Thanks for stopping by my shop. I am an experienced chartered primary teacher who has taught predominantly in Scotland. I also taught in England, Australia and in the Middle East. I produce a range of quality resources that provide depth and breadth. These resources should enhance the learning experience of pupils. There are many opportunities for active learning as well as structured tasks that consolidate and reinforce knowledge and application. Enjoy!
Thanks for stopping by my shop. I am an experienced chartered primary teacher who has taught predominantly in Scotland. I also taught in England, Australia and in the Middle East. I produce a range of quality resources that provide depth and breadth. These resources should enhance the learning experience of pupils. There are many opportunities for active learning as well as structured tasks that consolidate and reinforce knowledge and application. Enjoy!
Traditional Tale Powerpoint Presentation-
Initial ppt. used to familiarise children with initial passage and to explore several possible continuations.
Provides questions for discussion & opportunities to discuss writer’s style, choice of vocabulary and structure.
‘Sentence Stems’ scaffold the continuation task for pupils. Further questions can extend task for extension work.
Poem is annotated to illustrate the poetic techniques used such as - alliteration, metaphor and simile.
It provides an easy to follow guide for the teacher to discuss the poem .
The children go on to compose about this subject or other subjects using the exemplar as their guide.
Humorous letter from teacher about:
‘unbelievable’ homework excuses
cut and stick activity for sequencing
letter starts for scaffolding pupils replies
pro - forma for 2nd draft or display purposes.
‘Who lives here?’ PowerPoint introduces a ‘conversation’ poem about the creatures and habitat of the rainforest.
It provides a structured step by step lesson to support composition.
It also allows reinforcement of parts of speech, particularly verbs and prepositions.
Extended poetry task also provided for variety and possible differentiation.
Several verse examples are provided for clarity.
Rainforest booklet is provided for children to write their final draft for display or poetry portfolio.
‘Rainforest List Poem’ PowerPoint continues with a poetic theme and uses a simple format to motivate composition. This clear, concise and colourful presentation leads the learners step by step through the composition of a list poem based on a ‘rainforest’ theme. There is a grammar element throughout with an emphasis on nouns, adjectives and ‘ing’ verbs.
I find a poetic context an effective way to embed incidental grammar teaching.
Although the outcome is a simple list poem, it can easily be differentiated for older learners. This would involve extending each line using e.g. adverbs or an additional clause.
Children are encouraged to compose an opening line, closing line and’ list’ lines inbetween.
A Variety of Literacy Tasks based on a Pirate Theme.
Word mat provides useful words and phrases to support writing tasks.
Pirate Character Description Sheet with Writing Prompts and Graphics
Island Setting for a Pirate Adventure with further writing prompts
Simple Drawing Tasks
Label a Pirate
Sentence Strips
Mapping Task
Pirate Spelling - Whiteboard Tasks
A great additional resource to support and enhance a pirate topic. I would be delighted to receive feedback.
The imaginative poem ‘The Magic Box’ by Kit Weight provides a wonderful opportunity to appreciate, perform and compose a fantasy poem. These resources are presented beautifully to also evoke an individual written response from the learners.
THE LEARNING INTENTIONS INCLUDE:
to read, appreciate and perform a fantasy poem
to compose verses based on the model poem
to include descriptive and imaginative vocabulary within their verses
Within the pack:
Presentation A provides an initial starting point to read, appreciate and perform the poem.
It leads the learners through each verse and encourages them to appreciate the rich language of the poem. A web link is provided for learners to see and hear the original poet perform the poem.
It also provides visuals to help the learners understand and analyse the composition.
The initial written task is to compose 3 verses based on the model - learners concentrate on feelings, creatures, the natural world - What would they put in their box?
Presentation B provides an opportunity to concentrate on the final 3 verses of the model poem - the ‘impossible things’ verse, what their box is made of and where they will travel in their box.
I have provided opportunities for children to work with their talking partners to support their composition.
The final result should be very individual poems structured on the original poem.
A word mat is also provided to aid composition , a separate copy of the poem for annotation as well as a planning sheet. Within this presentation, there are slides that the teacher can use with interactive pens for shared writing to further support differentiation and an assessment checklist.
I have also provided a simple comprehension task which can be used to aid comprehension of the model poem if required. There are many opportunities for incidental learning e.g. grammar and word choice, particularly adjectives, powerful verbs, similes and alliteration.
Additional Tip : Print off nets of cubes and cuboids ( photocopiable card ) and ask children to decorate their magic boxes, then assemble them.
I hope your learners enjoy the poem and activities and would be delighted if you left feedback.
N.B. Ideally these resources should be used over several days
This resource is intended to develop descriptive writing, in particular -settings. It aims to inspire confidence and motivate pupils as writers. It is intended for KS2 / Primary 4-7.
A selection of different visuals, model paragraphs and planning formats are provided. Specific language devices are covered such as similes and metaphors. A video link is provided to enhance understanding of similes and metaphors in imaginative writing.
The introduction is thorough and allows the teacher to :
USE EFFECTIVE MODELS
a structured approach is achieved by providing ‘5 sentence’ descriptive model paragraphs to explore typical features of the descriptive genre
ENCOURAGE STRUCTURED PLANNING
simple planning grid is provided that encourages pupils to generate effective vocabulary before sentence construction
The continuation requires the pupils to generate 5 sentence paragraphs, either in collaboration or individually, using high quality images that evoke imaginative and descriptive language.
This resource can be used or adapted in a variety of ways:
Introduction to descriptive writing - settings
‘Short burst’ writing tasks
As an additional resources to develop effective writing using figures of speech e.g. similes, metaphors
It is easily editable and further images may be used to complement topics if required.
This pack contains 3 colourful , clear and concise PowerPoint presentations that deal with:
introduction to similes
silly similes
writing a simile poem
more challenging similes and adjectives with visual prompts
There are several follow up tasks:
completing similes
colour matching similes
choosing the best simile ending
choosing the best simile adjective
silly similes
This pack of resources are a valuable addition to basic core materials.
I would be delighted to receive feedback.
Writing Simple Sentences and Extending Simple Sentences - suitable from Primary 2( Scotland) onwards and Year 1( England) onwards as well as a support for children experiencing barriers to their learning.
Learning Intentions include:
To write simple sentences
To order simple sentences
To extend simple sentences with connectives
This resource pack consists of:
a colourful , comprehensive and concise PPT presentation which provides a scaffolded approach to early sentence construction plus word documents that provide follow on activities
engaging visuals that promote composition of simple and extended sentences (interactive white board pupil activities)
straightfoward tasks that allow children to learn about sentence construction and build writing skills ( writing tasks)
precise instruction in extending simple sentences using connectives (interactive white board pupil activities)
explicit instruction on adding adjectives to enhance simple sentences
opportunities to order simple sentences (interactive white board pupil activities)
scaffolded tasks that require children to compose sentences (visuals provided and sentence stems to support learners)
written tasks on word documents for completion ( word bank provided to support learners)
slides and word documents are editable so that teachers can personalise the visuals and sentences e.g. to correspond with topic or PSE etc.
I have included several images in the preview so that teachers can see the quality of the resources offered and my efforts to make the literacy activities as engaging as possible.
The font I have chosen is one which is installed in most systems- Bradley Hand. However, when uploading the preview shots to the site , the TES system sometimes changes it -not sure why! Be assured that within the presentation and word documents provided within the pack, the font is the same throughout.
I welcome feedback and reviews from fellow teachers and hope that their learners enjoy the unit of work on sentence construction as much as my classes. Enjoy!
This poetry resources pack consists of two colourful presentations:
Poetry Techniques
‘Sea Fever’ by John Masefield - An Analysis
‘Poetry Techniques’ covers the use of language to create effect within poems such as figurative language,similes and metaphors. It enables the learners to develop an insight into basic poetry word/phrases that are employed by poets and writers. It sets the learners up before reading, appreciating and analysing the poem, ‘Sea Fever’ by John Masefield.
‘Sea Fever’ is a presentation which details the language used in this popular and engaging poem. The poem is analysed and the poet’s technique is examined as well as the effects of the word choices,
A printable copy of the poem is provided for the learners to highlight or annotate.
There is an additional artistic opportunity to produce a drawing of a tall ship as a finishing task. It could be also used for a seascape art lesson.
A comprehensive pack of resources - non-chronological report writing
These resources include a:
1st presentation that introduces the general features of report writing in a colourful, child friendly format that clearly leads the learners through the signposts of the genre.
2nd presentation that continues with the assessment of reports including online link and differentiated checklists - peer and self editing.
Additional resources provide:
1) A clear concise and interesting model report on Egypt for learners to read, discuss, analyse, highlight and 'pull apart' - active learning.
2) An annotated report to provide the teacher with the main teaching points of the model report.
3) A colourful word mat with sentence starts and vocabulary to support report writing.
4) A mind map for the planning stage which is partially completed to support learners ( can be easily edited to provide less support).
5) Word strips with facts about Egypt - ideal for 'cut and stick' activities ( learners can categorise facts under headings in a carousel type activity)
This detailed pack of resources will support the learners thoroughly from the initial lesson on the structure of a report through assessment ,the analysis of models and finally to a finished piece that can be assessed and celebrated.
Writing a 5 line poem - CINQUAIN
The introductory presentation includes:
the signposts of a cinquain poem
models to read, perform and analyse
a planner for composition
several suggestions for poetry tasks/activities
an editing sheet
The four seasonal presentations include:
poems to read, enjoy and analyse
poems where vocabulary can be explored and highlighted
completed planners
blank planners for poetry tasks
These poetry activities also provide opportunities to explore vocabulary and consolidate grammar points.
Children enjoy this type of poetry task because once they have mastered the pattern of the poem, they can compose several with different topics.
This unit explores the traditional tale: The Elves and the Shoemaker with online links as well as a comprehensive range of literacy tasks for your learners.
It contains:
speaking and listening tasks
reading the narrative
syllable tasks
handwriting tasks
sentence construction /ordering tasks
an art task
as well as oral retelling of the narrative.
A word wall is provided which can be used for further vocabulary development.
It places literacy within a meaningful context and allows plenty of incidental learning to take place.
This bundle composes of 3 attractive , colourful PowerPoint presentations.
PowerPoint 1 & 2
Christmas Spelling & Nativity Spelling provides:
active tasks with key words clearly and thematically displayed
spelling words embedded in sentences so children can experience words in context
writing sentences activity to reinforce learning
easily editable presentation for further spelling tasks
PowerPoint 3
Christmas Maths provides :
opportunity to calculate subtraction sums ( clearly and thematically shown)
answers displayed for immediate correction and assessment
easily editable presentation for further maths tasks
Three enjoyable and seasonal lessons which your classes will actively enjoy whilst practising their spelling and maths skills.
This comprehensive PPt allows children to craft paragraphs following a 5 sentence challenge format. It deals with description of a variety of scenes and characters.
It follows a tight planning structure to build confidence and quality of description. The graphics are colourful and engaging with supportive vocabulary that can aid more reluctant writers.
The slides can be easily edited to include other graphics which might enhance a topic or a novel study.
Learners can be initially supported through the writing process and many will then embrace the planning and writing more independently.
Although vocabulary is provided as an aid, learners can add their own alternatives. Teachers can also use the provided word banks as a prompt to encourage expansion of word choices.
There is a self edit grid provided on the planning sheet. I welcome feedback.
There are 3 comprehensive presentations which deal with adjectives in phrases, sentences and text. They provide grammar differentiation, revision and reinforcement in a colourful and engaging manner. Lots of opportunities to involve the learners with additional answer slides that give immediate feedback plus easily edited to provide further practice. I have also included several grammar tasks on Word documents as follow up written work. These can be used individually or as booklet.
I would be grateful for feedback.
There are 3 colourful, clear and concise PowerPoint presentations included in this pack.
Presentation A - The 5 Sentence Challenge presents summer visual prompts with added vocabulary. The learning intentions are to compose 5 sentence paragraphs with an emphasis on:
crafting short/long sentences
descriptive language choices
including a question to the reader
using sentences with exclamation marks
Presentation B & C- Seashore and Outdoors Spelling Whiteboard Tasks
The learning intentions are to study, cover and write specific 'summer' vocabulary.
To compose a 'seashore' word wall and an 'outdoors' word wall for sentence and/or short burst writing tasks.
A selection of PowerPoints that introduce Literature Circles and the benefits of promoting this within a literacy /reading session. One is devoted to introducing Literature Circles to teachers and practitioners who are unfamiliar with them. The other two presentations are intended for children and can be used to guide them through the roles plus the approach needed for successful collaborative work.
The badges for each role are provided for lamination.
The pro formas for each role are also included.
This approach encourages independent reading and supports active reading within the classroom.
A Literature Circle word mat provides stimulating questions to scaffold and enhance speaking & listening within a group . This word mat could also be used by the teacher as a plenary activity.
Two Packs included are intended to develop inferential skills in both reading and writing.
Pack A - 'Read between the Lines' incorporates :
15 differentiated passages
Literal and Inferential questions
True/False and ‘Don’t Know’ statements
to encourage close reading, skimming and scanning for details and reading for meaning.
Pack B - 'Over to You!' incorporates:
18 differentiated story starts - opening passages
‘Openers’ word wall
Prompts to encourage ‘quality ‘writing
Writer’s craft editing sheet to encourage continuation of events, characters and setting.
It is intended to provide writers with an initial start and to help develop a continuation of the writer's craft.
Ideal as a ‘short burst’ writing task or can be used for more extended writing tasks.