English teachers are the worst for mnemonics and acronyms. Particularly, since the likes of AFOREST PIE and MOPSA never actually cater for the needs of the students. Is that P for Personification or Pathetic Fallacy? That S, is it for Similes or Senses? Do you even know if they can remember both? Try SOAPMAPS instead. It's a far simpler approach to understanding what techniques make work more creative: Similes Onomatopoeia Adjectives Personification Metaphors Adverbs Pathetic Fallacy Senses Now the students can use the language devices to "clean-up their narrative direction".

A straight forward compilation of punctuation use for new teachers and students alike. Use as an in-lesson activity, or as a print out for student focus.

Linking identification of word classes to language techniques, this simple worksheet helps build confidence in spotting what job each word or phrase is doing

I have been achieving great results with syllabified spelling tasks. My low literacy students are making greater strides in their confidence and are better able to retain the information. These worksheets introduce students to base words, suffixes and prefixes and then syllabifies them for ease of breaking spellings down. Also included are the KS2 National Curriculum word lists for 3-4 and 5-6 all syllabified.

Print and handout so that every student has a handy reminder of Drop Swap and Double spellings

Build up student confidence in understanding grammatical word classes with these handy worksheets.

Help your students get to grips with their English subject terminology with this SOLO taxonomy inspired booklet. In order to achieve higher grades, students must demonstrate their clear understanding of word classes, rhetorical devices and figurative language. By printing a copy of this booklet off for each student, you can help them take ownership for what they have and have not yet mastered the use of. Make use of it for revision, part of your assessment process or simply as a check to find out or verify what knowledge your students currently have, or where their weaknesses lie.

These quick and easy ideas are a great and simple way of getting your students onto the task and off of their chatter. Included in several activities are extension and differentiation activities and alternatives, to best support the way you wish to use them: Includes: Crosswords Definitions Explorations Interpretation Pronunciation Register Response Syllabify Taboo Unscramble Wordsearch

Chart the progression and development of plot, theme, or character thoughts, feelings and motivations with these handy templates. 2 blank templates provide freedom for plotting story structure (rising and falling action), or creating your own chart to follow a particular theme or characters. There are 3 examples, using the dramatic structure of Conan Doyle's short story "A Scandal in Bohemia", A love, attraction and regrets chart for Dickens's "Great Expectations" and a moral integrity and principles chart for Payne's "No Man's Land". Useful for all text types, from short story, novels, plays or even epic poetry.