or selecting as necessary.
Could be used as a series of starter activities or as longer grammar lessons. Could also be set remotely for home-learning as independent study exercises.
The PowerPoints are not definitive, but offer a clear approach to understanding the different uses of the four present tenses.
Best wishes,
Englbee x
A fully-adaptable PowerPoint on the present perfect continuous tense. Suitable for high-ability KS3, mid-to high ability KS4, and intermediate ESOL. Suitable for home-learning.
The PowerPoint introduces the student to different ways of using the present perfect continuous tense: past actions continuing now or relevant now; questions; verbs that cannot be used in the present perfect continuous tense
Includes:
*a brief recap of pronoun/verb (‘to have’) agreement, the use of ‘been’ , and the forming of gerunds
*an explanation of how the present perfect continuous tense is used with examples. Discussion of how when not to use the present perfect continuous.
*challenge exercise one which all students should complete to show they
understand how to form the present perfect continuous
*challenge exercises two and three which students can work through, or choose from to show different uses and understanding of the present perfect continuous tense
*sample answers after each exercise
Teachers can choose to teach all or some of the functions of the present perfect continuous tense , dipping in or out, or selecting as necessary.
Could be used as a series of starter activities or as a longer grammar lesson. Could also be set remotely for home-learning as an independent study exercise
The PowerPoint is not definitive, but offers a clear approach to understanding the different uses of the present perfect continuous tense.
Best wishes,
Englbee x
A fully-adaptable PowerPoint on the present perfect tense. Suitable for high-ability KS3, mid-to high ability KS4, and intermediate ESOL. Suitable for home-learning.
The PowerPoint introduces the student to four different ways of using the present perfect tense: basic sentence; past actions in an unfinished time; questions; events that have happened in the immediate past
Includes:
*a brief recap of pronoun/verb (‘to have’) agreement and the forming of past participles
*an explanation of each use of the present perfect tense, with an example
*challenge exercise one which all students should complete to show they
understand how to form the present perfect tense
*challenge exercises two-four which students can work through, or choose from to show different uses of the present perfect tense
*sample answers after each exercise
Teachers can choose to teach all or some of the functions of the present perfect tense , dipping in or out, or selecting as necessary.
Could be used as a series of starter activities or as a longer grammar lesson. Could also be set remotely for home-learning as an independent study exercise
The PowerPoint is not definitive, but offers a clear approach to understanding the different uses of the present perfect tense.
Best wishes,
Englbee x
A fully-adaptable PowerPoint on the present continuous tense. Suitable for high-ability KS3, mid-to high ability KS4, and intermediate ESOL. Suitable for home-learning.
The PowerPoint introduces the student to six different ways of using the present continuous tense: basic sentence; actions happening now; actions happening in the near future; planned future actions; questions; repeated events
Includes:
*a brief recap of pronoun/verb (‘to be’) agreement and the forming of gerunds
*an explanation of each use of the present continuous, with an example
*challenge exercise one which all students should complete to show they
understand how to form the present continuous
*challenge exercises two-six which students can work through, or choose from to show different uses of the present continuous tense
*sample answers after each exercise
Teachers can choose to teach all or some of the functions of the present continuous tense , dipping in or out, or selecting as necessary.
Could be used as a series of starter activities or as a longer grammar lesson. Could also be set remotely for home-learning as an independent study exercise
The PowerPoint is not definitive, but offers a clear approach to understanding the different uses of the present continuous.
Best wishes,
Englbee x
A fully-adaptable PowerPoint on simple present tense verbs. Suitable for high-ability KS3, mid-to high ability KS4, and intermediate ESOL. Suitable for home-learning.
The PowerPoint introduces the student to the infinitive verb form and explores conjugation for simple present tense.
Includes:
*an explanation of the infinitive verb
*three differentiated challenge exercises: conjugating verbs; conjugating phrasal verbs; free-writing activity using simple present tense verbs. All include with answers/sample answer (less able might choose challenge one, with increasingly able choosing challenges two and three OR students could work from challenges one to three)
Could be used as a series of starter activities or as a longer grammar lesson. Could also be set remotely for home-learning as an independent study exercise
The PowerPoint is not definitive, but offers a clear approach to understanding how to conjugate the infinitive into the simple present tense
Best wishes,
Englbee x
A fully-adaptable PowerPoint on adjectives. Suitable for high-ability KS3, mid-to high ability KS4, and intermediate ESOL. Suitable for home-learning.
The PowerPoint introduces the student to five different adjective types: positive; negative; comparative; superlative; and descriptive.
Includes:
*an explanation of the function of each adjective type within the English language
*an example list of the type of adjective discussed
*three differentiated challenge exercises for each adjective type with examples for students to choose from (less able might choose challenge one, with increasingly able choosing challenges two and three OR students could work from challenges one to three)
Teachers can choose to teach the adjectives types in any order, dip in or out, or select as necessary. Could be used as a series of starter activities or as a longer grammar lesson. Could also be set remotely for home-learning as an independent study exercise
The PowerPoint is not definitive, but offers a clear approach to understanding and using different types of adjectives.
Best wishes,
Englbee x
A high-level revision sheet (PDF) of Andrew Waterhouse’s ‘Climbing my Grandfather’ for students aiming for levels, 6-9 in the new GCSE Literature Paper 2
The revision sheet is laid out in sections with minimal graphics to allow effective revision of ideas and method.
Ideas are written in a brief format rather than being too text/colour heavy to aid key learning and memory
The method focus is rooted in structure and form as well as language choices in order to hit higher band criteria. Only a few choices for each as AQA stresses depth as opposed to breadth to achieve top grades.
There are suggested links to ‘Before You Were Mine’ and evaluative questions to consider in a potential essay conclusion.
The sheet is not definitive, and students should have a much deep knowledge of the poem from class studies; however, it will help as an aid for themes and methods regarding the second, unprinted poem in the examination in which they will need to draw on their memory.
Best wishes,
Englbee x
A fully-adaptable PowerPoint which explores ‘When We Two Parted’ by Lord Byron in preparation for the AQA Literature Examination
The PowerPoint and accompanying teacher notes are aimed at high-level GCSE candidates aiming for grades 7-9
The resource contains the following:
PowerPoint:
AQA Assessment objectives for the poetry anthology examination paper
Warm-up activity
A brief biography of Lord Byron
A link to an audio of a reading of the poem
A copy of the poem
A list of high-level terminology for this particular poem as required for higher grades
A pyramid of questions which moves from knowledge to evaluation as a way of stretching students’ thinking
A student sheet which can be printed off or projected onto the board to record ideas whilst working through questions
A short plenary
Followed by:
Teacher notes -two slides containing ideas for understanding the poem and its methods at a high level which you should likely read before the lesson as preparation for discussion and teaching. How much you ‘teacher-lead’ using these notes, or how much you use them to aid independent learning is up to you. Notes are not definitive, but offer good-grounding in understanding Byron’s use of method in the poem, with detail on structure and form as well as language in order to reach higher grades (e.g. cyclical structure, negative lexical fields etc.)
NEW: THREE PAGE LESSON PLAN ON HOW TO USE EACH SLIDE INCLUDING KEY QUESTIONS, LEARNING AND OUTCOMES
The lesson presumes that some previous learning has taken place on what language, form and structure mean, and that students have a good level of understanding of what questions they should ask of poems in order to explore them (e.g. when was it written? how might that influence language choices? is there a specific form? what relevance is the form? how is the poem’s narrative structured? Is there a clear structure? etc.)
Kind regards,
Englbee x
Macbeth resources for high-ability pupils studying for English Literature GCSE.
Bundle contains:
An introduction to the dramatic tragedy genre with didactic and interactive tasks to help your pupils understand tragedy as a genre
A 60-page graphic organiser workbook with support for every scene. Includes information and questions on themes, genre, method and context
A 16-page study-guide which will help with teacher preparation and student revision. Includes mini essays and reflections on: gender, children, boundaries, Great Chain of Being, the Human Condition, plus notes on the dramatic tragedy genre
Eight character revision posters which focuses on how each contributes to the following six themes: gender, guilt, kingship, children, appearance and realty, and fate/freewill. Key language evidence from the text is also included.
All you need to teach Macbeth!
Best wishes,
Englbee
A graphic organiser (PDF) for high-ability GCSE English Literature pupils studying Macbeth. AQA, OCR, Edexcel etc.
Are you tired of PowerPoint lessons? Looking for a way for pupils to work more independently whilst keeping organised notes? Then a graphic organiser might work for you and your class.
The graphic organiser is 60 pages long. It has been designed to be printed off back-to-back. Every scene in the play has two dedicated pages which will work best if the booklet is stapled, treasury-tagged or bound so that both pages for the scene can be viewed at the same time as an open booklet. There is a white edge alongside each page to allow for securing. (Please see preview for more details)
Each scene contains the following:
A synopsis
Page one - Three themes (from a selection of six) with high-level exploratory questions with room for note-making
Page two -A question on each of the following as related to the scene: dramatic tragedy genre, Shakespeare’s method, and context, with room for note-making.
At the start of the booklet there is a glossary of characterisations and structural devices related to the dramatic tragedy genre
At the back of the booklet, there is an extra page for note-making.
Other ways to use this booklet:
Print off a teacher copy and photocopy the scenes you wish to focus on in detail only
Page one for classroom teaching with page two for homework, or vice versa
Group work with pupils completing different parts of the booklet followed by whole class feedback
Individual, silent work
For when you’re absent and you need to set structured cover for a lesson
For that long-term absent, but bright pupil who needs a structured approach to catching up
For those able students who are great at discussion, but cannot organise their notes in their exercise books
Focused, active revision
Best wishes,
Englbee x
These are high-level revision sheets (PDF) of AQA Love and Relationship Poems for students aiming for levels, 6/7-9 in the new GCSE Literature Paper 2
The revision sheet is laid out in sections with minimal graphics to allow effective revision of ideas and method.
Ideas are written in a brief format rather than being too text/colour heavy to aid key learning and memory
The method focus is rooted in structure and form as well as language choices in order to hit higher band criteria. Only a few choices for each as AQA stresses depth as opposed to breadth to achieve top grades.
There are suggested links to other poems and evaluative questions to consider in a potential essay conclusion.
The sheet is not definitive, and students should have a much deep knowledge of the poem from class studies; however, it will help as an aid for themes and methods regarding the second, unprinted poem in the examination in which they will need to draw on their memory.
15 high-level poetry lessons here with comprehensive teacher notes. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/love-and-relationships-poetry-aqa-12180822
Best wishes,
Englbee x
A high-level revision sheet (PDF) of Daljit Nagra’s ‘Singh Song!’ for students aiming for levels, 6-9 in the new GCSE Literature Paper 2
The revision sheet is laid out in sections with minimal graphics to allow effective revision of ideas and method.
Ideas are written in a brief format rather than being too text/colour heavy to aid key learning and memory
The method focus is rooted in structure and form as well as language choices in order to hit higher band criteria. Only a few choices for each as AQA stresses depth as opposed to breadth to achieve top grades.
There are suggested links to ‘The Farmer’s Bride’ and evaluative questions to consider in a potential essay conclusion.
The sheet is not definitive, and students should have a much deep knowledge of the poem from class studies; however, it will help as an aid for themes and methods regarding the second, unprinted poem in the examination in which they will need to draw on their memory.
Best wishes,
Englbee x
15 fully-adaptable PowerPoints covering each of the Love and Relationship poems in the AQA English Literature GCSE Poetry Anthology. Suitable for those students aiming for grades 7-9.
Each PowerPoint contains:
AQA Assessment objectives for the poetry anthology examination paper
A brief biography of the poet
A link to an audio reading of the poems and a listening task before reading
A list of high-level terminology for each poem as required for higher grades, and as a ‘way-in’ to the poems
A pyramid of critical questions which moves from knowledge to evaluation as a way of stretching higher students’ thinking, rather than you simply offering didactic teaching/leading questions
A copy, or link to a copy of the poem (due to copyright of some poems; you can easily copy and paste into PowerPoint)
A student sheet which can be printed off or projected onto the board as a structure to record ideas whilst working through critical questions
A short plenary
Followed by:
Teacher notes -two/three slides containing ideas for understanding each poem and its methods at a high level which you should likely read before the lesson as preparation for discussion and teaching.
How much you ‘teacher-lead’ using these notes, or whether you use them to aid independent learning is up to you. Notes are not definitive, but offer good-grounding in understanding poets’ use of method in the poems, with detail on structure and form as well as language in order to reach higher grades.
NEW: THREE PAGE LESSON PLAN ON HOW TO USE EACH SLIDE INCLUDING KEY QUESTIONS, LEARNING AND OUTCOMES
The lessons presume that some previous learning has taken place on what language, form and structure mean, and that students have a good level of understanding of what questions they should ask of poems in order to explore them (e.g. when was it written? how might that influence language choices? is there a specific form? what relevance is the form? how is the poem’s narrative structured and why? etc.)
You can find revision posters for your students nearer exam time here https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/love-and-relationships-revision-12183742
Kind regards,
Englbee x
A fully-adaptable PowerPoint which explores ‘Singh Song!’ by Daljit Nagra in preparation for the AQA Literature Examination
The PowerPoint and accompanying teacher notes are aimed at high-level GCSE candidates aiming for grades 6-9
The resource contains the following:
AQA Assessment objectives for the poetry anthology examination paper
Warm-up activity
A brief biography of Daljit Nagra
A link to an audio of a reading of the poem
A link to a copy of the poem (due to copyright; you can easily copy and paste into PowerPoint)
A list of high-level terminology for this particular poem as required for higher grades
A pyramid of questions which moves from knowledge to evaluation as a way of stretching students’ thinking
A student sheet which can be printed off or projected onto the board to record ideas whilst working through questions
A short plenary
Followed by:
Teacher notes -two slides containing ideas for understanding the poem and its methods at a high level which you should likely read before the lesson as preparation for discussion and teaching. How much you ‘teacher-lead’ using these notes, or how much you use them to aid independent learning is up to you. Notes are not definitive, but offer good-grounding in understanding Nagra’s use of method in the poem, with detail on structure and form as well as language in order to reach higher grades (e.g. Phonetic spellings/Punglish, structure/refrain etc.)
NEW: THREE PAGE LESSON PLAN ON HOW TO USE EACH SLIDE INCLUDING KEY QUESTIONS, LEARNING AND OUTCOMES
The lesson presumes that some previous learning has taken place on what language, form and structure mean, and that students have a good level of understanding of what questions they should ask of poems in order to explore them (e.g. when was it written? how might that influence language choices? is there a specific form? what relevance is the form? how is the poem’s narrative structured? Is there a clear structure? etc.)
Kind regards,
Englbee x
A high-level revision sheet (PDF) of Simon Armitage’s 'Mother, any distance…’ for students aiming for levels, 6-9 in the new GCSE Literature Paper 2
The revision sheet is laid out in sections with minimal graphics to allow effective revision of ideas and method.
Ideas are written in a brief format rather than being too text/colour heavy to aid key learning and memory
The method focus is rooted in structure and form as well as language choices in order to hit higher band criteria. Only a few choices for each as AQA stresses depth as opposed to breadth to achieve top grades.
There are suggested links to ‘Walking Away’ and evaluative questions to consider in a potential essay conclusion.
The sheet is not definitive, and students should have a much deep knowledge of the poem from class studies; however, it will help as an aid for themes and methods regarding the second, unprinted poem in the examination in which they will need to draw on their memory.
Best wishes,
Englbee x
