A set of poems to use as possible practice pieces for unseen poetry, and a guide to aid pupils in approaching unseen poems. Designed for GCSE, but I have also used for top-set KS3 pupils, and used the poem selection to widen A-level pupils' experience of poetry.

Using a selection of contemporary poetry, pupils will work on identifying the main poetic techniques used, followed by detailed study and analysis of similes and metaphors, illustrated by exemplar poems.

An active lesson based upon the CCEA GCSE Literature past-paper unseen poem 'Earlswood' by Fleur Adcock. Print and cut out a set of arrows and an enlarged poem per group, and supply glue (alternatively, the pupils can cut out the arrows if you print them). You can also incorporate Speaking&Listening presentations of groups' interpretations of the arrows glued onto the enlarged poem. ('Sticking on Earlswood.doc' is the teacher's answers.) Pupils can then use their responses to complete the writing worksheet. This lesson is all written from the examiner's mark scheme for this poem.

Two original study maps for the novel 'Of Mice and Men' for pupils to complete as they study the chracter of Curley, and the theme of dreams in the novel. Both study maps include completed versions for teachers to use to go through pupils' responses, which works well as whole class discussion. I created these study maps for my GCSE class to use as revision for their final exam after studying the whole novel, but colleagues also used them effectively as resources as they taught the text. They also form a good basis for writing a Speaking and Listening presentation on the text's themes and characters.

Two original essay maps for the novel 'Of Mice and Men' for pupils to complete as they prepare to write essays on the character Candy, and how he is pitiable, as well as the loneliness in the lives of Candy, Crooks and George. Sharing pupils' responses as a whole class discussion works well, as an intermediary stage before using the essay map to write the essay. I created these frameworks for my GCSE class to use as revision for their final exam after studying the whole novel, but colleagues also used them effectively as resources as they taught the text. They also form a good basis for writing a Speaking and Listening presentation on the text. These are based upon past-paper questions and markschemes.

Two original study maps for the novel 'Of Mice and Men' for pupils to complete as they study the character of Lennie; his relationship with George, and whether he is to blame for the events in the novel. Both study maps include completed versions for teachers to use to go through pupils' responses, which works well as whole class discussion. I created these study maps for my GCSE class to use as revision for their final exam after studying the whole novel, but colleagues also used them effectively as resources as they taught the text. They also form a good basis for writing a Speaking and Listening presentation on the character of Lennie.

A comprehensive guide to writing an essay on the question: 'Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of Lady Macbeth’s character in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. How would Shakespeare’s audience have reacted to them?' Resource includes contextual detail, in-depth analysis, notes on essay structure and useful phrases, as well as an exemplar past-pupil essay.

A lesson in two formats, guiding KS3 pupils through language analysis with study of the language techniques in Ted Hughes' poem 'The Jaguar', including expanding vocabulary, enjambment, imagery, similes and metaphors. Lesson culminates in a 25-mark poetry Reading assessment (extension task included: 'Second Glance at a Jaguar' by Ted Hughes).

A small unit studying poetry on the theme of Justice & Revolution (used to complement 'Animal Farm' in a larger scheme); four pieces are explored through a series of activities, resources, and active learning, to investigate the theme. Includes William Blake's 'The Chimney Sweeper', Maya Angelou's 'Still I rise', William Ernest Henley's 'Invictus', and the lyrics of Bob Marley's 'Redemption Song'.

A lesson on the poem 'After the Titanic' by the Northern Irish poet Derek Mahon, in which pupils engage in active, collaborative close reading and language analysis through 'Home Group/Expert Group' activities. Presentation is split into 2 PowerPoints, since the first includes a video and is larger. I have also removed the video and made the presentation into a pdf, if that is an easier format to work with. The handout is for printing, cutting, and distributing to the groups.

A presentation in two formats including 'On the Beach at Fontana' by James Joyce, 'Nettles' by Vernon Scannell, 'Rough' by Stephen Spender, and 'The Evacuee' by R. S. Thomas. Poems are accompanied by written activities (or, alternatively, can be completed in discussion or group work), leading up to a final Reading assessment.

To introduce the play, this presentation prompts pupils to think about the difference between the feelings characters display on the outside and what they feel on the inside, highlighting the key theme of what's real and what's fake. The presentation contains videos, so is split into three separate files.

When asked to teach a quick unit on just short stories, this is what I pulled together: contains lots of videos and excerpts to analyse and apply theories of structure, character description, setting, atmosphere, drafting, and conclusions, to pupils' own work.

An activity where pupils identify types of words in a nonsense poem ('Jabberwocky'), then create their own dictionary of nonsense words in order to write their own poem about school.

A lesson exploring William Blake's 'The Tyger' poem, as part of a larger scheme studying Yann Martel's novel, 'Life of Pi'. I have included two formats of the original presentation, if it's of interest to retain some of the information from the novel, but if you wish to study the poem exclusively, I have also included a stripped-back version of the lesson.

Two original study maps for the novel 'Of Mice and Men' for pupils to complete as they study the ranch workers, life on the ranch, and the control they have over their lives. Both study maps include completed versions for teachers to use to go through pupils' responses, which works well as whole class discussion. I created these study maps for my GCSE class to use as revision for their final exam after studying the whole novel, but colleagues also used them effectively as resources as they taught the text. They also form a good basis for writing a Speaking and Listening presentation on the text.