This resource is designed to enhance independent reading and encourage discussion between pupils and teachers at KS3 and KS2. Originally designed to work with the Accelerated Reader programme, it would work equally well with any independent reading activity.
A quick and easy way to show targeted, differentiated work for pupils, and to guide pupils to critically analyse texts as they read.
The sheet features a range of questions of varying difficulty. During independent reading lessons, the teacher easily differentiates for individual pupils by ticking next to a particular question, which will indicate to the pupil a topic that they will be discussing with their teacher later in the lesson. There is a space for the pupil to write notes in preparation for this discussion. Later in the lesson, the teacher returns to the pupil and asks them to answer the question indicated to them in relation to the text they have been reading that lesson.
A copy of this sheet could be given to each member of the class, or just to certain key pupils. I have also had some success using it as a frame for peer conversations.
The sheet is designed to be printed onto A3 and then laminated, meaning it can written on in white board pens (always exciting for pupils!) and reused several times.
A simple but effective resource to set regular, differentiated English homework based around reading.
The 'takeaway menu' style indicates the difficulty of the tasks by the spiciness of the dish. I have found this a useful resource to allow me to differentiate (by indicating which spiciness of dish I want each pupil to attempt) whilst still allowing pupil choice and ownership (by allowing them to choose which specific task to attempt).
Can be used for a number of consecutive weeks to encourage pupils to explore the texts they are reading in more depth. I have successfully used it with both whole class texts and A.R. texts (individual books).
Also includes a simple template for teacher feedback to make marking quick and effective.
A set of 3 separate homework booklets. Each was designed to prepare students to study Of Mice and Men, and is differentiated for Lower Ability Learners, Mid Ability Learners or High Ability Learners. They were intended to be used by year 8 into 9 students over the summer holiday, but could easily be adapted for different year groups and to be used over the course of study.
A self explanatory worksheet that supports pupils through the analysis of an unseen poem and encourages them to develop their own ideas and opinions. Could be set as a homework, or used in a lesson.
A complete homework booklet to be used alongside teaching of A Christmas Carol to encourage deeper understanding and textual analysis. Simply needs printing and giving out. Contains enough activities for one homework a week for a 6 week half term.
An author study task designed to a be used as a homework project. Pupils have the choice of a number of activities to research the author. There is also a simple and quick to use feedback sheet for teachers. I would recommend setting the homework booklet and specifying that pupils must complete one task a week, which you then check in lessons. By the end of the half term/specified period, pupils should have developed a detailed piece of research.
A lesson designed to improve confidence in lower ability learners about their ability to analyse unseen poetry independently, using 'Who's for the Game?' by Jesse Pope. Guides pupils to learn independently and in groups, and encourages them to answer their own questions rather than just being told by the teacher. Ready to print and go!
A full 2 hour lesson exploring Lady Macbeth's famous soliloquy. Starting with a short context gathering exercise, before developing pupils' independence by encouraging them to explore the extract for themselves, explaining the importance of being able to do this for the GCSE literature exam. Culminating in an independent, exam-style question.
Fully resourced. Ready to print and go!
A lovely project to finish a term on. Pupils are asked to design and present a Christmas advertising campaign. The powerpoint provides a lesson to introduce the task to the pupils, as well as a resource for peer assessment at the end. It is then at the discretion of the teacher how long they allow pupils to work on their project in between.
I have added some notes on the slides for teacher guidance
Easy to differentiate - simply limit or add to the features you discuss in the first lesson.
Develops analysis skills, persuasion skills and speaking and listening skills.
I have tried to keep the amount of printing to a minimum!
This lesson was originally created to provide context on the slave trade prior to studying the poem ‘Limbo’. However, it could easily be adapted to be a History lesson.
The lesson introduces the slave trade to students using a images, a video, a map, and a writing task. It is designed to be an hour lesson (all links and resources are provided in the powerpoint), but I have found that it takes longer than an hour to get through all of the content and activities included. You may choose to remove/abbreviate some activities to suit the needs of you class, or it could be extended over one lesson.
Extensive notes are provided in the notes section of the slides to aid discussions and provide additional information for teachers.
This lesson has been used as a cover lesson, and it should be possible to just ‘pick up and teach’.
A fantastic resource to help pupils to retain the vast amount of information they need to as now required under the new GCSE specifications.
This excel spreadsheet allows you to input a number of questions in a range of different topic areas. You then press the 'Generate' button and a unique quiz will appear on the next page of the spreadsheet, which has selected 10 questions at random from the master lists you have created. This allows teachers to input questions as they cover different aspects of the curriculum, and then easily generate unique quizzes to regularly give to their classes to ensure that they retain what they have been taught, even when they have moved on to different topic areas. It also means that pupils will never sit the same test twice, so teachers can be more sure of their knowledge.
An invaluable resource for easy and quick assessment of knowledge retention and learning.
An extensive worksheet, originally designed to be used as a cover lesson, guiding pupils to be able to identify the difference between a fact and an opinion, and then to use this knowledge to further their comprehension of texts.
A simple, stand alone lesson worksheet, designed to be left for cover, encouraging pupils to design an alien and then complete a piece of descriptive writing based on it.
The resource is easily editable to change the focus/add additional foci (e.g. handwriting, spelling etc). Currently, it is aiming to encourage pupils to add imaginative detail.
An extensive worksheet, originally made to be a cover lesson, aiming to guide pupils to identify writer's purpose in non-fiction writing. Goes through a range of activities which gradually escalate in difficulty. Simply print and go!