This pack is full of resources to help you streamline your marking and assessment, and to make your students work harder in response! If you're a teacher from the UK you'll know the OFSTED legend around response to marking. Even though it's not now a requirement, I've seen massive improvements and progress on work that has been DIRTed! DIRT stands for Directed Improvement and Reflection Time. This is a time specifically for students to improve the work that you have marked - then and there. No more comments like, "Sorry Miss, I'll do it next time!" This includes a time-saving key that you can edit to suit your requirements. You simply write the number of the task you want them to complete on their work, and they can reference the key in their books to find out what to do. It also includes full instructions, including helpful links, sample marking and assessment, help sheets for capital letters and 'there, their, they're' and a PowerPoint for you to display during DIRT time. This process has saved me masses of time while making my marking more worthwhile and getting far more progress out of the kids. I hope you find it as useful as I do!

This resource is my own version of the Edexcel 9-1 English Language Paper 2. I made a series of practice papers to help my own students as there aren't any past papers yet and only a handful of samples. I've followed their style very carefully and included a detailed mark scheme to help you assess. The topic of this paper is 'education' and includes two non-fiction articles on the theme. The whole paper is prepped and ready to print so you simply need to run off enough copies for your class. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask!

A whole lesson analysing the poem 'The Destruction of Sennacherib' by Lord Byron from the Edexcel Conflict Cluster (1-9 GCSE) Includes language analysis, vocab, context and questions.

Obesity is second only to smoking as the biggest killer in the United States. Morgan Spurlock's award-winning documentary highlights the dangers of fast food in a hilarious and shocking way. This two-page worksheet is a comprehensive way to ensure that students are watching the 'Super Size Me' documentary with purpose. This information can then be used for informative or persuasive writing outcomes - my students generate an awareness campaign for other teenagers. Entirely print and go - no preparation needed! -NOTE- This documentary is 'PG-13' rated in the US and '12' in the UK. Prior-viewing is advised. There are some brief incidents of bad language and some graphic footage of surgery, along with one conversation of a sexual nature (nothing visual; this is a discussion on Morgan's impeded 'performance' as a result of his diet.)

This is a whole lesson analysing Belfast Confetti by Ciaran Carson. Includes analysis, background information on 'The Troubles' and an excellent video link of Carson explaining his thought processes.

A whole lesson analysing the poem 'Cousin Kate' from the Edexcel Conflict Cluster (1-9 GCSE) Includes language analysis, vocab, context and questions.

A whole lesson analysing the poem 'The Class Game' by Mary Casey from the Edexcel Conflict Cluster (1-9 GCSE) Includes language analysis, vocab, context and questions, as well as an exploration of dramatic monologue form.

A whole lesson analysing the poem 'What Were They Like' by Denise Levertov from the Edexcel Conflict Cluster (1-9 GCSE) Includes language analysis, vocab, context and questions.

A whole lesson analysing the poem 'Extract from The Prelude' by William Wordsworth from the Edexcel Conflict Cluster (1-9 GCSE) Includes language analysis, vocab, context and questions.

Welcome to Word Birds, a weekly lesson and resources to build higher-level vocabulary in your Year 10 students. These weekly lessons include the following: • a single word plus definition as a PDF designed to be printed as a poster and displayed in your room • a PowerPoint slide to accompany the poster, with an example of how to use the word in a sentence • 6 entertaining task cards to get your students using the word in a variety of ways including my trademark comic strip! • a Word Bird helpsheet explaining the differences between verbs, adjectives, nouns and adverbs. • a record sheet to go in student exercise books to help them keep track of the words they have learnt. Most school years run for 38 weeks, but I’ve included 40 words in case you don’t fancy using any of them or you want to use them on other occasions too. Package includes: 40 slides PowerPoint 40-page PDF of words plus definitions for student handouts or posters 6 mini task cards 1 record sheet 1 help sheet to be used as a student handout. ALL RESOURCES ARE INCLUDED WITH US AND UK SPELLINGS.

A whole lesson analysing the poem 'War Photographer' by Carole Satyamurti from the Edexcel Conflict Cluster (9-1 GCSE) Includes language analysis, vocab, context and questions.

Poke Cards are super easy to use, tactile, engaging and self-checking! There are 180 cards included in this set covering nouns, adjectives and verbs. Students simply choose their answer and turn over to see if they were right! I use these for my classes higher up the school as a revision aid on word classes or for an introduction lesson for younger students. These are simply designed with high school students in mind - no childish clip art for those kids who are too cool for that sort of thing! Please be aware that there is some preparation needed beforehand including cutting and laminating, but once completed you have a resource that can be used over and over again!

The Columbine tragedy affected the world. It was the first in a wave of school shootings and people have fought to understand why and how it could have happened. Michael Moore's award-winning documentary seeks to unearth the background to America's gun crimes and questions everything from causes to culpability. This two-page worksheet is a comprehensive way to ensure that students are watching the 'Bowling for Columbine' documentary with purpose. This information can then be used for informative or persuasive writing outcomes - I like to create a debate model with students for and against gun ownership. Entirely print and go - no preparation needed! -NOTE- This documentary is 'R' rated in the US and '15' in the UK. Prior-viewing is advised. There are some incidents of bad language and some graphic footage, but I strongly believe that the importance of this documentary outweighs any potential concerns.

This is a bundle of lessons covering award-winning documentaries BLACKFISH, BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE and SUPER SIZE ME. PLUS - two worksheets - one on Aristotle's Means of Persuasion, and one that introduces students to begin working on their own persuasive campaign. SUPER SIZE ME: Obesity is second only to smoking as the biggest killer in the United States. Morgan Spurlock's award-winning documentary highlights the dangers of fast food in a hilarious and shocking way. -NOTE- This documentary is 'PG-13' rated in the US and '12' in the UK. Prior-viewing is advised. There are some brief incidents of bad language and some graphic footage of surgery, along with one conversation of a sexual nature (nothing visual; this is a discussion on Morgan's impeded 'performance' as a result of his diet.) BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE:The Columbine tragedy affected the world. It was the first in a wave of school shootings and people have fought to understand why and how it could have happened. Michael Moore's award-winning documentary seeks to unearth the background to America's gun crimes and questions everything from causes to culpability. -NOTE- This documentary is 'R' rated in the US and '15' in the UK. Prior-viewing is advised. There are some incidents of bad language and some graphic footage, but I strongly believe that the importance of this documentary outweighs any potential concerns. BLACKFISH:This documentary explores SeaWorld's treatment of killer whales and interviews past and present employees and orca trainers. A hard-hitting look at the treatment of animals in captivity, this documentary is a perfect way to introduce students to the rules of rhetoric.

This resource is a worksheet comprising four fun activities! They include hunting out local Pokestops and researching their significance, linking Pokemon to literary and historical figures and creating students' own version of the hit game. Technology is only going to become more encompassing, so now is the time for us to embrace it as educators and show students the learning that can take place while playing their favourite games!

This is a learning menu or homework choice mat to encourage students to be more kind! This works really well alongside my Saint Diary to make students more thoughtful in their actions. Some of these tasks are Christmas specific so works brilliantly in the lead-up to the holidays.

This resource contains a set of ten bingo cards for students to get to know each other during their first English lesson back at school. The idea of the activity is that students quiz each other about their reading habits and preferences and collect information to share. Traditional bingo rules apply - first to a line wins, then first to a 'full house'. Tasks include things such as -Find someone who has read all of the Harry Potter books (films don't count!) -Find someone who has read your favourite book -Find someone who has been so scared reading a book that they couldn't sleep And then a few literacy and grammar tasks for good measure! -Find someone who can correctly identify a noun, verb and adjective -Find someone who can give you an example of a metaphor. Files include both UK and US spellings, along with colour and black and white versions for those that are print-budget conscious!

TWITTER ISSUES - Correct the Spelling and Grammar of Celebrities! This great starter activity includes 25 grammatically incorrect tweets from famous celebrities. Pop one on the board and get your students to correct them! A mixture of spelling and grammar issues #Twissues on one fun PPT. I made this into a TuesdayTwissue activity and the kids LOVE it! This could also be used in any subject area for Literacy across the curriculum.

A whole lesson analysing the poem 'Come On, Come Back' by Stevie Smith.