I'm currently the head of English and raising standards leader at a secondary school in Birmingham. I'm passionate about my subject and passionate about ensuring that the young people we serve leave education with a high competency in English.
Prior to teaching I worked in the radio industry as a presenter for 7 years and so when I became a teacher I enjoyed the opportunity to teach Media studies.
You'll find hundreds of English and Media studies resources.
I'm currently the head of English and raising standards leader at a secondary school in Birmingham. I'm passionate about my subject and passionate about ensuring that the young people we serve leave education with a high competency in English.
Prior to teaching I worked in the radio industry as a presenter for 7 years and so when I became a teacher I enjoyed the opportunity to teach Media studies.
You'll find hundreds of English and Media studies resources.
A student booklet and teacher power point that takes students through how to answer and revise for the Romeo and Juliet AQA literature question.
Model answers included and guidance on how to structure an academic introduction.
Opportunities for students to write their own answers with and without scaffolds.
The resource uses two different exam questions.
A student booklet and teacher power point that takes students through how to answer and revise for the unseen poetry AQA literature question.
Model answers included and guidance on how to plan and then structure an academic introduction and essay.
Opportunities for students to write their own answers with and without scaffolds.
The resource uses two different exam questions.
100+ slides that guide students through how to tackle language paper 1 question by question.
Includes:
tips and guidance for each question
model answers that achieve marks across the mark scheme
Do now activities
Activities to help students with descriptive and narrative writing
These resources use the 2017 paper where the extract is taken from Labyrinth by Kate Mosse.
A presentation used for staff CPD around strategies for increasing the ratio. Active engagement versus thinking. The presentation is rooted in educational research from Doug Lemov and Tom Sherrington.
The presentation:
sets out expectations of all students in our classrooms
explains the ratio spectrum with examples of actions that would place students in varying positions on the ratio graph
emphasises the importance of ‘no opt out’ with strategies for ensuring this
explores the concept of active observation and how it an be used to increase the ratio
explores how the ratio can be increased through writing, questioning and discussion simultaneously - in detail
considers the difference between formative and summative writing
incorporates a section where the CPD leader models a process for increasing the ratio through writing, questioning and discussion using the teachers as students - participants consider the question “What makes a good lesson?”
A walking talk mock (power point presentation and student work booklet) to build skills for AQA English language paper 2 question 5.
The resource:
explores the mark scheme
explores examiner feedback
explores stronger and weaker answers
provides exemplar student answers with annotations
explores ethos, logos, pathos as a method for persuasion
provides an effective sample structure
provides a step by step approach to creating an impactful response
A Walking talking mock that uses the AQA examiner feedback from summer 2023 to guide students through a process of planning and then writing answers/essays in response to Romeo and Juliet.
Power point (42 slides) and student work booklet included.
This resource focuses on helping students to:
plan their response
consider the text chronologically
embed context rather than bolt it on at the end
consider how themes can be context rather than just Historical events
create thesis statements
consider the texts as constructs
Exam question used in this resource: relationships between older and younger characters
Model answers included.
A Walking talking mock that uses the AQA examiner feedback from summer 2023 to guide students through a process of planning and then writing answers/essays in response to the Jekyll and Hyde question.
Power point (40 slides) and student work booklet included.
This resource focuses on helping students to:
plan their response
consider the text chronologically
embed context rather than bolt it on at the end
consider how themes can be context rather than just Historical events
create thesis statements
consider the text as a construct
Exam questions used in this resource: sympathy for Jekyll#
Model answers included.
A Walking talking mock that uses the AQA examiner feedback from summer 2023 to guide students through a process of planning and then writing answers/essays to the ‘An Inspector Calls’ question.
Power point (40 slides) and student work booklet included.
This resource focuses on helping students to:
plan their response
consider the text chronologically
embed context rather than bolt it on at the end
consider how themes can be context rather than just Historical events
create thesis statements
consider the texts as a construct
Exam questions used in this resource: Selfishness & Sheila as a character who learns lessons
Model answers included.
Lessons that guide students through the process of writing a comparison between Exposure and Extract from the Prelude as well as Exposure and Storm on the Island.
Students are encouraged to think about a thesis - a central argument that will run throughout their essay. What do we learn about the power in Exposure? What is the big idea?
Once students have this they are encouraged to unpick a quotation and explore how the words/devices used corroborate their thesis before writing their first paragraph.
Once complete, students apply the same process to the second poem by considering how the power has been presented and using evidence effectively.
A Walking talking mock that uses the AQA examiner feedback from summer 2023 to guide students through a process of planning and then writing answers/essays to the ‘Macbeth’ question.
Power point (37 slides) and student work booklet included.
This resource focuses on helping students to:
• plan their response
• consider the text chronologically
• embed context rather than bolt it on at the end
• consider how themes can be context rather than just Historical events
• create thesis statements
• consider the texts as a construct
Exam questions used in this resource: Macbeth’s violence
Model answers included.
Additional exam question used: Macbeth and Banquo’s attitude towards the super natural.
40 revision cards with questions on one side and answers on the other to make revision fast and simple. This resource is best used in a small index card folder/organiser.** (As seen in the image) **
Based on the Leitner method, the idea is simple: the further the card goes back in the folder: the more secure the information is in long term memory.
A card can only move back a position if you correctly answer the questions on the card. If at any point you do not answer a card correctly enough, the card must return to section 1 regardless of how far back it went. This is because it needs to be re-studied.
Quotation cards
There are 3 questions on each card: a ‘who’ question, a ‘what’ question and a ‘why’ question.
Knowledge cards.
These cards test knowledge of either subject terminology or the text itself. Subject terminology cards include questions on the definitions of language devices, sentence types and word classes as well as specific terminology.
Knowledge cards include questions about context, plot, character and theme.
Getting started
Create 6 sections in your ‘Lightning Revision’ folder.
Place all/some cards in section 1 at the front of the folder.
Follow the timetable card **(photo attached) **which tells you which of the sections you should revise each day. You’ll revise section 1 every day because cards in this section are the ones that you are least secure with.
If you answer correctly enough: move the card to the next section.
If you aren’t happy that you answered correctly enough then move the card back to section 1. (Regardless of how far back in the folder it was.)
**The Science bit: the better the mastery: the less frequent the practice. **
‘Lightning Revision’ works using the principle of ‘spaced learning.’
Research shows that after studying something: within one hour, you will have forgotten an average of 50% percent of the information. Within 24 hours, you have forgotten around 70% and within a month, this increases to 90%.
By spacing out the studying and by returning frequently to the material we want to remember, we increase our chances of committing it to long term memory.
Instead of ‘cramming,’ the simple act of spacing out revision in instalments, and allowing time to elapse between them makes the learning and memory stronger.
This resource has been created to help information that you have revised stay within your long term memory. In this system, we revise information that we are insecure with more frequently.
2 versions included:
Print - fold horizontally - cut them up and you’re ready to go!
Print back to back and you;re ready to go.
These resources (four lessons) guide students how to tackle each of the questions on language paper 1.
The extract is taken from ‘The Mist in the mirror.’
Included is a ppt to guide students through the expectations of each question including model answers that would achieve at least a grade 5 and planning strategies for each question.
Worksheets are also included which can be uploaded to an online learning platform for students to complete. Worksheets are very user friendly to minimise student difficulty.
Four full lessons using ‘Lamb to the slaughter’ by Roald Dahl, that support students in developing their ability in:
making inferences
evaluating
analysing
articulating their own perspectives and
researching
Worksheets have been created that can be easily uploaded to online learning platforms to make remote teaching easier. Students have everything for the lesson in one document and can simply annotate the text and fill in the relevant boxes and tables.
Model answers also included.
A CPD journal template.
The idea behind this is to front load a term/half term with the relevant reading that will be the basis for CPD to allow staff to read and engage ahead of a CPD session.
The reading included is based around the school priorities and ensures that CPD is research based.
Space is provided for staff to reflect on each CPD session and prioritise their actions.
14 lessons that are meticulously planned, fully differentiated and numbered for ease of use with activities included.
Homework tasks included.
Download and teach right away. These are ready to go.
Power point resources to support the teaching of the following poems from the new specification AQA power and conflict poetry collection:
1. Remains
2. Kamikaze
3. Tissue
4. Emigree
5. Charge of the light brigade
This pack also includes a comparison assessment which has been created in line with AQA format.
All resources are fully differentiated by colour. (Purple = low ability, blue = mid ability, yellow = higher ability)
All lessons are numbered for ease of use. There are 2 other packs available to support the teaching of the remaining 10 poems.
There are 2 to 3 power point presentations per poem which cover context, language, form and structure and contain assessment opportunities in line with new specification.
These fully differentiated (by colour) resources support the teaching of the entire novel 'Two weeks with the Queen.' Medium term plan also included along with homework tasks and assessment opportunities.
Over 25 lessons ready to go! Download and teach.
The medium term plan signposts opportunities to develop language and literature skills for 9-1 GCSE.
Differentiation:
Purple = low ability
Blue = middle ability
Yellow = higher ability
These lessons are ready to go - download and teach straight away.
Resources provide opportunities to:
- Read for pleasure
- Analyse language and structure
- Analyse pathetic fallacy
- Analyse character and theme
- Writing opportunities including persuasive writing, diary entry,news reports, writing to advise, formal letter writing, leaflet writing
- Develop literacy skills including sentence forms, direct speech
- Analyse non fiction texts
- Build skills for the new 9-1 GCSE English language and literature specifications
Power point resources to support the teaching of the following poems on the theme of conflict:
1. The Class Game
2. Parades End
3. Belfast Confetti
4. Our Sharpeville
5. Exposure
6. Catrin
7. Half Caste
These resources are useful for preparing students for unseen poetry or as part of key stage 3 schemes of work. or as part of the teaching of conflict poetry clusters.
All resources are fully differentiated by colour. (Purple = low ability, blue = mid ability, yellow = higher ability)
There are 2 to 3 power point presentations per poem which cover context, language, form and structure and contain assessment opportunities.
This is bundle one. There is 1 other bundle which covers the poems listed below. (15 poems in total)
1. Your Dad did what
2. Cousin Kate
3. Hitcher
4. The Drum
5. Conscientious Objector
6. Invasion
7. August 6 1945
9. Oh what is that sound
Over 13 fully differentiated and meticulously planned lessons to support the teaching of Beowulf as part of the study of the history of the English language. Lessons are numbered for ease of use.
These lessons re ready to go. Download and teach. The lessons help students to make progress against the skills needed for the new 9-1 English specifications.
Assessments included and homework tasks.
Differentiation:
purple = lower ability
blue - middle ability
yellow = higher ability
Resources provide opportunities to:
- analyse language
- explore context
- write creatively
- explore myths and legends
- create villainous characters
- explore heroic characteristics
- compare characters
- work on extract to whole exam skills
Resources to support the teaching of gothic horror short story with focus on the work of Edgar Allan Poe
Short stories and extracts covered:
- Masque of the red death
- The tell tale heart
- Frankenstein
- Dracula
Opportunities provided to:
- explore symbolism
- explore context of gothic and black death
- compare short stories
-analyse language and structure
- identify use of the senses and use the senses to create own gothic writing
- explore genre
Resources to support the teaching of Romeo and Juliet act 1 scene 5 with a focus on comparing Shakespeare's original with Luhrmann's modern 1996 interpretation.
Lessons are fully differentiated by colour and numbered for ease of use.
These resources provide opportunities to:
- Compare interpretations of act 1 scene 5
- Analyse language, form and structure of two interpretations
- Analyse dramatic irony
- Practice structuring exam responses
- Explore context
- Explore how different audience may interpret the scene