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.
A detailed knowledge organiser to introduce students to poetic techniques and structures. It includes the following sections:
Influential poets
Poetic structures
Poetic techniques
Poet laureate
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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Marking templates to have on hand when giving students feedback on work for Language Paper 1 for CIE 0500.
I keep a stack printed out so that every time the students take an example question, they can stick these into their books for quick, clear and efficient marking.
More 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 scheme of work overview for teaching the CIE 0500 syllabus 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. **
A fun and addictive ‘Of Mice and Men’ revision tool that lasts 20-40 minutes to help students revise themes and quotes. The game ends differently each time, so this can be played multiple times to support students in revising the themes and ideas in Of Mice and Men.
Students play as either George, Lennie, Candy or Curley and the aim is to achieve their dream. They play through 40 event cards, which will give them plus or minus DPs (dream points). If they can achieve positive DPs by the end of the game then they achieve their dream. If they don’t then they are doomed to a migrant worker life of working for other people.
This game helps students to revise key events in the book, important quotes and presses them to consider the challenges that characters face to achieve their dreams. Reflection questions for students are included.
It is a print and play game. It is quick and easy to cut out. I would suggest laminating for quick further use, however this is not required. The only additional materials you will need are one die per game and scrap paper for students to keep track of their scores.
Included:
How to play card
Character profiles sheet
Event cards
Reflection questions
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I have a whole range of Of Mice and Men revision resources available in the shop and a range of revision videos on my YouTube channel (this is linked to in my shop).
Two engaging and resourced hour-long lessons to teach students how to approach Internet research and identify reliable sources of information. This is applicable to any research topic and is suitable for key stage 3 or key stage 4.
Students will learn how to:
Identify relevant research questions.
Critically analyse the strengths and weaknesses of various sources
Identify key words to use in search engines
Choose what information to write down.
This resource includes:
A Powerpoint for two lessons including teaching and printing instructions
Worksheets/printouts for each lesson (included as part of the PowerPoint).
I have included an example use for the Holocaust, however the slides can be easily adapted to suit any relevant research topic. I have used these in my English lessons but they could be adapted to work in any subject which requires students to complete independent research.
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Two engaging and detailed lessons to teach students how to approach the narrative writing question in Language paper 2 of CIE 0500 English Language IGCSE.
This resource contains a ready-to-teach powerpoint with printing and teaching instructions. The first lesson covers structure and the students are guided towards completing a planning sheet for their story which includes hook, characterisation, development, climax and the resolution. The second lesson asks students to consider how to write an engaging hook and then to complete their piece of narrative writing.
LESSON ONE
Learning Objective: Plan our narrative writing for Paper 2.
Learning Outcomes:
Students will understand what the narrative questions look like and what is assessed on the mark scheme.
Students will be introduced to a recommended narrative structure and then will plan their own answer.
Lesson Outline:
Do it now: What is the difference between narrative and descriptive writing?
Starter: Overview of Language Paper 2 and the mark scheme.
Task one: A model plan for the five-part structure.
Task two: Students plan their own narrative piece of writing using the five part structure.
Peer assessment
Plenary: What questions do you have about creating effective narrative writing?
LESSON TWO
Learning Objective: Write an engaging narrative for paper 2.
Learning Outcomes:
Students will recall and revise the success criteria for narrative writing from the previous lesson.
Lesson Outline:
Do it now: What is the difference between narrative and descriptive writing?
Starter: Overview of Language Paper 2 and the mark scheme.
Task one: A model plan for the five-part structure.
Task two: Students plan their own narrative piece of writing using the five part structure.
Peer assessment
Plenary: What questions do you have about creating effective narrative writing?
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. **
A complete scheme of work with activities to cover every chapter of ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’. The unit starts by introducing students to the context of the Holocaust, Auschwitz and Nazi Germany. It then moves on to covering reading, writing and oracy skills whilst moving through the novel.
This is designed for key stage 3. Key vocabulary per lesson and assessment ideas are also included alongside learning objectives and differentiated learning outcomes.
Peer assessment
Plenary: What do you think made Bruno feel “cold and unsafe” in the new house?
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 lesson on chapter 1 of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is available for free here.
If you find this scheme of work 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.
A detailed lesson to give students an overview of CIE 0500 Language Paper 1. This presentation breaks down what is in each question (giving examples from the specimen paper and adapted examples from past papers) and what knowledge and skills are requires. Students are prompted to consider how to time themselves effectively in this paper.
This resource contains a ready-to-teach powerpoint with printing and teaching instructions.
Learning Objective: Understand the format and types of questions on language paper 1.
**Learning Outcomes: **
Students will understand the purpose, length and question types of Language Paper 1.
Student will understand which learning objectives they are being assessed on in Language Paper 1.
Lesson Outline:
Do it now: Think-pair-share what do you already know about papers 1 and 2.
Starter: Detailed overview of paper 1 with key vocabulary shared and teacher questioning to check for understanding.
Task one: How should you divide your time?
Task two: Consolidation of paper 1 overview with students summarizing what the paper covers and assesses.
Plenary: If a friend was stressed about this exam, what would your top three pieces of advice to them be?
More Freebies:
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. **
A detailed knowledge organiser to support students in taking CIE 0500 First Language English language paper 1.
It includes the following:
Key terms defined for reading skills (skimming, scanning, PAFT etc).
An overview and suggested exam technique for questions 1, 2 and 3 adapted directly from the mark scheme.
The resource is included as a pdf for easy printing and as a ppt in case you would prefer to edit it.
This is suitable for any IGCSE students. It is an excellent resource to be used for setting homework, quizzing in classes or as a support mat.
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. **
Two engaging and ready to teach one hour lessons to cover chapters 17 - 20 of ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ by John Boyne. The first lesson (chapters 17 - 18) requires students to use a range of reading skills and techniques - they read independently and in pairs to practise their comprehension and inference skills. The second lesson (chapters 19 - 20) requires students to think about the effects of pathetic fallacy and dramatic irony in the penultimate chapter and then to reflect on how they feel about the ending.
LESSON ONE
Learning Objective: Practise a range of reading skills.
Learning Outcomes:
Bronze: Read in pairs and individually, and use skimming, scanning and inference skills.
Silver: Support your partner by correcting them constructively in paired reading.
Gold: Make a perceptive prediction about what will happen at the end of the book.
Lesson Outline:
Do It Now: Match the reading term to the definition.
Starter: Paired reading of chapter 17 followed by comprehension and inference questions.
Activity 1: Chapter 18 individual comprehension questions and marking.
Activity 2: What do you predict will happen at the end of the book?
Plenary: How has Bruno changed over the course of the book?
LESSON TWO
Learning Objective: Reflect upon the story.
Learning Outcomes:
Bronze: Understand the terms pathetic fallacy and dramatic irony.
Silver: Explain how pathetic fallacy and dramatic irony are used to create tension.
Gold: Reflect upon the end of the novel.
Lesson Overview:
Do It Now: What are your expectations for finishing the book?
Starter: Explanation of pathetic fallacy and dramatic irony– how does that impact your expectations?
Activity 1: Reading focus for chapter 19.
Activity 2: Chapter 19 reflection followed by class questions for teacher.
Activity 3: Chapter 20 reflection.
Plenary: Questions on a post-it note.
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 sixteen of ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ by John Boyne. This lesson teaches students the features of an obituary and then requires them to write an obituary about Grandmother.
Learning Objective: Write an obituary for Grandmother.
Learning Outcomes:
Bronze: List the features of an obituary.
Silver: Apply these features in writing an obituary.
Gold: Creatively infer details about Grandmother.
Lesson Outline:
Do It Now: What is an obituary? What are the steps for writing an effective one?
Starter: Reading focus on Grandmother.
Activity 1: What are the features of an obituary? Paired work.
Activity 2: Planning and writing an obituary.
Peer assessment
Plenary: How do you think Father feels about the death of his Mother?
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 staff CPD session on explicit vocabulary instruction - this lasts between one hour and 90 minutes depending on whether departments are given time at the end to consider their tier 2 and tier 3 vocabulary words.
I delivered this in my role as Literacy Coordinator and was told by the headteacher that it was the best internal CPD that he had seen delivered.
This session covers:
Why you need a whole-school approach to vocabulary
The Matthew Effect
Tier 1, 2 and 3 words and what this means.
Approaches to vocabulary instruction - morphology, etymology and the Frayer model.
Modelled examples of how to teach new vocabulary.
Advice for further reading.
Please note that I have provided some suggestions in the notes section of the slides about how to guide discussion.
Similar Resources
* Staff CPD on Whole-School Reading Strategies
* 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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A full paper 1 for CIE 0500 IGCSE English Language. This resource includes a full practice paper for Language paper 1 with three texts, answers/marking guide and references.
All the questions and answer scheme have been based on the Cambridge IGCSE First Language English 0500 syllabus and the questions have been worded so that they are similar/identical to the specification paper.
The resource is included as a pdf for easy printing or as a word doc in case you wish to edit it.
This has been updated according to the 2024 change of specification.
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. **
A detailed lesson to give students an overview of CIE 0500 language paper 2 - directed writing and composition. The paper gives an overview of what assessment objectives are covered in the exam and ideas of what the questions look like. Students will critically consider how to organise their timing in th exam.
Learning Objective: Understand the format and types of questions on language paper 2
Learning Outcomes:
Students will understand the types of questions and mark scheme for Language Paper 2.
Students will consider how to allocate their time in this exam to ensure they have enough time to plan their answers and check their SPAG.
Lesson Overview:
Do it now: Think pair share – what are the differences between paper 1 and paper 2?
Starter: Overview of the two papers.
Task one: Timings for the exam.
Task two: Consolidation quiz (on scrap paper or mini whiteboards)
Task three: Fit the key information on a postcard.
Reflection: Personally, which do you think you will find more challenging – section A or section B? Why? What can you do to help you to prepare?
More Freebies:
A free lesson giving an overview of CIE 0500 Language Paper One 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. **
24 question cards for students to use as prompts for book club discussion. I keep a laminated set with me and then students take it in turns to draw cards and answer the question. They make for great discussion!
This bundle contains everything that you need to teach CIE 0500 IGCSE English Language for Paper 1.
The bundle includes:
A knowledge organiser to support students in approaching Language Paper 1.
An original practice paper.
Marking templates for marking practice papers for language paper 1.
Six ready-to teach lessons
A scheme of work overview for Language Papers 1 and 2.
The lessons include:
An overview lesson on what students can expect from language paper 1.
A detailed lesson which gives students practice in how to approach the comprehension questions Q1(a)-(e) in language paper 1.
A detailed and engaging lesson teaching students how to approach the 15 mark summary question 1(f) for paper 1.
Two detailed lessons teaching students how to approach Language paper 1 Q2 (analysis questions).
A detailed lesson teaching students how to approach the creative response for question 3.
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A detailed knowledge organiser/revision mat to support students studying ‘Romeo and Juliet’ by William Shakespeare.
It includes the following:
Literary terms definitions
Structure and form definitions (including iambic pentameter and blank verse)
Descriptions of the main characters
An outline of some of the key themes.
This is an excellent resource to be used for setting homework, quizzing in classes or as a support mat. My students in particular find the relevant literary terms helpful.
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A detailed and engaging homework menu to be used alongside teaching Macbeth. This menu structures homework tasks, but also gives students creative freedom to pursue their own interests.
I tend to set one homework per fortnight to ensure that students have sufficient time to produce something of high quality. The deadlines can be set by the teacher to allow more or less time for certain tasks. This has worked exceptionally well with my classes who produced some outstanding homework.
It is provided as a pdf for easy printing.
Please have a look at some of the other resources in my LikeAnExpert shop.
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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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.
