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Spagbag

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A teacher and tutor with more than thirty years' experience working in both mainstream and independent schools. I have an Honours degree in English Literature and Linguistics from UEA and have written a dissertation about encouraging children to write. I am a mother of three and interested in all things green. I am in the process of setting up my TES shop and hope to launch my "Spagbag" resources which are suitable for both Primary and Secondary aged pupils.

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A teacher and tutor with more than thirty years' experience working in both mainstream and independent schools. I have an Honours degree in English Literature and Linguistics from UEA and have written a dissertation about encouraging children to write. I am a mother of three and interested in all things green. I am in the process of setting up my TES shop and hope to launch my "Spagbag" resources which are suitable for both Primary and Secondary aged pupils.
space week Saturn and Cassini mission comprehension and descriptive writing
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space week Saturn and Cassini mission comprehension and descriptive writing

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This animated Power point showcases data about Saturn and the Cassini mission to discover more about the planet. Pupils are then presented with fourteen questions to test their powers of comprehension about what they have read. Links are provided to enable further independent research. Answers are provided to the comprehension for ease of marking.Finally pupils are presented with a short poem about space exploration and are asked to produce some descriptive writing of their own about visiting a planet of their own choosing. This resource would complement studies during Space Week and also poetry linked to space exploration. Suitable for ages 8+
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness book review and mindfulness resource
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A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness book review and mindfulness resource

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This animated PowerPoint consists of 25 slides and is intended to accompany the reading of Patrick Ness’ novel, A Monster Calls. Students are asked to consider what constitutes a nightmare and how our senses can feed into our subconscious mind. They are required to consider elements of a Gothic novel and how atmosphere is created both in terms of the words and the illustrations here. What is the significance of the ancient yew tree and how does this relate to modern day cancer treatments? Pupils are asked to list what they can glean about the major characters and to examine where their own sympathies lie. Finally they are required to write their own review of this memorable novel and are invited to do their own independent research about Herne the Hunter and the techniques the illustrator used to ensure this novel became a multi-award winning one. I include a resource about mindfulness as a tool to help with anger issues and difficult emotions which Conor might have benefited from as he coped with losing his mother. Also included are other word documents which display information about the mythology of the Green Man and a poem which is a call to the Green Man, which will be useful when discussing wider symbolism and environmental issues.There are worksheets on which pupils can record character sketches for both major and minor characters within the book, as well as explore Conor’s emotional struggle in graphic detail. Suitable for ages 12+
Improve your spelling years 9-11
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Improve your spelling years 9-11

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This Powerpoint resource is intended to be used to improve spelling throughout years 9 to 11. It includes 60 words most commonly misspelt by students and various tips on how to learn them such as look, say, cover, write and check. Students are encouraged to look for smaller words within the longest spellings and to break them down into parts as well as other tips for specific words. Exercises are given where students have to complete sentences, solve anagrams and invent their own sentences using three given words from the set. A word document containing the words split into five sets of twelve words can be used to enable ease of learning and repeated practice. I include one of my popular spelling, punctuation and grammar quizzes which includes answers for ease of marking. This resource is intended for use by students aged 12+
newspaper article about hoodies and chavs comprehension and writing activity
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newspaper article about hoodies and chavs comprehension and writing activity

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This resource is a newspaper article about police endeavours to control groups of teens gathering in public places. There are questions related to the article and students are asked to write their own response to a government policy to ban unsupervised youngsters from gathering together in groups in public spaces. This is intended as a means of revising features of an article in the tabloid press and analysing loaded language. Students are asked to highlight features within a short example of an article written for a magazine discussing what life is like for a teenage girl in the 21st century. Ideal for revision purposes and will promote further discussion. Suitable for ages 12+
Descriptive writing adjectives and adverbs
jlimbjlimb

Descriptive writing adjectives and adverbs

3 Resources
I have bundled together three resources which will be useful when studying descriptive writing and the revision of adjectives and adverbs in particular. Suitable for ages 10+
Using adverbs and adjectives in descriptive writing
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Using adverbs and adjectives in descriptive writing

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This resource revises the use of adverbs in different positions within sentences and asks pupils to create sentences using adverbs appropriately. Students rearrange sentences to make them flow and look at descriptive extracts which use both adjectives and adverbs for effect. Pupils decide which extract is the more descriptive and find evidence to support their choices. I include one of my Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar quizzes in which adverbs and adjectives feature in one of the sections. Answers are provided. Suitable for ages 10+
Persuasive speeches including Yes We Can speech by Obama featuring Dizzee Rascal
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Persuasive speeches including Yes We Can speech by Obama featuring Dizzee Rascal

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This resource includes an animated Powerpoint showcasing how to make an effective speech in five steps. Pupils are reminded about the features of persuasive writing using the AFOREST mnemonic. Students are required to make their own effective speech choosing to put themselves forward for the roles of Head Boy or Head Girl in the form of Ronald Dump or Angela Smirkle. Moreover there is an extract from Obama's famous Yes We Can speech which could be used as an example of persuasive writing. It uses repetition and a growing crescendo of rhetorical devices to make a point about the divisions in America. There is an extract form a Jeremy Paxman interview with Dizzee Rascal regarding the Presidential election in 2008 and a reminder of spoken language features. Ideal for Black History month and beyond. Suitable for ages 12+
quiz : spelling, grammar and punctuation revision
jlimbjlimb

quiz : spelling, grammar and punctuation revision

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This resource tests knowledge of past and passed, to/two and too, apostrophes, homophones, adding prefixes to form opposites and much more besides. This is one of many quizzes to be found in my shop, which , when used on a regular basis will help to raise standards of spelling, grammar and punctuation. Pupils are presented with a passage which they need to perfect featuring Joe whose spelling leaves a lot to be desired. All answers are provided at the end so this resource can be dropped into a revision session easily and students will be able to identify areas which need improvement. I include a worksheet to provide opportunities for further development. Suitable for ages 10+
quiz: spelling, punctuation and grammar
jlimbjlimb

quiz: spelling, punctuation and grammar

(0)
This resource is one in a series of similar quizzes which test various aspects of spelling , punctuation and grammar. This one focuses on of/off and where/wear and we're as well as other homophones. Pupils need to insert commas where needed, use prefixes to form opposites and invent examples of their own. They are given a weirdly worded passage featuring Joe who finds spelling difficult. All answers are provided at the end. This resource can be easily dropped into a revision session and will enable students to review their own mistakes, without the need for lengthy marking. Used on a regular basis, these quizzes will help to raise standards in SPaG. I include an activity which encourages pupils to write an informal letter to Joe and also a further worksheet which looks at questions and statements and asks pupils to utilise a range of punctuation in their own descriptive writing. Suitable for ages 10+
Fantastic Beasts Bundle 2
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Fantastic Beasts Bundle 2

7 Resources
This Bumper Bundle of Fantastic Beasts contains seven resources full of magical creatures and more besides. There are quizzes, campaigns and comprehensions to keep Potter fans reading , writing and exploring in the weeks ahead. Ideal for revision of informative and persuasive writing skills. Answers are provided for each resource. Suitable for ages 10+
The Elizabethan World View : Shakespeare in context
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The Elizabethan World View : Shakespeare in context

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This animated Powerpoint presentation looks at the major influences and philosophies prevalent in Shakespeare's day, so that students come to a wider understanding of his work , his life and the society in which he lived. The Roman Catholic Church, Science and Astronomy, Voyages of Exploration,The Divine Right of Kings, Humanism and The Renaissance are covered here. The Great Chain of Being, the Zodiac, the Elements and Humours as well as the Wheel of Fortune all feature in this resource. This presentation could be used to provide information, putting Shakespeare into context before going on to examine his work in more detail. Similarly , it could be used to inspire students to go on and explore topics such as humanism in more depth. I include a worksheet which will provide a framework for pupils to do their own independent research about Elizabethan theatre. Suitable for ages 14+
Elizabethan and Modern  Shakespeare audience comparison
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Elizabethan and Modern Shakespeare audience comparison

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This resource draws comparisons between an Elizabethan audience and a contemporary audience of a Shakespeare play. Comparisons are made between the size of an average audience, the age, the cost per ticket, the social class, their expectations of a play and their behaviour as audience members. In formation is given about the role of the fool, boy actors and the hierarchical nature of the performers within an acting company. This information is relevant particularly to Shakespeare and the Globe. Suitable for ages 12+
The development of the racing broom information and comprehension
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The development of the racing broom information and comprehension

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This resource outlines the development of the broomstick as an instrument for racing. The information is taken from Kennilworthy Whisp's Quidditch Through The Ages. Pupils can see how the various models of racing broomstick have developed through the ages from the humble Oakshaft to the Twigger 90, each model has its qualities and flaws outlined for all to see. Pupils compare and contrast between the broomsticks in order to glean enough information to answer the questions relating to each text. Two texts and differentiated questions are supplied with answers provided for both. Pupils are invited to go on and invent their own racing broomstick and build on the qualities of the Nimbus or the Moontrimmer, thinking of a catchy name for their own creation. This resource will appeal to Quidditch players of all ages.
comprehension based on broomstick games and persuasive writing
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comprehension based on broomstick games and persuasive writing

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This resource looks at ancient broom-stick games around the world and asks students to read the information collated from Kennilworthy Whisp’s Quidditch Through the Ages and then answer a series of questions. The students will need to compare and contrast games from different parts of the globe as well as the different qualities of broomsticks which were invented as a consequence of partaking in the games. Finally students are asked to invent their own broomstick, think of a catchy name for it as well as describe its outstanding features. All answers are provided. This resource will appeal to Harry Potter fans particularly and is one of many Potter-themed resources which can be found in my shop. Suitable for ages 8+
spelling / punctuation and grammar revision quiz and informal letter writing
jlimbjlimb

spelling / punctuation and grammar revision quiz and informal letter writing

(0)
This resource tests knowledge of apostrophes, proper nouns and prefixes. Students will need to apply their skills to decipher Joe's writing and correct his mistakes. This resource can be dropped into a revision session and can be easily tweaked. All answers are provided, so students can identify their own errors and address them. This is one of many quizzes to be found in my shop which, if used regularly, will improve standards of spelling and grammar. I include a worksheet encouraging informal letter writing. Suitable for ages 10+
Punctuate with Potter: proper nouns,speech marks,commas and colons
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Punctuate with Potter: proper nouns,speech marks,commas and colons

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This resource uses extracts from Harry Potter scenes and removes the punctuation. Pupils have to make sense of the scenes and reinsert the punctuation as necessary. Passages require knowledge of dialogue, speech marks,proper nouns, commas, colons and semi-colons and exclamations. The correct , fully punctuated passages will magically appear so that your pupils can see how J.K.Rowling does it. This will prove a fun way to revise the full range of punctuation marks whilst also encouraging further reading of the Harry Potter books. This is one of many Potter themed resources you can find in my shop which focus on spelling, punctuation and grammar. Suitable for ages 10+
Formal letter writing (dragon breeds 3)
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Formal letter writing (dragon breeds 3)

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This resource is presented as an animated Powerpoint and in word format and takes inspiration from Newt Scamander’s fifty-second edition of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. It showcases the native British breeds of dragon , namely the Common Welsh Green and the Hebridean Black. Pupils scour the information comparing and contrasting the physical attributes of these magnificent creatures in order to answer a series of questions. The answers are provided. Finally, they put their letter writing skills to the test by applying for an apprenticeship as a dragon trainer based in the Outer Hebrides under the auspices of the MacFusty clan.Pupils are reminded of the conventions of formal letter writing. This is an activity which will appeal to Harry Potter fans and is one of three similar resources which can be found in my shop, each with different extended writing options. Suitable for ages 8+
Dragon breeds 2 save the Swedish Short-Snout campaign
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Dragon breeds 2 save the Swedish Short-Snout campaign

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This animated Powerpointresource portrays three of the pure bred dragon breeds taken from Newt Scamander's latest edition of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and asks pupils to compare and contrast between the three. Having read the informative texts, the students are required to retrieve relevant information to answer a series of questions. Finally they are required to launch a campaign to save the most endangered of the three dragons featured here: the Swedish Short-Snout. Pupils must put their persuasive writing techniques to the test and add weight to their arguments by designing an eye-catching poster. Reminders are given about how to make a persuasive speech. Answers are provided. This activity will appeal to Potter fans of all ages and will promote wider reading and further investigation into mythological creatures.The resource is presented both as a Powerpoint and as an accompanying word document.
Dragon breeds similarities and differences information text
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Dragon breeds similarities and differences information text

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This animated Powerpoint resource bases its information on Newt Scamander's special edition of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and compares and contrasts three pure bred breeds of dragon namely the Antipodean Opaleye, the Ukrainian Ironbelly and the Hungarian Horntail. Pupils are given a series of questions to answer based on this information and asked to compile an eye-witness report for The Ukrainian Daily Herald of an Ironbelly swooping over the Black Sea with disastrous consequences for the occupants of an unsuspecting sailing ship. All answers are provided together with orders of merit upon completion of the task.Students are given reminders about how to organise their information effectively. Fun activity for Harry Potter fans revising comprehension skills , report writing and independent reading.Students also get to devise their own dragon names! Suitable for ages 8+
Fantastic Beasts Bundle
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Fantastic Beasts Bundle

4 Resources
I have bundled together four resources which I think will appeal to Potter fans. There are magical beasts galore here and plenty of opportunities to use descriptive writing, informative writing and even letter writing inspired by J.K.Rowling's work. Pupils can revise their writing skills but will , hopefully, be inspired to read more widely too. Suitable for Potter fans of all ages.