About the author:
I am currently a teacher of English in a wonderful West Midlands secondary school, having prior experience as a Literacy Lead, Specialist Leader of Education, SLT Lead, AQA examiner and Head of English. I am in my fourteenth year of teaching and as such am keen to share resources I have used successfully, both in my own lessons and across my school / MAT.
About the author:
I am currently a teacher of English in a wonderful West Midlands secondary school, having prior experience as a Literacy Lead, Specialist Leader of Education, SLT Lead, AQA examiner and Head of English. I am in my fourteenth year of teaching and as such am keen to share resources I have used successfully, both in my own lessons and across my school / MAT.
This resource includes a complete lesson looking at analysing the language of an extract from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets for AQA English language paper 1, Q2. It is suitable for low to mid ability GCSE learners, as an introduction to the language analysis question or as a revision activity.
The PPT included guides pupils through the process as follows:
break down of the question and how marks are awarded
guided reading of the extract
an approach to answering an exam style question (PEEZL)
a help sheet for lower ability learners (gap fill)
a modelled example paragraph
Peer assessment using marking criteria
This bundle includes 39 separate literacy skills-based tasks, originally written for year 7 but suitable for Ks3 or Ks4 as consolidation/intervention work. Tasks vary between 5 to 15 minutes in length.
The tasks are divided into 1 powerpoint per half term and are designed to be used once per week, though could be strung together as a mini unit or for intervention purposes, or re-organised as you see fit to meet the needs of your students.
All text extracts/ handouts etc are also included to make the teacher’s job easy, and any answers required for tasks have also been included - tasks can be self or teacher marked easily. Texts include a mixture of fiction and non-fiction on various themes, including: dystopia, Victorian times, Shakespeare (Romeo and Juliet), social media, the Gothic, various poetry, zombies/ apocalypse.
Tasks include:
comprehension/ reading strategy put into action
vocab building activities and strategies
quick fire testing
timeline / organising tasks
shades or gradients of meaning tasks
sentence types/ their effects and word classes
annotation skills
inference and analysis
comparison
punctuation
planning for writing
proof reading
text structure / paragraphing
bias
connectives
This resource includes a complete lesson looking at analysing the structure of an extract from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets for AQA English language paper 1, Q3. It is suitable for low to mid ability learners, as an introduction to the structure question or as a revision activity.
The PPT included guides pupils through the process as follows:
break down of the question and how marks are awarded
key terminology
guided reading of the extract
an approach to answering an exam style question (PEEZL)
a help sheet for lower ability learners (gap fill)
Peer assessment using marking criteria
Also includes text extract for analysis.
This resource is designed to promote reading for pleasure and develop literacy skills across a year group cohort through a series of guided reading challenge tasks.
The resource can be used as a compulsory set of tasks in lessons, or as an optional ‘challenge’ to be completed at home or in dedicated school time (perhaps a form time or reading/literacy timetabled slot). In my school it was set up as a optional challenge for the whole of year 7, promoted to both parents and pupils using social media, the school website and in-school message services.
The resource includes:
chunked reading of the novel ‘The Nowhere Emporium’ (typically 3 chapters per week, equating to roughly 30-50 minutes reading dependent on speed and ability)
-13 weeks of ‘challenge tasks’, with an option of 4 each week (academic, creative, active and mindful).
Each set of tasks is tied thematically to a section of reading to generate intrigue and interest in the novel.
Challenges are presented as both a PDF and in Publisher format for editing if required, but are ready to be easily copied and pasted into whatever form of communication you choose
promotional material for both students and parents (with a parent FAQ)
In our school we used Google Classroom and Google Forms to maintain interest in the challenge. We gave anyone who signed up a free copy of the novel (interest was registered via Google Forms). The documents refer to this but can be edited if required. If you would like more guidance on using Google Forms or Google Classroom there are plenty of videos on Youtube to help.
This resource includes a 42 slide PPT (updated Jan 2022) and 2 text extracts (one by Dickens) focused on the ENTIRE reading section of the AQA English language non-fiction paper 2. This sequence of lessons uses 2 texts about traffic collisions (included) and guides pupils through each question with a variety of in lesson activities and strategies to tackle this challenging paper. It covers questions 1 to 4.
This resource was written originally for a high ability year 9 group, but is suitable for years 10 and 11. ‘The Crossing’ extract in particular is quite a challenging and lengthy read so is not as suited to lower ability pupils without some differentiation. The second extract is an account from Dickens about a train wreck he was involved in and is suitable for all abilities.
The 42 slide PPT guides pupils through the following:
inference and retrieval skills Q1
summary and synthesis Q2
An example of a summary for Q2 based on the Dickens text
Comparing the 2 texts in terms of feelings Q2
Use of the acronym PEI (comparative point, evidence, inference)
Mark schemes
How to approach language analysis Q3
How to structure a Q3 response, using the acronym PEEZL (point, evidence, explain effect, zoom, link)
Examples of a band 4 vs a band 2 response for Q3
How to compare writers’ POVs Q4
An examplar Q4 response
A really great way to prepare pupils for the non-fiction English Language AQA GCSE paper 2.
This lesson was designed for a reluctant but capable year 9 group who told me they hated poetry, and only ever wrote in stilted rhymes when I asked them to create their own. It would form a good introduction to unseen poetry, encouraging pupils to interrogate and form their own opinions.
It contains a PPT and a series of slightly unusual poems all sourced online, breaking down why people write poetry and why we should study it. It contains the message that poetry is all sorts of things, such as art, creative expression, freedom with words, political, protesting, fun and silly… etc. It contains opportunities to write their own poetry and investigate the work of others.
There are 5 poems included where pupils interrogate and question what they mean, show, suggest, and why the writer might have written them - including Medusa by Carol Ann Duffy, Action Man by John Cooper-Clarke, Invictus by William Ernest Henley, Urban Affection by Emanuel Xavier and The Black Land by Joseph Warren Beach. NB - Some of these poems are aimed at more mature audiences, so the lesson is recommended for year 9 onwards.
This resource includes a full lesson on Poe’s poem ‘The Raven’, shortened and edited to enable teaching of it in 1 lesson. It originally formed part of a scheme for year 9 looking at a wide variety of poetry in preparation for their GCSE study, but would be suitable for any GCSE group as practice.
There are 2 lessons in total which approach the poem as an unseen text, helping pupils develop poetic analysis skills (for AQA, but would work for any exam board); before moving into a creative writing cross-over task where pupils write their own Gothic story opening (as per English language paper 1 on the AQA spec).
The PPT includes:
Introduction to the poem through an image
Introduction to the Gothic genre and recap of what it means through key images and features
A video reading of The Raven if required
guided light touch annotation through hints and an exam style question (optional paragraph writing task)
A creative writing task of a 100-200 word story, based around key vocabulary from the poem
Creative writing cross over (where pupils write their own Gothic story opening, using the poem and images as inspiration. Guided planning an peer assessment).
This resource is 1-2 lessons on Carol Ann Duffy’s War Photographer for AQA power and conflict poetry cluster, English lit.
It includes the following tasks/slides:
series of war photographs and prompt questions
discussion and table task - pros and cons of being a war phorographer
contextual info on photo processing from film + 2 video links
perspectives task on the photographer, the public and the editor
matching quotes to images task
language analysis table task
guided annotation questions for each verse (can be a group task)
fully annotated poem
This bundle includes a whopping £24.30 worth of resources on AQA conflict and power poetry for GCSE English Literature. Resource include:
1-2 full lessons on ALL of the power and conflict cluster poems:
Checking Out me History
Emigree
Bayonet Charge
Charge of the Light Brigade
Last Duchess (2 options, including a Halloween / Gothic themed lesson)
Ozymandias
Kamikaze
Exposure
London
Poppies
Storm on the Island
Prelude
Tissue
Remains
War Photographer
Each of the named lessons as above approaches the poems from zero base knowledge, adopting a pupil-centred approach, building skills of analysis rather than teacher dictation of meaning. Many of the lesson PPTs include:
group work/ discussion tasks
video links to aid analysis
language and structure focus questions or hints
exploration of meaning and ideas, with historical/ cultural context where required (building cultural capital)
exemplar paragraphs or responses
examination style questions
possibilities for cross over work to English language
full annotations for poems
Extras as following:
How to write intros and conclusions PPT (focused on Remains)
An intro to poetry PPT - what it is for/ why we study it
15 power and conflict exam questions, written into venn diagrams (worksheets)
A 30 slide PPT on comparing power and conflict poems and how to answer these questions
This resource is a 38 slide PPT end of term quiz designed ‘on theme’ for English lessons - fun and educational!
There are 8 rounds to play - you can choose to play them all or pick and choose which ones to use with your classes - there is more than enough material for a full lesson. The quiz rules are displayed at the start for ease of teaching and setting it up and it is recommended to play in teams, but could be done individually if required. The rounds vary in difficulty to bring a bit of challenge where required, and each round is marked after it is completed. There are 10 questions per round, with a variety of characters, authors, celebs etc used to try and make it as appealing as possible to teenagers!
Rounds as follows:
literary faces - name the characters / authors from their photo
quotable - name the character/ book that the quote is from
where in the world? - name the country based on a list of random and literary facts about it (includes a world map with pins to make things easier)
Shakespeare or Fakespeare? - identify whether each quote is from Shakespeare or elsewhere (elsewhere includes Beyonce, Taylor Swift and Batman, amongst others!)
celeb readathon - name the celebrity (their faces are disguised by their favourite book)
literary techniques / devices - name the technique used in the sentence
lyrical genius - name the band or song for each song lyric that was inspired by a book (these are mostly rock songs)
anagrams - unscramble the names of famous literary characters
This creative writing scheme is aimed at low to middle ability Yr9 - GCSE learners and provides strategies for planning, generating ideas and improving their writing for examinations. Updated Jan 2022 and designed specifically for AQA English Language paper1 Q5, but suitable for any exam board.
The unit of work includes a 48 slide PPT PLUS resources. The PPT looks at the following elements:
using images to inspire writing
strategies to break an image down
using fiction extracts to inspire (magpie vocab etc)
using weather for description
using video/ film clips to generate ideas
technical writing skills - sentence structures and orders
several different exam style questions to enable practice
paragraphing or structuring a whole text for impact
literary techniques
a genuine examination response for a question (taken from AQA materials)
All extracts referred to within the PPT are included alongside the resource.
Ideal for recapping, introducing or consolidating creative writing skills for GCSE learners.
Updated Jan 2022
This resource contains a PPT of 21 slides/ approx 4 lessons working through AQA’s English Language paper 2 question 4. This question is widely regarded as one of the most challenging in all of the GCSE papers.
The scheme was designed for a high ability year 9 group, but would also be suitable for years 10 or 11 in preparation for their exams. All required resources are attached, including 2 pairings of suitable texts that the PPT lessons refer to. There are comparisons drawn between non-fiction texts from Dickens/ Bryson (travel) and a modern news article focused on child labour in McDonalds / a Victorian transcript from a chimney sweep, similar to material pupils might encounter in their actual examination.
The lessons guide students through the comparative question and how to approach it, simplifying it down to 3 key questions. The PPT also contains some high mark exemplar paragraphs to guide learning.
Updated March 2022
Designed for students. Includes timings, marks and possible approaches to questions; also reminders for the mark schemes.
Covers both paper 1 and paper 2
This resource includes 3x large PPTs for the teaching of paper 2, all questions, alongside various source materials from across the 19th- 21st centuries on key topics, reminiscent of the AQA English Language paper 2 examination.
The non-fiction sources vary in difficulty, making them suitable for a variety of abilities.
The 3 PPTs feature one that is approx 4 lessons purely on question 4 (child labour and travel) and a mammoth 42 slide PPT on Qs1-4 (approx 7 lessons). Also included is a separate explanatory writing lesson for Q5. The final large PPT is titled ‘grade boost’, looking at strategies for improving Q4 responses, alongside some paper 1 tips. Finally, there is a checklist for examinations, written for pupils.
The total cost of this bundle as separates is £12.90.
A lesson PPT to introduce pupils to the play ‘An Inspector Calls’. The lesson is designed as a paired or group discussion around a series of objects found in an anonymous dead girl’s home (Eva Smith) the night she died. As detectives, pupils must piece together what might have happened to the dead girl. Updated January 2022!
This experiential lesson enables pupils to interrogate each object practising skills of inference and deduction. It also exercises their close reading skills as some of the objects require careful inspection. The lesson then develops to look at themes of the play and how these relate to the CSI task, but also the title of the play and its significance.
The resource document contains various images building up a crime scene for Eva. Including things such as a home pregnancy test, a bottle of bleach, a cigar, a letter etc.
Resource document is available as a PDF and a Publisher file.
This resource includes a full lesson (possibly 2) on Shakespeare’s poem ‘Sonnet 18’. It originally formed part of a scheme for year 9 looking at a wide variety of poetry in preparation for their GCSE study, but would be suitable for any GCSE group as practice. The lesson approaches the poem as an unseen text, helping pupils develop poetic analysis skills (for AQA, but would work for any exam board).
The PPT includes:
Introduction to the poem through images
Brief contextual info to aid understanding
More in-depth discussion through key questions
Pupil-centred annotation task with brief guidance info
Creative writing cross over (where pupils write their own contrasts poem - including scaffolded planning sheet if required)
This resource includes a full lesson on Amitage’s poem ‘Hitcher’, updated March 2022. It originally formed part of a scheme for year 9 looking at a wide variety of poetry in preparation for their GCSE study, but would be suitable for any GCSE group as practice. The lesson approaches the poem as an unseen text, helping pupils develop poetic analysis skills (for AQA, but would work for any exam board).
The PPT includes:
Introduction to the poem through an image
A creative writing task of a 100-200 word story, based around key vocabulary from the poem
guided annotation through a suggested question (as per unseen poetry in the exam)
collated, suggested annotations for the poem, on the PPT
Creative writing cross over (where pupils write their own poem from a different viewpoint- including scaffolded gap fill if required)
This resource is an English Language condensed paper 1 created to replicate the style of AQA examination questions. There are more available in this series in my paid shop, alongside a bundle of 4 for a reduced cost.
The text extract is from Orwell’s Animal Farm. The text also has a context blurb at the top and is formatted with line numbers to replicate exam text extracts.
All questions are included (Q1-5) worded to replicate AQA style.
The paper is condensed which means there are no lines for writing - it spans 2 sides in total for cost effective printing.
Perfect for tutoring, exam revision, mock exams, walking-talking mocks or in class study.
This resource is a template for planning a formal letter, designed for lower ability pupils.
The template separates each element of the letter out into a series of simple questions to assist with planning writing. It can be adjusted to fit any task.
This resource is a contextual handout on the presentation of witches taken from the British Library to assist with the teaching of Macbeth for GCSE English literature.
The handout is formatted as 2 per A4 page ready for printing