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!
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.
Writing Complex Sentences and Extending Simple Sentences - suitable from Primary 2/3/4( Scotland) onwards and Year 1/2/3( England) onwards as well as a support for children experiencing barriers to their learning.
Learning Intentions include:
To write complex sentences
To order complex sentences
To extend complex sentences with connectives**
This resource pack consists of:
a colourful , comprehensive and concise PPT presentation which provides a scaffolded approach to sentence construction plus word documents that provide follow on activities
engaging visuals that promote composition of complex 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 complex sentences using connectives (interactive white board pupil activities)
explicit instruction on adding sentence starters to enhance simple sentences
opportunities to order complex 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!
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.
How to make a Salad and How to make Porridge
This pack of resources introduces the writing genre- instructions in a 'child friendly' manner. The food presentations are colorful and clearly set out the 'signposts' of the genre:
a) 'How to... ' title for instructions
b) What you need:
c) Pictures to aid meaning for the reader
d) What you do: or Method:
e) Numbering each instruction
This ensures that the children experience and engage with models before attempting independent writing tasks.
The 'cut and stick' activities resources match the initial presentations and provide a scaffold for the children to read , understand, label and order instructions in an active manner. I have also included larger pictures that would be ideal when working with a smaller group who need more support. These should be laminated if possible. The teacher can easily demonstrate the layout 'step by step' for children who need more direct teaching. I have also included the learning intentions and success criteria for the tasks.
The last presentation is a fun recipe version based on summer time . It can be read, explored and enjoyed before the children attempt to write similar instructions using a support mat provided on the presentation. There are two versions , colour background for smart board use and white background to save costs when printing. This presentation can be adapted for use with other seasons : Spring, Autumn and Winter.
This clear, concise and colorful presentation leads the learners step by step through the composition of a list poem based on a 'magic purse' theme. There is a grammar element throughout with an emphasis on nouns, adjectives and 'ing' verbs.
I have found a poetry 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. I have included the extension task for older learners on the latter part of the presentation . I have also provided pro formas for the children to use for their initial draft before they revise and improve.
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.
This pack introduces children to basic sentence construction using an autumn theme. The ' Let's write about Autumn' presentation allows the teacher to model basic sentence construction on a smart board. Then the teacher has the option to scaffold two sentences from the visual prompt on following slide. Alternatively, the children can actively 'share the pen' with the teacher and write on whiteboard using visual prompt. I have also included a printer friendly version where children can record sentences on sheets, They could also record on whiteboards after
teacher has modelled using simple word wall provided.
The ' Autumn Scarecrows' presentation provides simple information in a clear and engaging way. It is followed by a factual writing task, a 'cut and stick' activity with background provided, a colour coded scarecrow task and a symmetrical task. There is also an online link provided for a 'scarecrow' action song. This is particularly suited as a cross curricular link for Autumn.
These resources support the persuasive writing genre.
The tasks involve designing a poster to advertise:
a fireworks sale
a cauldron shop
a magic wand shop
and can easily be adapted to include : a broomstick shop/sale or spell shop.
Both presentations detail the signposts of persuasion - 'catchy phrases', 'bold slogans' etc.
I have included a homework task which could be used as a warm up before a 'Big Writing' class session.
The word wall activity promotes independent dictionary referencing or thesaurus work.
The word mat supports composition for children who need more support and helps with illustrations - a key feature of a persuasive poster.
A very enjoyable task which engages the learners and particularly relevant in this season.
Two presentations that contain a variety of literacy tasks based on a Winter/ Arctic theme.
The first presentation contains:
winter word walls
winter handwriting
winter writing tasks
winter drawing and labelling tasks
winter key words task ( mini whiteboards)
'Jack Frost' poem , drawing and writing task
Winter weather cut and stick task
Winter clothes drawing and labelling task
The second presentation has literacy tasks based on animals of the Arctic.
It contains:
Factual passages about 4 Arctic creatures - Snowy Owl, Arctic Fox, Polar Bear and Arctic Wolf
Grammar tasks about each creature
Writing tasks about each creature
All of these resources are ideal for a winter themed topic. I have included simple tasks for learners who need more support as well as more demanding tasks for learners that enjoy challenge.
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!
These presentations provide a comprehensive pack of writing comments based on Assessment for Learning principles. The comments describe the positive features in relation to the learning objective and clarity of the writing. For some children, it is advisable to give one positive comment and one suggestion for improvement. The comments remind children about the learning objectives and allow group, class or individual feedback to ensue easily. They deal with the children’s writing performance (both strengths and weaknesses). In addition they observe and recommend a strategy that would improve their writing. They are mostly genre specific but also include comments about technical skills and punctuation.
PRINTING THE LABELS (L 7162 & L7163)
It is easy to download Avery Wizard (free).
It will appear on your top menu bar.
Open one of my PowerPoint presentation with comments - strengths /how to improve
Open a blank Word document
Click on Avery Wizard
Choose either code (L 7162 & L7163)
Select comment from PowerPoint presentation
Paste onto Avery label and follow instructions to finish
Page of labels ( 16 or 14) will appear on word document - just like that!
I have included several documents that are already transferred to Avery label format for easy printing - Code L7162 ( 16 labels to a page) & Code L7163 ( 14 labels to a page). If you are looking for a range of writing comments to scaffold and suggest improvements- this should do the trick.
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.