I am an experienced English teacher and Literacy Coordinator. All of my resources are organised, engaging, ready to teach and designed to save you - the teacher - your valuable time!
Please have a look at all of my resources - at least 20% of which are free.
I am an experienced English teacher and Literacy Coordinator. All of my resources are organised, engaging, ready to teach and designed to save you - the teacher - your valuable time!
Please have a look at all of my resources - at least 20% of which are free.
Fully resourced and differentiated 1 hour lesson in which students learn how to independently close read a challenging text.
This lesson has been designed to be reused multiple times as it teaches students the skills that they need to independently close read any new text to them.
Easily adaptable to all abilities as you can differentiate the difficulty of the text given (example texts and teacher text selection advice included).
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This bundle contains 20 resources that can be used and adapted for key stage 3 English lessons. It contains resources that cover reading, writing and speaking skills.
All lessons are ready to download and teach immediately. This bundle contains the following:
Writing Skills
Lesson on colons vs semi colons
Lesson on commas, dashes and brackets
Lesson on complex sentences
Lesson on compound sentences
Writing skills (SPAG) knowledge organiser
Writing skills for key stage 3 assessment with answer rubric included.
Figurative language - writing similes and metaphors
Lesson on punctuating dialogue
Lesson on assonance
Lesson on sibilance
Lesson on personification
Reading Skills/Poetry
12) Booklet to help students create their own poetry anthology
13) Lesson on the features of poetry and prose
14) 2 lessons on successful annotation and analysis of poetry.
15) Lesson on how to write a slam poem
16) Reusable lesson to embed close reading skills
17) Introduction to poetry knowledge organiser
18) World Book Day reading quiz
19) Poetry analysis lesson on ‘The Lesson’ by Roger McGough
Speaking and listening skills
20) Introduction to group discussion lesson
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Fully resourced and ready-to-teach 1 hour lesson which introduces students to assonance and encourages them to question why writers use it and what its effect is. Students then write a poem using assonance.
This lesson is aimed at KS3 and would be suitable for an introduction to poetry unit - but it could easily be adapted to younger or older students.
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An hour long engaging lesson in which students are introduced to the main characters and themes in Macbeth. Through individual and group work, students will practise reading skills - in particular comprehension, inference and summarising - and collaborate with each other to share information that they have gleaned from profiles about the key characters in the play.
Students will also be shown images representing Macbeth and prompted to infer themes they think will be evident in the play.
Learning Objective: Get to know the main characters and themes in Macbeth.
Learning Outcomes:
Find and highlight key information about your character in the play.
Re-write information about your character and share it with others in your own words.
Question others about their characters and make connections between different characters.
Lesson Outline:
Do it now: Think – Pair – Share question about ambition
Starter: Students look at five images representing Macbeth and infer themes from them.
Activity one: Students are assigned a character from Macbeth. They read the information sheet and take bullet points notes in their graphic organiser.
Activity two: Students circulate around the room swapping facts until they have completed all five character profiles.
Plenary: Mini quiz based on the characters in the lesson.
This lesson contains a 16-slide PowerPoint and five printable character profiles.
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A detailed knowledge organiser/revision mat to support students studying ‘Romeo and Juliet’ by William Shakespeare.
It includes the following:
Literary terms definitions
Structure and form definitions (including iambic pentameter and blank verse)
Descriptions of the main characters
An outline of some of the key themes.
This is an excellent resource to be used for setting homework, quizzing in classes or as a support mat. My students in particular find the relevant literary terms helpful.
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Engaging and ready to teach one hour lesson to cover chapter seven of ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ by John Boyne. This lesson helps students to consider the changing identity of Pavel. Students are prompted to think about how Pavel is directly and indirectly characterised and then write a diary entry from Pavel’s perspective. Students will need to synthesise information for this task - adapting what they know from the text to their diary format. This lesson also promotes empathy by supporting students to think from Pavel’s perspective.
Learning Objective: Write a personal response in character as Pavel.
Learning Outcomes:
Bronze: Write a diary entry as Pavel reflecting upon your life before and your life now.
Silver: Explain clearly how your identity has changed.
Gold: Creatively describe details from your life before ‘Out-With’
Lesson Overview:
Do It Now: Students infer what they can work out about the man in the picture? Introduce the idea of appearances being deceptive.
Starter: Read chapter 7 and create a mind-map about Pavel
Activity 1: Think-pair-share discussion about a quote which shows Pavel’s changing identity.
Activity 2: Students write diary entry (example sentence starters given).
Peer assessment
Plenary: Read and discuss diary entries
Freebies:
Two pre-reading lessons to introduce students to the context of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is available for free here.
A lesson on chapter 1 of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is available for free here.
A scheme of work for teaching the entire novel is available for free here.
If you find this lesson useful, please consider purchasing this ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ Bundle or have a look at other resources available in my shop. .
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Fully resourced and ready-to-teach 1 hour lesson which leads students towards writing a poem about an everyday object using personification.
This lesson is aimed at KS3 and would be suitable for an introduction to poetry unit - but it could easily be adapted to younger or older students. It is best suited to students who already know what personification is but need to practise using it effectively.
This lesson includes:
Explanation of personification
Differentiated learning outcomes
An extract from ‘Neverwhere’ by Neil Gaiman with questions for students to consider the effect of the personification.
Structured peer assessment.
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Fully resourced and differentiated 1 hour lesson in which students compare and contrast the features of poetry and prose. They then move on to considering the effect of poetry by looking at three examples.
This lesson is aimed at KS3 and would be suitable for the beginning of an introduction to poetry unit - but it could easily be adapted to younger or older students.
This lesson includes:
Full explanantion of poetry and prose
Differentiated learning outcomes
Worksheet available as word (for easy editing) and as a pdf (for easy printing)
All teaching and printing instructions.
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A detailed knowledge organiser/revision mat to support students studying horror writing.
It includes sections on punctuation, grammar, conventions of horror and famous horror writers.
This is an excellent resource to be used for setting homework, quizzing in classes or as a support mat. It is included as a pdf (for easy printing) and as a ppt for editing (please be aware the ppt does not display correctly in the preview).
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This one-hour lesson focuses on independent analysis of Macbeth or Lady Macbeth using the STEAL framework (Speech, Thoughts, Effect on others, Actions, Looks). Perfect for students studying Act 2, Scene 2, this lesson promotes deep understanding through a structured approach to character analysis.
This resource includes:
A fully editable PowerPoint with step-by-step teacher instructions, ready for immediate download and use.
Learning Objective: Complete STEAL analysis on Macbeth or Lady Macbeth.
Learning Outcomes:
Students will read and summarise Act 2 Scene 2.
Students will answer questions to check their understanding and inference of the scene.
Students will use the STEAL framework to analyse either Macbeth or Lady Macbeth in detail.
Lesson Outline:
Do it now: How would you describe the end of act 2 scene 1? How would the audience be feeling?
Starter: Read act 2 scene 2 and discuss questions
Activity 1: Independent STEAL analysis of either Macbeth or Lady Macbeth
Activity 2: Carousel to peer assess each other’s work
Plenary: What did you learn about the characters from your analysis?
For more Macbeth resources, check out our Macbeth Bundle (some freebies in there too).
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An engaging and detailed PowerPoint containing 40 questions and answers to introduce students to the weird and wonderful life of William Shakespeare.
**The questions are split into four rounds, each containing 10 questions: **
Shakespeare’s life and family
Shakespeare’s character
Shakespeare’s writing
The Globe theatre
This could be used across a one hour or 90 minute lesson, or as a detailed starter across multiple lessons. It is aimed at key stages 3 and 4. After each round, students are prompted to mind-map what they have learned about Shakespeare.
30 slides in total.
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A fully-resourced one hour lesson to support students in exploring how Shakespeare uses dramatic irony in Act 3 Scene 2 to create tension as Bassanio chooses a casket. Students will be guided through and discuss the scene.
Learning Objective: Understand how Shakespeare uses dramatic irony to build tension in Act 3 Scene 2
Learning Outcomes:
-Students will experience dramatic irony through a class demonstration.
Students will understand how dramatic irony can be used for humour or to create tension.
Students will discuss Act 3 Scene 2 and interpret the meaning of Shakespearean language.
Lesson Outline:
Do it now: Recall questions about the casket tests from Act 2.
Starter: Dramatic irony explanation and examples.
Activity one: Think – pair – share after students watch and discuss two examples of dramatic irony.
Activity two: Summary of scene with discussion and interpretation tasks interspersed.
Plenary: Students answer questions on mini-whiteboards or scrap paper.
More Resources for The Merchant of Venice
Click here for a bundle of all the lessons to take you through the play plus a quiz, knowledge organiser and character revision posters.
Freebies:
For character revision posters for your classroom, click here.
For an English/Drama lesson based on Portia’s choice in Act 1 Scene 2, click here.
For a Scheme of Work overview for the unit, click here.
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A detailed knowledge organiser about Curley’s wife accompanied with a revision activity whereby students make their own knowledge organiser about one of the characters in the text.
The knowledge organiser includes the following sections:
Key vocabulary
How Curley’s wife links to the theme of dreams
How she links to the theme of loneliness
Historical context about treatment of women
Overview
Explanation of key quotes
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I have a whole range of Of Mice and Men revision resources available in the shop and a range of revision videos on my YouTube channel (this is linked to in my shop).
This comprehensive, ready-to-teach Macbeth lesson focuses on how Shakespeare uses structure to create tension, specifically in Act 5. Ideal for Key Stage 3 or Key Stage 4 students studying Macbeth, this resource includes a PowerPoint, two worksheets, and a structured lesson plan designed to deepen students’ understanding of dramatic tension and structural analysis.
Learning Objective: Analyse how Shakespeare uses structure to build tension in Act 5.
Learning Outcomes:
Students will read and understand Act 5 Scenes 1-5 of Macbeth.
Students will analyse how Shakespeare builds tension in these scenes.
Students will apply Freytag’s Pyramid to the plot of Macbeth so far.
Students will discuss the imagery in Macbeth’s soliloquy.
Lesson Outline:
Do it now: Check understanding of Freytag’s pyramid.
Starter: Students complete Freytag’s pyramid worksheet for Macbeth so far.
Activity 1: Read and discuss Act 5 Scene 1 focusing on the change in Lady Macbeth.
Activity 2: Read Scenes 2-5 and complete worksheet to show how Shakespeare builds tension in each scene.
Activity 3: Brief analysis of Macbeth’s soliloquy.
Plenary: Students add any further examples of rising action to their Freytag’s Pyramid worksheet.
Why Choose This Resource?
Designed for Confidence-Building: Helps students feel secure in their analysis of complex texts.
Ready to Use: Download and start teaching immediately with no prep required.
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A detailed and ready-to-teach lesson to support students in their analysis of Act 4 Scene 1 of Macbeth. This engaging, interactive lesson allows students to act, analyse, and discuss this critical moment in Macbeth. This is great for key stage 4 students studying the play for GCSE/IGCSE or for key stage 3 students too.
**Learning Objective: **Analyse Act 4 Scene 1 of Macbeth
Learning Outcomes:
Students will understand the key events and themes in Act 4, Scene 1.
Students will analyse Shakespeare’s use of language and imagery.
Students will discuss the significance of the witches and their prophecies in Macbeth’s downfall.
Students will explore how Macbeth’s character evolves in this scene.
Lesson Outline:
Do it now: Think – Pair – Share on ‘what role do the witches play in Macbeth’s choices?’
Starter: A summary of the scene and content about its significance followed by three recall questions.
Activity One: Students perform the scene staging the scene and acting to evoke maximum fear in the audience followed by a discussion on what the apparitions represent.
Activity Two: Students complete a worksheet analysing the language in the scene. Discuss ideas afterwards.
Plenary: Write a three-sentence summary of the scene including the themes that are evident in it.
Why Choose This Resource?
Designed for Confidence-Building: Helps students feel secure in their analysis of complex texts.
Ready to Use: Download and start teaching immediately with no prep required.
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Engaging and ready to teach one hour lesson to cover chapter fourteen of ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ by John Boyne. This lesson requires students to practise STEAL analysis of Gretel and then write a personal response as her to explore who she is as a character.
**Learning Objective: **Use STEAL analysis to explore Gretel’s character.
Learning Outcomes:
Bronze: Find appropriate quotes from the text for effective analysis.
Silver: Infer details from the quotes.
Gold: Synthesise what you know about Gretel with your knowledge of context to write a personal response as Gretel.
Lesson Outline:
Do It Now: How would you describe Gretel? Vocabulary builder.
Starter: Reading focus – find quotes that describe Gretel.
Activity 1: STEAL analysis of Gretel followed by whole-class feedback.
Activity 2: Students choose a task to develop their understanding of Gretel.
Students share work
Plenary: How do you think that Gretel will change as a character as she continues to live at Auschwitz away from her friends?
Freebies:
Two pre-reading lessons to introduce students to the context of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is available for free here.
A lesson on chapter 1 of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is available for free here.
A scheme of work for teaching the entire novel is available for free here.
If you find this lesson useful, please consider purchasing this ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ Bundle or have a look at other resources available in my shop. .
Leave a review and choose any other resource of up to the same value for free from my shop.
Engaging and ready to teach one hour lesson to cover chapter sixteen of ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ by John Boyne. This lesson teaches students the features of an obituary and then requires them to write an obituary about Grandmother.
Learning Objective: Write an obituary for Grandmother.
Learning Outcomes:
Bronze: List the features of an obituary.
Silver: Apply these features in writing an obituary.
Gold: Creatively infer details about Grandmother.
Lesson Outline:
Do It Now: What is an obituary? What are the steps for writing an effective one?
Starter: Reading focus on Grandmother.
Activity 1: What are the features of an obituary? Paired work.
Activity 2: Planning and writing an obituary.
Peer assessment
Plenary: How do you think Father feels about the death of his Mother?
Freebies:
Two pre-reading lessons to introduce students to the context of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is available for free here.
A lesson on chapter 1 of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is available for free here.
A scheme of work for teaching the entire novel is available for free here.
If you find this lesson useful, please consider purchasing this ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ Bundle or have a look at other resources available in my shop. .
Leave a review and choose any other resource of up to the same value for free from my shop.
An engaging and detailed lesson (including Powerpoint presntation and a graphic organiser) to aid students in considering how the mass media affects society and particularly young people.
This lesson includes:
A do-it-now task
Differentiated learning outcomes
A detailed team quiz about the media impact
A graphic organiser to support students’ understanding of a TEDx talk (link included)
A range of activities for an engaging PSHE lesson. However, this could be easily adapted for English or Media studies.
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Marking templates to have on hand when giving students feedback on work for Language Paper 1 for CIE 0500.
I keep a stack printed out so that every time the students take an example question, they can stick these into their books for quick, clear and efficient marking.
More Freebies:
A free lesson giving an overview of CIE 0500 Language Paper One here.
A free lesson giving an overview of CIE 0500 Language Paper Two here.
Free scheme of work overview for teaching the CIE 0500 syllabus here.
If you find this lesson helpful, have a look at my CIE 0500 Language Paper 1 bundle here or the Language Paper 2 bundle here. If you’re interested in both, there is a combined bundle here which is cheaper than buying them separately.
Please leave a review as I value all the feedback I receive, and have a look at other resources available in my shop. **
A weekly planning template that has been very effective in helping me to use my time more efficiently. I used to use the Eisenhower Matrix as a tool for working towards my goals, but I found that as a teacher so many unexpected tasks can crop up in a day (some important - many of them urgent) that it didn’t work for me, and I found it too confusing when trying to prioritise what to work on next.
I find this tool far more helpful for time management. Every day, I first complete all the items in the ‘today’ column, I then move on to the ‘this week’ column and when this is done I can move on to the ‘long term goals’. Using this, I have found that I tend to have completed all my weekly tasks by around Wednesday, which means that Thursday and Friday’s limited spare time can be put towards long term goals.
I have attached it as a pdf for easy printing, but it is also included as a ppt in case you would like to edit it so that it works better for you.
If you find this resource helpful, please leave a review and have a look at other resources available in my shop.