Get SET to teach secondary English with Sian's English Toolkit.
These resources are based on my experience teaching secondary English for thirteen years. During this time I gained experience teaching language and literature to all ability levels within the age range 11-18. I also have extensive experience of writing schemes of learning as I was a department lead for ten of those years.
Get SET to teach secondary English with Sian's English Toolkit.
These resources are based on my experience teaching secondary English for thirteen years. During this time I gained experience teaching language and literature to all ability levels within the age range 11-18. I also have extensive experience of writing schemes of learning as I was a department lead for ten of those years.
Group Discussion Activity Worksheets comprises of two discussion activities. Each sheet is set up similarly to the WJEC GCSE assessment sheets to help students familiarise themselves with the format. There are five sources on each sheet, including two links to audio-visual clips. **Note - your school must have enabled YouTube access for staff for you to access these clips.
The first worksheet promotes discussion around the question, ‘What makes a good citizen?’ which is directly linked to one of the speaking and listening topics given by the exam board for the individual researched presentation. The second worksheet leads students to discuss, ‘What makes a hero?’ which can be connected to the novel Heroes for any pupils studying that text as part of the Literature course.
Whilst there are strong connections to the WJEC English courses, both resources stand in their own right to support pupils in developing their discussion skills and can be used with higher ability KS3 pupils in addition to KS4 pupils.
Euro 2024 Literacy Activities
This editable PowerPoint contains 20 literacy-based activities based on the countries involved in Euro 2024. These make perfect starter activities or form time tasks. Slides have a simple colour scheme so that they can be printed at a lower cost if hard copies are needed.
As well as being enjoyable and competitive, these activities will encourage learners to apply their knowledge of the alphabet, vowels, consonants and languages.
Activities include:
placing words into alphabetical order
matching terms to different languages
anagrams
identifying missing vowels/consonants
word grids
creating their own words
A Christmas Carol annotated extracts. These worksheets are designed to help GCSE English Literature students practise extract analysis/annotation in preparation for analysing a specific extract in the exam. There are differentiated resources per extract depending on pupils’ ability and the learning intention of the lesson. Each extract has a specific question attached to it. The duration of the worksheet will depend on the learning intention of the lesson, but would take approximately 15-25 minutes to annotate and go through as a class as a revision activity.
There are three versions of each sheet:
blank extract and the question for use as an individual assessment
differentiated highlighted version to guide less confident students towards important quotations
highlighted and annotated version as a teacher guide, a good example of annotation to display to pupils/for self-assessment, or a revision handout to give to pupils
There are five annotated extracts, each one from a highly significant event in the plot:
Stave 1 - first description of Scrooge
Stave 2 - when he tries to extinguish the light from the Ghost of Christmas Present
Stave 3 - Ignorance & Want
Stave 4 - the graveyard scene
Stave 5 - description of Scrooge
If you have found these useful, take a look at the revision materials that accompany the text, also available in my shop:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-christmas-carol-revision-board-game-12989845 - a board game is a brilliant way of engaging learners with revision without it feeling like work!
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-christmas-carol-revision-worksheets-12942672
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-christmas-carol-quotes-revision-12938348
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Revision Activities for GCSE
Get all students learning and revising, even those who find it a challenge! These 10 activities are varied, meaning that there is something for all types of learner to get their teeth into.
Activities can be completed independently or in pairs/groups. Some also lend themselves to starter activities that can lead on to whole class discussion of characters, themes and issues. Alternatively, they could be bundled together to make a handy revision booklet for homework activities.
There’s a blend of activities, some of which require recall and some that are more challenging, requiring students to apply critical thinking. This helps you to differentiate revision activities based on the needs of your individual students.
Answers are included for questions with a right/wrong answer, and it’s great fun to see what your class comes up with for more open-ended activities.
You will get:
ten worksheets overall
two character-by-colour worksheets
two sequencing activities (events & quotes)
one character-by-animal worksheet
one mood and atmosphere grid activity
one quote/character matching activity
one anagrams activity
one wordgrid
one images & symbols activity
Sentence Punctuation Colour by Number worksheet, including answer key. This worksheet is designed to help KS2-3 pupils learn more about sentence punctuation. This resource is suitable for upper ability KS2 and lower ability KS3 pupils. It will take about 30 minutes to complete.
In this task, pupils will select the correct punctuation mark to end different sentences. Correct answers will provide a key to use to colour in the image. The image is of a number of presents so is suitable as a general or a festive activity. An answer key for staff is included for both elements of the worksheet.
Inference Worksheets 5 - Little Women / Black Beauty
These worksheets support learners in developing the skills of reading for meaning and making inferences. The teacher guide at the start helps you navigate through a series of activities that support learners in understanding a text. Each text will take approximately an hour to complete. These work particularly well with groups of 3-6 learners but can also be used 1-1 and with larger groups.
These activities help learners to practise:
making connections with current knowledge
visualising
questioning
word meaning
explaining subtext
empathy
prioritising
summarising
The two texts in this pack are extracts from Little Women and Black Beauty.
Also available in my shop are:
Inference Worksheets 1: Peter Pan & The Wind in the Willows
Inference Worksheets 2: Treasure Island & The Secret Garden
Inference Worksheets 3: A Christmas Carol & The Wizard of Oz
Inference Worksheets 4: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland & What Katy Did
A bundle offer including six extracts
Capital Letters Worksheet - The Secret Garden
This worksheet comprises an extract from ‘The Secret Garden’ which contains 19 errors with capital letters. There is also an answer sheet. This is a good starter activity for learners who are developing confidence with capitals or a more substantial activity for those who are less confident.
The errors include:
starting new sentences
use of the pronoun ‘I’
proper nouns
punctuation of speech
The Merchant’s Tale annotated extract. This resource will help GCE English Literature students analyse extracts. There are differentiated versions of the worksheet depending on pupils’ ability and the learning intention of the lesson.
The duration of the worksheet will depend on the learning intention of the lesson, but would take approximately 15-25 minutes to annotate and go through as a class as a revision activity. The extract is the description of the Merchant taken from the General Prologue.
There are three versions of the worksheet:
blank extract and the question for use as an individual assessment
differentiated highlighted version to guide less confident students towards important quotations
highlighted and annotated version as a teacher guide, a good example of annotation to display to pupils/for self-assessment, or a revision handout to give to pupils
Further annotated extracts are available here - https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13040315
Creative Writing Prompt Cards | Upper Primary School-Lower High School
These creative writing prompt cards would be useful for upper-primary or lower-high school aged students.
There are five categories of cards: main character, setting, season/weather/time, emotion and object.
The intention is for students to pick one card from each category and use these to create their own original story. This task can be differentiated up or down, depending on the needs of the students in the class, as outlined on the first page of the resource.
If this product is helpful to you, you may also like to have a look at these products in my shop:
Punctuation of Speech Activity: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/punctuation-of-speech-peter-pan-worksheet-12979465
Capital Letter Challenge Sheet: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/capital-letters-worksheet-the-secret-garden-12979226
Group Reading Task Sheet Bundle: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/inference-worksheets-12974999
GCSE English Language Revision Checklists (WJEC)
These checklists are to support learners in the build-up to mock exams and external exams.
They can be used by individuals to identify gaps in their own knowledge, or they can be used on a whole class level to identify areas of concern across the class to guide targeted teaching/learning/revision in the build-up to exams.
If a student cannot tick all columns for a skill, they should focus on that skill until they can. Once all columns have been ticked, they can move on to the next row.
The first checklist focuses on reading skills required across Units 2 & 3, including the editing section of Unit 2. The second checklist focuses on the writing skills required across Units 2 & 3, including the proofreading task on Unit 2.
Once gaps have been identified, some of these resources may be useful in addressing them:
Revision Pack: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/gcse-english-language-exam-revision-pack-wjec-12969501
Reading Skills Success Criteria Card Sort: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/gcse-english-language-reading-skills-wjec-12979433
How to plan writing task responses effectively: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/gcse-english-language-writing-planning-wjec-12984776
A GCSE English Language Resource Bundle, containing the above: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/gcse-english-language-bundle-wjec-12986501
English Anagrams 1-6, includes six different anagrams worksheets and the answer sheets. These worksheets are designed to help KS3 pupils develop their language skills (such as the alphabet) and extend their vocabulary. The anagrams on each worksheet have a common theme and are listed in alphabetical order. Each sheet will take 10-20 minutes to complete, depending on the age/ability of the class.
In these tasks, pupils will unscramble the letters to identify the words. Once they have unscrambled a few, they will be able to identify the common theme. They will also be required to apply their knowledge of the alphabet and elements of language to help them unscramble less familiar words. An answer key for staff is included for all three worksheets.
Also available as two separate resources: English Anagrams 1-3 and English Anagrams 4-6.
Christmas/Festive Anagrams includes two different anagrams worksheets all connected to Christmas and the answer sheets. These worksheets are designed to help KS3 pupils develop their language skills (such as the alphabet) and extend their vocabulary. The anagrams on each worksheet are listed in alphabetical order. Each sheet will take 10-20 minutes to complete, depending on the age/ability of the class.
In these tasks, pupils will unscramble the letters to identify the words. They will also be required to apply their knowledge of the alphabet and elements of language to help them unscramble less familiar words. An answer key for staff is included for both worksheets.
General anagrams are also available in the following:
Anagrams 1-3
Anagrams 4-6
Anagrams 1-6 (bundle)
‘A Christmas Carol’ Colour by Number is a revision activity to support recollection of key characters and plot points. Whilst learners of all abilities can complete this activity, it may support revision amongst lower ability pupils best.
It will take 15-30 minutes to complete, depending on the learner’s level of confidence with the book. An answer key is included for both elements of the worksheet.
If you like this activity, have a look at the other ‘A Christmas Carol’ resources in my shop:
Revision activities
Quotes revision
Extract analysis
There is also a board game, which I find particularly useful in engaging learners in revision in a less traditional form:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-christmas-carol-revision-board-game-12989845
Common Spellings Colour by Number Christmas theme worksheet, including answer key. This worksheet is designed to help KS3 pupils learn/revise common misspellings. This resource is suitable for KS3 pupils. It will take about 30 minutes to complete.
In this task, pupils will select the correct spelling to fill in the blank. Correct answers will provide a key to use to colour in the image. The image is of Santa going down a chimney in the snow so is a perfect festive activity. An answer key for staff is included for both elements of the worksheet.
For other festive activities, you might want to try:
Christmas anagrams: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/christmas-anagrams-12942667
A Christmas Carol characters CBN: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-christmas-carol-colour-by-number-12942738
‘An Inspector Calls’ revision worksheets includes ten different worksheets for learners to complete after studying the play. Some encourage learners to think critically about the text, whilst others test their recall of key events, characters and quotes. The time taken for each activity will vary, depending upon the level of confidence. Times are likely to vary between 5-20 minutes. Worksheets could be given as individual resources or used to produce a revision booklet for learners. Answer keys are provided for all tasks, where needed.
Activities require:
sequencing of key events
sequencing of key quotes
linking quotes to characters
considering mood and atmosphere
thinking critically of characters and their personality traits
£2.50 for the resource means that each activity costs only 25p!
Lady Macbeth Shakespeare Unit of Work | With Resources
This Lady of Macbeth unit of work can be taught as a unit on its own or integrated into a larger unit on the whole play.
It has been designed to introduce learners to Shakespearean language in a less threatening way by focusing on two key scenes. Both scenes revolve around Lady Macbeth, and the unit comprises a character study.
A range of reading skills are developed throughout the unit, resulting in a detailed analysis and comparison of Lady Macbeth’s character between the start and end of the play.
This pack is ideal for non-specialists as teacher notes/answers are included for key tasks. This resource has been used with 13-14 year old pupils as an introduction to studying Shakespeare but could also support teaching of the play for 15-16 year olds.
This resource includes:
a two page teaching & learning overview, that can be taught as a standalone unit or integrated into a larger unit on the play
a 38 slide PowerPoint that covers all aspects of the T&L overview, including differentiated versions of language analysis grids that can be given to pupils of differing abilities
an additional 19 pages of resources, for pupils and staff, including annotated copies of the extracts
Teaching time is based on 3 weekly lessons of 50 minutes - 1 hour.
GCSE English Language Writing Tips & Tricks (WJEC) is intended to give specific instructions for less confident students to follow to help improve their mark for accuracy in the written elements of the exams. In my experience, this has a positive impact, in particular, with learners who have C targets or below.
It includes some very specific rules to follow to help show accuracy with some aspects of spelling, punctuation and grammar that were recurring issues amongst some of the learners in key classes.
It includes:
some key spellings
aspects of sentence structuring
including different vocabulary/language features
If you are interested in this resource, you may also want to look at the detailed GCSE English Language exam revision pack also available from my shop:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12969501
‘Of Mice and Men’ revision worksheets includes ten different worksheets for learners to complete after studying the novel. Some encourage learners to think critically about the text, whilst others test their recall of key events, characters and quotes. The time taken for each activity will vary, depending upon the level of confidence. Times are likely to vary between 5-20 minutes. Worksheets could be given as individual resources or used to produce a revision booklet for learners. Answer keys are provided for all tasks, where needed.
Activities require:
sequencing of key events
sequencing of key quotes
linking quotes to characters
considering mood and atmosphere
thinking critically of characters and their personality traits
£2.50 for the resource means that each activity costs only 25p!
You may also be interested in these resources:
Narrative tasks: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12970442
Essay structures: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12970873
King Lear Revision Materials for A-Level contains two different resources that have been proven to support exam practice and revision for A-Level students, in particular for whole text responses where the text isn’t allowed into the exam. This is 15 pages of support, in total.
This includes:
A thorough narrative summary detailing key events, divided by Acts/Scenes, including a character-web activity at the end
A comprehensive quote pack including quotes characterised by character, theme and imagery/language
If this is useful to you, have a look at the ‘Critical Approaches’ resource in my shop, which also support A-Level teaching of the play.
GCSE English Language Exam Revision Pack - WJEC Exam Board
This resource contains eight pages of revision notes for learners sitting the GCSE English Language exams in Wales. This has been used successfully to support revision prior to the exam, in addition to completing exam practice questions in class. It can be used to teach/remind learners of success criteria, support the transition from modelled/supported activities and aid independent revision. They can be used as individual sheets or copied together to provide a support pack for learners.
The pack includes:
an overview of what to expect on Unit 2
an overview of what to expect on Unit 3
two pages of notes guiding learners through different reading skills
a page of notes guiding learners through success criteria for Unit 2 writing
a page of notes guiding learners through success criteria for Unit 3 writing
a suggested method for planning non-fiction writing (one of the most useful exam preparation tools I have shared with my learners)
a list of language features that could be used