These resources are the product of my retirement! After years as a teacher, I tutored. Tackling different exam boards, texts and aspects of English I had to develop lots of materials, which I'm hoping will help those of you still at the chalk face.
These resources are the product of my retirement! After years as a teacher, I tutored. Tackling different exam boards, texts and aspects of English I had to develop lots of materials, which I'm hoping will help those of you still at the chalk face.
A short extract from the start of the novel, with questions on vocabulary, character, and language analysis, and a choice of writing task. It would serve to introduce KS3 students to the style of Dickens’ writing; to a memorable character, Thomas Gradgrind; to Victorian times, raising some of the issues encountered in GCSE 9-1 literature and to a piece of brilliant writing! Hope its useful! I’ve now added an answer sheet. If this is useful, check out my ‘5 comprehensions from 5 Dickens’ novels’, or ‘3 comprehensions on literary baddies’, or my ‘4 non-fiction comprehensions’, which are on sale. These resources have a variety of questions, similar to here, answers and writing tasks…and are very reasonably priced!
Using the sample question as a starting point, I have devised questions on different topics which may be useful for class/group work and/or private revision/practice/homework
A short worksheet to practise the use of imperative verbs, specifically linked to persuasive writing. it might be useful as a starter task or to revise the structure.
An extract from near the beginning of ‘Wuthering Heights’ when Heathcliff arrives. The questions are a mix of vocabulary, information retrieval, language and character analysis, which could serve as a useful introduction to pre-twentieth century literature & to the styles of questions found on 9-1 GCSE.
If this is useful, check out my 3 comprehensions on literary baddies or 4 non-fiction comprehensions, with answers, and descriptive writing tasks…and very reasonably priced too!
From Act 1, scene 2, an extract with a question on Duncan, and a question on the Witches.
If you find this useful, you may wish to buy 15 other exam extracts with questions, or 15 more exam extracts with questions. All provide useful exam practice and revision.
From Act 1, scene 2, an extract concerning Duncan and deceit, in the style of the exam, to provide exam practice and revision.
If this is useful, you may wish to buy 15 similar extracts, or 15 more extracts, each resource on sale for a mere £3!
A short, straight-forward comprehension, with 6 information retrieval questions, followed by vocabulary, (4 words to define), 2 short language tasks and a writing task. Suitable for 10-13 year olds in a cover lesson, as homework or for a quiet 30 minutes learning about the Summer Solstice!
Answers provided.
A topical comprehension on the perils of plastic pollution, especially in oceans, following from the BBC programme, Blue Planet. It has a range of questions: vocabulary, information retrieval and language analysis. Together these are worth 25 marks. Suggested answers are provided separately. There is also a descriptive writing task, which is also worth 25 marks. This resource could, therefore, be useful as an exam paper, classwork task, cover lesson, homework or be used for tuition. It has been designed for KS3 using question styles similar to those found on GCSE 9-1. It is editable so can be modified to suit your requirements.
Hope its useful! If it is, check out my 4 similar topical non-fiction comprehensions, on darts, the RNLI, the resurgence in crafts like sewing and knitting and paramedics. Another useful resource at a very reasonable price!
A straight-forward comprehension on tennis, its history, modern day records etc suitable for 10-13 year olds. There are mainly information retrieval questions, one vocabulary question, one language analysis question and a descriptive writing task, with a suggested mark scheme and answers. It can be edited, but please not copied and sold. It may be useful as a quiet class task, cover lesson, homework or for tuition.
3 worksheets, one on abstract nouns, one on idioms, and one, harder one, matching idioms to abstract nouns. I made this for a bright Year 5 child I was tutoring, but used it with lower secondary pupils too. I’m always surprised at how difficult some idioms are for many students to fathom, yet they appear frequently in literature, so a little practice can be helpful…well, i hope you find it to be so!
There’s already a great revision guide on TES-thanks josim1. This is a supplementary revision resource: an amalgamation of notes and ideas on the theme of mothers & daughters and some key quotes which may help with revision.
An extract from Act 1, scene 2 with questions on the theme of kingship, as in the exam, to provide revision and exam practice.
If you need more, I’m selling 15 for £3, and as they proved popular, I’ve made 15 more, also for £3.
A comprehension exercise from the start of the novel with questions on vocabulary, language use, information recall and inference. Suggested answers are provided. There are also three writing tasks.
A straight-forward comprehension on South Africa’s first black national team rugby captain who led his squad to World Cup victory in Japan in 2019. There are references to apatheid and to Kolisi’s intentions to help his country. Questions include information retrieval, vocabulary and interpretation. There are suggested answers and a descriptive writing task.
There are no pictures for copyright reasons.
Newspaper article about cash machines in the East End now using Cockney Rhyming Slang. Comprehension questions-vocabulary, information retrieval and language analysis, writing tasks, grammar tasks, ( its/it’s & semi-colons in lists) and answer sheet.
I used lots of the brilliant Barrington Stokes books for upper KS2 & KS3 (& even sometimes KS4) students who were reluctant readers when I was tutoring. The books have a good story, simple vocabulary and manage to engage with even the most disaffected. I often made simple comprehension exercises, which I have decided to share in case they are of use to anyone else…it took a long time to read and prepare questions for all the books I had! This one is rather ‘girly’, but incredibly popular, written, as it is, by Karen McCombie. Some students progressed to her longer books after reading a few of these simplified texts.
This topic has been back in the news with the worry of pupils’ addiction to their phones, leading to anxiety if separated from them. This simple sheet asks pupils to argue their case, giving a few suggested points to consider, a reminder of rhetorical devices to include and reminders about proof-reading. It may be useful to promote discussion, as well as structured writing to argue a case.
