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.
A booklet designed as revision for English Language paper 1. Could be set as homework, used in lessons, or sent home for parents to work on with students.
This booklet was created entirely from scratch and contains a detailed breakdown of all the questions on the paper, including practice questions on mini-extracts, a break down of skills, marks and timings; suggestions for activities to improve learning for each question and further reading/ learning links. Extracts used are from About a Boy, The Story of Everyone Who Ever Lived in Our House and Jamaica Inn.
It is self-contained and an excellent way to supplement pupil learning.
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 resource is a 20 slide revision PPT for Animal Farm AQA GCSE English Literature examination (modern text).
It covers all you need to revise the text with pupils, including:
plot recap task + diagram
key character mind mapping task + quote finding
suggested key character quotes
minor character task + suggested quotes
key context image task
key context information
quote exploding task with modelled example
themes table task with scaffolded option
key vocab task (find definitions)
past exam questions planning task - 8 past exam questions included with 1 modelled planning example
AQA mark schemes
This resource was created April 2022
This resource contains a mini unit (approx 4 lessons) on how to respond to AQA’s English Language Paper 1 question 4. This is regarded as one of the most challenging questions in the qualification.
The resource was originally designed for a middle ability year 10 group, but would be suitable for high ability year 9 or mid- low ability year 11s. It includes an 21 slide PPT working through an extract from Bram Stoker’s Dracula (where Jonathan Harker meets the count - also included), which is in line with the rigour of the paper 1 fiction texts previously included in the examination. The PPT works through the following aspects:
Why a writer makes specific vocab choices / decoding vocab
Close quote analysis
An exam style question for Q4, paired with the extract, focused on foreshadowing
discussion of how to form evaluative opinions
Planning a response to the question
Modelled discussion of effect
Peer assessment - light touch reference to the mark scheme
Updated March 2022
This resource includes a mini unit on AQA’s English Language paper 1, question 4 - notoriously the most challenging question on the paper. It was originally written for and used with a high ability year 9 group, but is equally suitable for years 10 or 11 classes.
There are approximately 3 lessons worth of learning included, with a PPT and all required resources. This includes:
A 16 slide PPT
a focus on a simple, short extract to begin with (from Harry Potter) to build skills, before moving on to something more challenging (The Book Thief)
A possible planning approach to the question through characterisation, setting, perspective and atmosphere
Guided questions for reading to enable pupils to think more carefully about and develop their opinions
An exam style question for ‘The Book Thief’ extract, worked through with pupils in the PPT
Sample ‘points’ that pupils could use to formulate a successful response to the question and used in a group writing activity
selected quotes to analyse to help hone pupils’ language analysis skills
guidance on extending their ideas to a full response
2 extracts from ‘The Book Thief’ to enable a further extension activity, if desired
Updated March 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
This resource is a mammoth 100 slide PPT scheme (+ resources) for the novel Of Mice and Men, designed to be studied with mid to high ability year 9 students. It is an excellent novel for wider reading in order to build pupils’ knowledge and skills in preparation for GCSE English Literature. Approx 15-18 lessons worth
The PPT explores the following aspects of the novel:
Initial setting and atmosphere
Language analysis/ effect
Quote finding examining
Themes
Characterisation - George and Lennie
Character relationships
Context - The Great Depression and itinerant workers
Character mini quiz
The bunkhouse
Crooks and Candy analysis and quote discussion
Tracking changes in character
Conflict
Cyclical structures
The brush
Examples of literature style analytical writing
Curley’s wife
Focus on imagery, language and key extracts
Further examples of literature style writing on CW
Crooks’ room and the importance of all settings
The ending - prediction and reflections
Microcosm
This bundle contains 3-4 lessons on Clown Punk and Salome, originally written as part of a scheme for year 9 looking at a range of poetry in preparation for GCSE.
It was written for AQA but could be tweaked for other boards. It contains full lessons on each poem, in a pupil-centred approach (encouraging students to explore the poetry for themselves rather than rely on teacher dictation of notes), which helps develop unseen poetry skills. It then moves on to compare the two poems to each other, exploring a possible approach to this. The PPT is flexible in that you can teach it as unseen comparison, or use it to help develop comparative skills for the anthology cluster.
When sold separately, these resources retail at £3.30
This resource was designed as a revision block on Lord of the Flies for higher ability GCSE pupils (grades 5-9), having already studied the novel. (There is also a full scheme of work PPT available for the first teaching of this). Updated Feb 2022
It includes 32 slides of activities and information (approx 6 lessons), including:
plot and character recap
theme recap (group activity)
provocative statements to provoke discussion
Images to prompt discussion of symbols
Recap of allusion (specifically biblical)
historical context - Golding
A nihilist view, Nietzsche
Discussion questions
Advice on exam questions and example questions
Quote finding exercise
2 exemplar responses to exam questions (level 5 and 6)
planning an exam response
advice on thesis statements for good intros
an exemplar high grade paragraph
All of the above is included in the powerpoint file itself, not as separate documents
This resource contains a 30 slide PPT on comparing power and conflict poetry for GCSE AQA English Literature. Updated Jan 2022, it contains tips, techniques, model answers and advice for comparing, with 3 focus questions covering different poems.
NB, this resource is not focused on teaching the poems but is designed to be used AFTER poems have been covered to refine comparison and exam skills.
PPT contains:
Intro to approaching poetry
Possible themes to compare
7 sample questions for discussion
A focus on a question and video link recap on ‘Remains’, presented in a Venn diagram for comparison
2 exemplar paragraphs comparing to ‘Prelude’
Discussion of a question focused on ‘My Last Duchess’
Recap of Last Duchess (video link)
Venn diagram comparing to Ozymandias
Mark scheme
Break down of how to construct a paragraph (PEEZL)
A gap fill exercise that scaffolds this method for weaker pupils
A check list to write the comparative paragraph and some phrases to boost marks
Peer assessment opportunities
A focus question on Bayonet Charge (plus a video link recap)
3 example responses to the question of varied levels
Pupil exercise to craft their own response
Advice for not having a quote to use
A bonus unseen poem at the end (Alpine Letter) and question to work through, if required
This resource is a training session on the use of data as both a class teacher and head of department, specifically targeted at secondary school teachers. It includes a comprehensive 16 slide PPT, full of interactive questions and short tasks, designed to be used for staff training (small groups works well), and also includes an Excel resource with fabricated data to use in discussion / for some of the activities. It has been written from the perspective of a Head of English at a secondary school and was originally presented to trainee teachers. The session can last between 1-2 hours dependent on how thoroughly the slides are discussed.
The PPT goes through the following:
pivotal question - why are schools ‘obsessed’ with data?
what exactly we mean by data in a school context
brief literature review - what does pedagogical research say?
data exercise - looking at and discussing the use of different data sets (provided in an excel doc - n.b. utilises sisra style reports, excel sheets, sims data tracking and school headline figures, all fabricated and including no sensitive pupil data)
round up of discussion - suggestions for how each set of data in the packs might be used by a classroom teacher
further examples of data
a short brief on CATs, APS and Scaled scores
4 steps on using data as a classroom practitioner
key questions - why do we need to organise data and how might a class teacher organise theirs? What do you ‘do’ with data? When does it all end?
the problems with using data
Also includes a bonus PPT for a similar session completed across a MAT, with extra slides on:
using data as a primary phase lead
using data as a secondary HOD
key data uses across school
This 120 slide SoW uses a variety of fiction and non-fiction stories from around the globe as a springboard for reading and writing activities, whilst also developing cultural capital through understanding of context, themes and writers’ messages. Themes touched upon include:
race
immigration
feminism/ equality
mental health
abuse/ corruption and power
religion
war
slavery
The scheme was originally written for a year 9 group, but would also be suitable for years 8 and 10, with some slight adaptations. Links are provided to all of the stories used, which are either completely free or are free published extracts. These can be further edited as seen fit, if required.
There are also supplementary non-fiction texts, all of which are included as resources. These texts develop contextual understanding of each theme further.
The stories used are:
My Family’s Slave - Tizon
Heart of Darkness - Conrad
The Yellow Wallpaper - Gilmore
The Sisters - Joyce
The Beekeeper of Aleppo - Lefteri
The Paper Menagerie - Liu
Activities include:
understanding literary context
recognition of other cultures and traditions
understanding of Syria / war
refugees
Leaflet writing
the context of historic slavery
modern slavery
perspectives and viewpoints
comprehension/ reflection questions
language analysis
using PEEZL to respond to reading questions (point, evidence, explain, zoom, link)
features of news articles and writing news articles
AQA style non-fiction language paper 2 questions
persuasive language
religion’s impact
Ireland, Catholicism and James Joyce
Abuse of power
Articles on the church’s abuse of power (in the context of Catholic children’s homes, mid 20th century)
understanding of AQA paper 2 writing genre, purpose and audience
Speech writing
Model speech
Peer and self assessment/ improvement opportunities
Developing excellent points and links for PEEZL
Imperialism and empires / colonisation
Victorian viewpoints
Responsibility
Letter writing
Gender expectations
Autobiographical stories
Diary writing
Essay writing
Structuring paragraphs
Mixed race experiences
Argumentative writing
Scaffolding and differentiation
This resource includes a 48 slide powerpoint containing 35 fun, literacy-based word game activities, originally designed for years 7 and 8 form time as a competition, but suitable any easily adapted for any secondary year group or as in-lesson tasks.
These activities have been based on research into literacy across the curriculum, utilising ideas such as disciplinary literacy to help develop the vocabulary of all pupils involved. There is roughly one challenge per academic week for the entire year (35 tasks).
The tasks are divided into different types as follows:
synonym finder - a word is given and pupils must submit as many synonyms as possible
word ladders - pupils must change one letter at a time to reach the top of the ladder from the bottom
caption this - pupils are given an image that they must provide a headline or caption for
define it - pupils must define the subject-specific language and identify the subject area
missing words - pupils must choose appropriate adjectives or adverbs for the sentence gaps
root words - pupils are given a Latin or Greek root word and must submit as many words to include the root as possible
seasonal challenges - pupils must identify as many nouns as possible on a seasonal topic
Please see the tasks file preview for an example of the sort of thing you receive.
Answers are included where appropriate, and all further instructions required to set up the competition element (if desired) are contained within the powerpoint. It can be linked to a Google Form for easy tracking and to encourage competitiveness if using whole school.
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 has been designed as a take home booklet for students studying/ who will be studying GCSE English literature, focused on learning a variety of key vocabulary to assist them with the course.
It consists of 10 lists of carefully selected vocabulary, the learning of which will enhance essay writing skills specifically tailored toward literature (although of use to a large portion of the language course also). Each list provides the key word with an example or definition. Most lists have between 10 and 15 words to learn. The lists could be learnt weekly and tested in lessons, or the booklet could just be supplied as a supplementary course resource for those hoping to improve their grades.
The lists are titled as follows (with an example word from each list):
evaluative verbs (e.g. suggests)
key language/ structure terms (e.g. alliteration)
Shakespeare (e.g. Jacobean)
evaluative verbs - disagreeing with a writer (e.g. conversely)
connectives (e.g. consequently)
poetry (e.g. enjambement)
effect (e.g. empathy)
modern/ Victorian texts (e.g. denouement)
words of frequency (e.g. recurring)
sharpen your vocabulary (e.g. callous)
There is also a useful diagram to suggest a way to learn the vocab and a sheet on the back giving 128 alternatives to using the word ‘very’.
This resource contains 4 full English Language Paper 1s (fiction) with pre 1929 texts.
Excellent for use for tutoring, pupil revision, teacher-led walking -talking mocks; in-class study, mock exams etc!
Text extracts included are from:
Dracula - Stoker
Great Expectations - Dickens
Rebecca - Du Maurier
Animal Farm - Orwell
Papers and questions are in a condensed format, meaning they total 2 sides of paper (there are no blank lines for writing as there are in genuine AQA exam papers).
The texts themselves contain a context blurb at the top and are line numbered to replicate the genuine exam paper format
Questions 1-5 are all included to accompany each text
Questions are worded to replicate AQA question styles (Q1 find 4 examples, Q2 language analysis [extract is NOT reprinted but line numbers are referred to]; Q3 structure of whole text, Q4 student quote and how far you agree; Q5 creative writing with an image and another option
Some words are glossarised following AQA policy (words out of common usage or specialist vocab)
NB: Questions do not include the typical bullet points for guidance as can be seen in genuine exam papers
This resource is a full scheme of work for the novel ‘Coraline’ by Neil Gaiman. Originally written for a low ability year 8 group, it is suitable for years 7 or 8, low to mid ability. Updated Jan 2022.
There is a mammoth 93 slide PPT plus all resources included in this bundle. The PPT works through a range of activities designed to develop both reading and writing skills via cross-over creative tasks. Suggested reading chunked to go with lessons.
Topics and tasks as follows:
Pre-reading tasks (book name and cover)
expectations / predictions
characterisation
Effect of language (using the PEEZL acronym)
Example of writing about effect
Inference
Settings
Creative writing - create an ‘other’ you
Improving creative writing
Parallel world theme
formal letter writing
planning and scaffolded writing and peer assessment opportunities
comparing the two worlds
tracking tone changes
creating horror
pre-annotated extract
writing as a character (diary entry)
Use of simile / creating own similes
theme of survival
tracking Coraline’s journey
more in-depth theme investigation
writer’s messages
forming critical opinions
twisted fairy tales (investigation and creating own)
Heroines and stereotypes
quote finding
effective endings
foreshadowing
5 years later - writing a new chapter
Updated Jan 2022
This resource is a 90 slide PPT full scheme of work on Tom Becker’s novel ‘Darkside’, updated Jan 2022. It is suitable for middle to high ability learners in years 8-10. The novel contains some excellent descriptive language which forms great preparation for studying GCSE literary texts.
The PPT is approx 15-18 lessons, not including the reading of the novel! and all resources are included. It approaches the novel as an analytical reader but also provides opportunities to produce writing, both fiction and non-fiction, in cross-over tasks. The novel provides excellent opportunities for under-pinning context and cultural capital for Victorian novel study at GCSE.
The PPT covers the following:
-inference and predictions from cover
-diary entry writing
-language techniques/ descriptive writing strategies
-discussion of language effect plus exemplar
-presentation of key characters
-comparing characters
-creating suspense
-guided annotation
-peer assessment opportunities
-gothic conventions
links to Frankenstein
built in optional HW tasks
character analysis
PEEZL method of analysing language
finding and locating evidence
descriptive writing
settings
tension tracking
spoken language opportunity - news reports
Victorian Britain
Emotive language
tracing plot developments
Pathetic fallacy
text transformations - travel writing cross-over task
endings
Updated January 2022
This resource includes a mammoth 83 slide PPT scheme of work on the novel Martyn Pig, updated March 2022 and containing everything you need for the teaching of the text. Originally written for a middle ability year 8 group, it is also suitable for year 9. The scheme combines reading study with creative writing cross-over tasks.
The scheme of work includes the following topics and tasks:
the novel’s title
connotation
Character profiling
characterisation
monologue writing task
inference
quote analysis
plot development
language analysis
themes
extract based exam style questions and practice
PEEZL method (point, evidence, explain effect, zoom into language, link)
structure
writing intros and conclusions
vocabulary choices
creative writing suggestions and practice
drama around character intent
foreshadowing
pathetic fallacy
moral dilemmas
socratic talk
impressions v reality (duality)
cyclical structures
endings
letter writing
All resources have been tried and tested with pupils.
Updated March 2022