I am an experienced English teacher and Literacy Coordinator. All of my resources are organised, engaging, ready to teach and designed to save you - the teacher - your valuable time!
Please have a look at all of my resources - at least 20% of which are free.
I am an experienced English teacher and Literacy Coordinator. All of my resources are organised, engaging, ready to teach and designed to save you - the teacher - your valuable time!
Please have a look at all of my resources - at least 20% of which are free.
Fully resourced and differentiated 1 hour lesson in which students learn how to use a colon and a semi-colon and then apply it by completing a short piece of writing.
This lesson is aimed at KS3, but it could easily be adapted to younger or older students.
This lesson includes:
- Full explanation of the rules for using colons and semi-colons.
- Worksheet for students to practise using colons and semi-colons (including examples where either could be used correctly to prompt discussion about the different effects of using them).
- Writing task for students to apply their knowledge of colons and semi-colons.
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Fully resourced and ready-to-teach 1 hour lesson which pushes students to be more creative with writing similes and metaphors.
This lesson is aimed at KS3 and would be suitable for an introduction to poetry unit - but it could easily be adapted to younger or older students. It is best suited to students who already know what similes and metaphors are but need to learn to experiment creatively with them for effect.
This lesson includes:
Full explanantion of similes and metaphors
Differentiated learning outcomes
Practice activities to write exciting similes and metaphors (with modelled examples)
A chance for students to apply their knowledge by analysing the figurative language in ‘Dreams’ by Langston Hughes
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Fully resourced and differentiated 1 hour lesson in which students learn how to independently close read a challenging text.
This lesson has been designed to be reused multiple times as it teaches students the skills that they need to independently close read any new text to them.
Easily adaptable to all abilities as you can differentiate the difficulty of the text given (example texts and teacher text selection advice included).
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A detailed booklet to prompt students to create their own mini anthology of poetry. This would be suitable for key stage 3 but could easily be adapted for older or younger students.
It is included as a word document (for editing) and as a pdf (for easy printing and safe formatting).
It includes grading criteria.
Please see the accompanying scheme of learning which teaches all the techniques mentioned (similes, metaphors, personification, sibilance and assonance etc).
For other English, PSHE and Media activities, see my Like An Expert shop.
A detailed knowledge organiser to introduce students to the knowledge needed to study WW1 poetry. It includes the following sections:
Influential poets
Poetic forms
Famous poems
Key words
Poetic techniques
This knowledge organiser can be used for designing schemes of work, revision mats for students or giving them self-quizzing homework.
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A simple poster for reference to the four assessment objectives for the current Edexcel IGCSE English Literature course. I have included it as a pdf (without text titles) for easy printing, or as a PPT file so that you can add your own text choices.
12 engaging and fully-resourced lessons which support students studying ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’ play by Mark Haddon, adapted by Simon Stephens. This is targeted towards students taking the Edexcel English Literature IGCSE 4ET1, but the resources could be easily adapted for key stage 3 or for another exam board.
This bundle contains:
A lesson on autism and the Edexcel Pearson assessment objectives.
A lesson considering structure and how Christopher is presented at the start of the play.
A lesson on the train station scene and how the writer creates empathy for Christopher.
A lesson on the theme of truth and lies.
A lesson on humour and dramatic irony.
A lesson on how Judy is presented.
A lesson on Judy’s letters.
A lesson on how Judy changes throughout the play.
A lesson on the relationship between Ed and Christopher.
A lesson on the theme of curiosity and investigation.
A lesson on how Siobhan is presented.
A lesson on how to approach the IGCSE exam for Curious Incident.
A detailed knowledge organiser including key vocabulary and themes (2 A3 pages)
An overview scheme of work document with a suggested order for teaching these lessons.
A poster displaying the Assessment Objectives for this IGCSE course.
If you find these resources helpful, please leave a review and have a look at other resources available in my shop.
A complete practice CIE 0500 Language Paper 2 paper based on the specification and past papers. This includes an insert with an original question and texts. This can be used for mocks or exam preparation.Rubric not included so mark according to the specification mark scheme.
Paper 1 is available here.
CIE 0500 Freebies:
A free lesson giving an overview of CIE 0500 Language Paper One here.
A free lesson giving an overview of CIE 0500 Language Paper Two here.
Free marking templates for CIE 0500 here.
If you find this helpful, have a look at my CIE 0500 Language Paper 1 bundle here or the Language Paper 2 bundle here. If you’re interested in both, there is a combined bundle here which is cheaper than buying them separately.
Please leave a review as I value all the feedback I receive, and have a look at other resources available in my shop. **
An engaging and detailed staff CPD session on whole-school reading strategies that lasts one hour.
This session covers:
Why you need a whole-school approach to reading.
The Matthew Effect
Tier 1, 2 and 3 words and what this means.
Orthography and background of English spelling
Five strategies for struggling readers that can be used across subjects.
Time for staff to consolidate their learning and discuss how they will apply what they have learned to their subject and upcoming units.
Please note that I have provided some suggestions in the notes section of the slides about how to guide discussion as well as the answers to some questions.
Similar Resources
* A Whole-School Approach to Explicit Vocabulary Staff CPD
* A bundle of whole-school literacy resources including this CPD, CPD on Reading Strategies and resources for implementing a Word Root of the Week in your school.
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Engaging and ready to teach one hour lesson (ppt and worksheet) to introduce students to ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ by John Boyne. This lesson requires students to infer what themes they think the novel will cover and then guides them through independent analysis of some key quotes by Bruno at the start of the novel. This lesson is easy to differentiate for different abilities.
This resource includes a Powerpoint presentation and a worksheet.
Students have the opportunity to practise inference considering connotations of words, and they also practise analysis by zooming in on specific quotes from chapter 1. This lesson is easy to differentiate for different abilities.
Learning Objective: Develop inference skills to make predictions about The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.
Learning Outcomes:
Bronze: Infer basic details about Bruno.
Silver: Add creative details to your inferences.
Gold: Independently choose a quote from the text from which you can infer details about Bruno.
Lesson Overview:
Do It Now: What can you infer from the title?
Starter: Mind map based on front covers.
Activity 1: Think – pair – share based on the inferences they have made.
Activity 2: Reading and response with worksheet
Peer assessment
Plenary: How would you describe Bruno in 3 words?
More Freebies:
Two pre-reading lessons to introduce students to the context of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is available for free here.
A scheme of work for teaching the entire novel is available for free here.
If you find this lesson useful, please consider purchasing this ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ Bundle or have a look at other resources available in my shop.
Engaging and ready to teach one hour lesson to cover chapter eleven of ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ by John Boyne. This lesson provides information about Eva Braun and her relationship with Adolf Hitler. Students synthesise information from the novel with the information provided about the couple to write a diary entry as Eva Braun. This could be used as a creative writing assessment.
Learning Objective: Synthesise information from the novel with knowledge about context to write a diary entry as Eva Braun.
Learning Outcomes:
Bronze: Incorporate details about Eva Braun into a diary entry.
Silver: Infer details about her from the text.
Gold: Add thoughtful and creative details to explore who Eva Braun was.
Lesson Outline:
Do It Now: Picture of Hitler with Eva Braun. How does this affect your opinion of Hitler?
Starter: Pre-reading discussion and questions followed by reading of chapter 11.
Activity 1: Mind map to plan for writing.
Activity 2: Diary writing task
Peer assessment
Plenary: Think-Pair-Share - Why has John Boyne included Eva Braun as a character?
Freebies:
Two pre-reading lessons to introduce students to the context of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is available for free here.
A lesson on chapter 1 of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is available for free here.
A scheme of work for teaching the entire novel is available for free here.
If you find this lesson useful, please consider purchasing this ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ Bundle or have a look at other resources available in my shop. .
Leave a review and choose any other resource of up to the same value for free from my shop.
Engaging and ready to teach one hour lesson to cover chapter fifteen of ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ by John Boyne. This lesson asks students to probe how they think Bruno would feel after betraying Shmuel to Lieutenant Kotler. They explore how to use figurative language and different sentence structures and then write a diary entry as Bruno.
Learning Objective: Write a personal response as Bruno.
Learning Outcomes:
Bronze: Consider the complex emotions that Bruno feels in this chapter.
Silver: Express these feelings using figurative language.
Gold: Use a range of simple, compound and complex sentences.
Lesson Outline:
Do It Now: How would you describe the feeling of guilt using figurative language?
Starter: Reading focus – how does Bruno feel? Students create a mind-map and use a thesaurus to build vocabulary.
Activity 1: Hot-seating as Bruno, Shmuel and Lieutenant Kotler.
Activity 2: Focus on simple, compound and complex sentences.
Activity 3: Write a diary entry as Bruno
Peer assessment
Plenary: What thoughts and feelings do you think Shmuel would have experienced during this same time period?
Freebies:
Two pre-reading lessons to introduce students to the context of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is available for free here.
A lesson on chapter 1 of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is available for free here.
A scheme of work for teaching the entire novel is available for free here.
If you find this lesson useful, please consider purchasing this ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ Bundle or have a look at other resources available in my shop. .
Leave a review and choose any other resource of up to the same value for free from my shop.
Engaging and ready to teach one hour lesson to cover chapter fourteen of ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ by John Boyne. This lesson requires students to practise STEAL analysis of Gretel and then write a personal response as her to explore who she is as a character.
**Learning Objective: **Use STEAL analysis to explore Gretel’s character.
Learning Outcomes:
Bronze: Find appropriate quotes from the text for effective analysis.
Silver: Infer details from the quotes.
Gold: Synthesise what you know about Gretel with your knowledge of context to write a personal response as Gretel.
Lesson Outline:
Do It Now: How would you describe Gretel? Vocabulary builder.
Starter: Reading focus – find quotes that describe Gretel.
Activity 1: STEAL analysis of Gretel followed by whole-class feedback.
Activity 2: Students choose a task to develop their understanding of Gretel.
Students share work
Plenary: How do you think that Gretel will change as a character as she continues to live at Auschwitz away from her friends?
Freebies:
Two pre-reading lessons to introduce students to the context of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is available for free here.
A lesson on chapter 1 of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is available for free here.
A scheme of work for teaching the entire novel is available for free here.
If you find this lesson useful, please consider purchasing this ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ Bundle or have a look at other resources available in my shop. .
Leave a review and choose any other resource of up to the same value for free from my shop.
An engaging and detailed PowerPoint containing 40 questions and answers to introduce students to the weird and wonderful life of William Shakespeare.
**The questions are split into four rounds, each containing 10 questions: **
Shakespeare’s life and family
Shakespeare’s character
Shakespeare’s writing
The Globe theatre
This could be used across a one hour or 90 minute lesson, or as a detailed starter across multiple lessons. It is aimed at key stages 3 and 4. After each round, students are prompted to mind-map what they have learned about Shakespeare.
30 slides in total.
I really value all the feedback I receive. Leave a review and choose any other resource of up to the same value for free from my shop.
A simple start of year activity that requires students to write an acrostic poem to describe themselves. This worksheet is very versatile and could be used as a lesson or homework activity in an English or PSHE lesson. It could be used for key stages 2 or 3.
It is included as a pdf for easy printing and as a word document in case you would like to edit it.
For other English, PSHE and Media activities, see my Like An Expert shop.
A clear, detailed and ready-to-teach lesson on CIE 0500 Language Paper 1 Question 3 which assesses how students can find implicit meanings in a text and synthesise these into the writing of a creative response. In this resource is an original exam script with Text C as well as answers with explanations adapted from the mark scheme.
Learning Objective: Write an effective creative response for question 3 of Language Paper 1.
Learning Outcomes:
-Students will understand the assessment objectives and the mark scheme for Q3.
Students will be guided through a three-step approach of how to answer this question.
-Students will write an independent answer and self-assess their work against the mark scheme.
Lesson Outline:
Do it now: Think – Pair – Share: If an old lady was writing a letter to a friend, what tone/register would she use?
Starter: Overview of question requirements and mark scheme.
Task one: Modelling of how to approach the question with exam hints and a model answer.
Task two: Students independently write the end of the answer.
Plenary: Students self-assess their work against the mark scheme and write themselves a target for next time.
This resource has been updated according to the 2024 specification change.
Freebies:
A free lesson giving an overview of CIE 0500 Language Paper One here.
A free lesson giving an overview of CIE 0500 Language Paper Two here.
Free marking templates for CIE 0500 here.
If you find this lesson helpful, have a look at my CIE 0500 Language Paper 1 bundle here or the Language Paper 2 bundle here. If you’re interested in both, there is a combined bundle here which is cheaper than buying them separately.
Please leave a review as I value all the feedback I receive, and have a look at other resources available in my shop. **
Introduce your students to the dynamic world of slam poetry with this fully resourced 90-minute lesson. Ideal for years 9 and above, this lesson can be easily adapted for younger students. The featured poem addresses the theme of addiction, making it more suitable for mature students, but a selection of alternative slam poems is included for flexibility.
What's Included:
* 20-Slide PowerPoint: Engaging presentation covering the history, evolution, and impact of slam poetry.
* Graphic Organiser: Helps students to mind-map and structure their slam poems effectively.
* Detailed Instructions: Step-by-step guidance on writing a slam poem, focusing on both creative and technical aspects.
* Curated Slam Poems: A range of recommended slam poems that can be used as substitutes, ensuring suitability for different age groups.
**Learning Objective:** Express Ourselves Through Writing Powerful Slam Poetry.
**Learning Outcomes:**
- Understand the conventions of powerful slam poems.
- Use a range of language and structural devices in my poem.
- Perform part of my poem for maximum impact.
**Lesson Overview**:
Do it now: Think-Pair-Share questions on Slam Poetry. With teacher-support, the class arrive at an inferred definition of slam poetry.
Starter: A teacher-guided history of slam poetry followed by 5 recall questions with answers provided.
Activity 1: Watch ‘21’ and discuss questions
Activity 2: Use graphic organizer to write down ideas and then begin writing slam poem
Plenary: Share most powerful line
Extension: Poems for further study
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This bundle contains everything you need to introduce students to Language Paper 2 for CIE 0500 IGCSE English Language.
This bundle contains:
A lesson giving a detailed overview of Language Paper 2.
A lesson on how to approach the directed writing question.
A lesson on how to approach the descriptive writing task.
Two lessons on how to approach the narrative writing task.
An original practice paper 2
A scheme of work overview for teaching Language Papers 1 and 2.
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Worksheet for use in class or homework to prompt students to write a description of household objects. It is included as a word doc and pdf for easy printing and editing.
An engaging and detailed lesson to teach students how to approach the summary question in their reading paper for the CIE 0500 English First Language specification. In this resource is an original exam script which students practise answering.
This resource contains:
A ready-to-teach powerpoint with printing and teaching instructions.
An example summary question/extract and the mark scheme
A revision handout so that students can practise the four step method for approaching this question.
This has been updated according to the 2024 specification change.
Learning Objective: Write an effective summary.
Learning Outcomes:
Students will understand how to meet the requirements of the mark scheme for the summary writing question.
Students will experience a ‘walking mock’ of how to approach the summary writing question.
Students will practise applying the mark scheme by using peer assessment.
Lesson Outline:
Do it now: Think, pair, share: What are the key skills needed for writing a summary?
Starter: Overview of the exam question, skills and marks.
Task 1: Modelled and scaffolded summary task divided into four steps. For the final step, students should be given 15 minutes to write their answer.
Task 2: Scaffolded peer assessment - students assess multiple other examples so that they can see a range of answers.
Task 3: Self-reflection
Leaving question: What questions do you still have about writing a summary?
Freebies:
A free lesson giving an overview of CIE 0500 Language Paper One here.
A free lesson giving an overview of CIE 0500 Language Paper Two here.
Free marking templates for CIE 0500 here.
If you find this lesson helpful, have a look at my CIE 0500 Language Paper 1 bundle here or the Language Paper 2 bundle here. If you’re interested in both, there is a combined bundle here which is cheaper than buying them separately.
Please leave a review as I value all the feedback I receive, and have a look at other resources available in my shop. **