Get SET to teach secondary English with Sian's English Toolkit.
These resources are based on my experience teaching secondary English for thirteen years. During this time I gained experience teaching language and literature to all ability levels within the age range 11-18. I also have extensive experience of writing schemes of learning as I was a department lead for ten of those years.
Get SET to teach secondary English with Sian's English Toolkit.
These resources are based on my experience teaching secondary English for thirteen years. During this time I gained experience teaching language and literature to all ability levels within the age range 11-18. I also have extensive experience of writing schemes of learning as I was a department lead for ten of those years.
Inference Worksheets
These worksheets support learners in developing the skills of reading for meaning and making inferences. The teacher guide at the start helps you navigate through a series of activities that support learners in understanding a text. Each text will take approximately an hour to complete. These work particularly well with groups of 3-6 learners but can also be used 1-1 and with larger groups.
These activities help learners to practise:
making connections with current knowledge
visualising
questioning
word meaning
explaining subtext
empathy
prioritising
summarising
The eight texts included in this bundle are extracts from:
The Wind in the Willows
Peter Pan
Treasure Island
The Secret Garden
The Wizard of Oz
A Christmas Carol
GCSE English Language Reading Skills (WJEC)
This card sort contains the success criteria for the main reading skills that feature in the GCSE English Language Unit 2 & 3 exam papers. This is for the WJEC - Wales - specification. A colour-coded version is also included to support with self-/peer-/teacher assessment.
The reading skills included are:
identifying information
interpreting information
true/false
sequencing
summarising
explain how
explain cause & effect
word definitions
synthesis
comparison
This is a useful revision activity in the build-up to exams. It is also a useful progress tracker throughout the course to ensure that learners retain the success criteria.
‘King Lear Revision PowerPoint’ provides a range of activities to help learners target the following areas:
narrative recall
characters and relationships
themes
quotation
language/terminology
This has been trialled successfully with an A2 group completing the WJEC GCE English Literature Unit 4 exam.
Activities include:
answering key questions
filling in blank spaces in key quotations
identifying types of language that can be discussed in whole text question responses
matching terminology to definitions
linking quotations to characters and/or themes
This has been uploaded as an editable PowerPoint so that it can be modified/edited/added to for the needs of the learners in your settings.
This ‘Heroes’ by Robert Cormier unit of work and PowerPoint is tailored towards teaching GCSE English Literature Unit 2 (WJEC). It has been trialled successfully in a classroom with learners with A*-D targets.
The unit of work contains tasks that deal with different sections of the novel, and encourage learners to think about character, theme and language analysis. The structure of the unit accounts for time spent on each section, main learning activities, key vocabulary and the corresponding PowerPoint task. (There is also a suggested whole text question activity at the end).
The editable PowerPoint includes 17 main activities that encourage learners to analyse different sections of the text. This is sold as an editable resource so that you can amend as needed for your classes, and so that you can incorporate appropriate exam practice as and when it is needed.
(Page references are for the Penguin edition).
You may also find these resources useful:
Narrative summary:https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/heroes-by-robert-cormier-narrative-overview-12970174
Essay structures: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/heroes-robert-cormier-essay-structures-12973423
A range of ‘An Inspector Calls’ tasks is also available if that is the second text you are studying with your learners in preparation for Unit 2.
English Anagrams 4-6, includes three different anagrams worksheets and the answer sheets. These worksheets are designed to help KS3 pupils develop their language skills (such as the alphabet) and extend their vocabulary. The anagrams on each worksheet have a common theme and are listed in alphabetical order. Each sheet will take 10-20 minutes to complete, depending on the age/ability of the class.
In these tasks, pupils will unscramble the letters to identify the words. Once they have unscrambled a few, they will be able to identify the common theme. They will also be required to apply their knowledge of the alphabet and elements of language to help them unscramble less familiar words. An answer key for staff is included for all three worksheets.
There is also a bundle available containing English Anagrams 1-6:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12934233
A Christmas Carol Revision Board Game
This is a great way to engage learners in revising quotations and elements of plot, character and theme. This is a particularly effective resource for learners who may struggle with engagement/motivation at times when it comes to revision.
This resource includes:
32 questions and answers about plot, character and theme
32 questions and answers about key quotations
A game board
‘How to Play’ guide
The cards can be used as a simple Q&A activity where quick revision is required. For a more sustained activity, the full board game version can be played. Full instructions are included on the second page of the resource.
The cards can be printed double-sided so that the question is on the front and the corresponding answer on the back. The page should be printed double-sided along the long edge.
Additional equipment you will need:
dice
counters
Christmas/Festive Anagrams includes two different anagrams worksheets all connected to Christmas and the answer sheets. These worksheets are designed to help KS3 pupils develop their language skills (such as the alphabet) and extend their vocabulary. The anagrams on each worksheet are listed in alphabetical order. Each sheet will take 10-20 minutes to complete, depending on the age/ability of the class.
In these tasks, pupils will unscramble the letters to identify the words. They will also be required to apply their knowledge of the alphabet and elements of language to help them unscramble less familiar words. An answer key for staff is included for both worksheets.
General anagrams are also available in the following:
Anagrams 1-3
Anagrams 4-6
Anagrams 1-6 (bundle)
Common Spellings Colour by Number Christmas theme worksheet, including answer key. This worksheet is designed to help KS3 pupils learn/revise common misspellings. This resource is suitable for KS3 pupils. It will take about 30 minutes to complete.
In this task, pupils will select the correct spelling to fill in the blank. Correct answers will provide a key to use to colour in the image. The image is of Santa going down a chimney in the snow so is a perfect festive activity. An answer key for staff is included for both elements of the worksheet.
For other festive activities, you might want to try:
Christmas anagrams: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/christmas-anagrams-12942667
A Christmas Carol characters CBN: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-christmas-carol-colour-by-number-12942738
Lady Macbeth Shakespeare Unit of Work | With Resources
This Lady of Macbeth unit of work can be taught as a unit on its own or integrated into a larger unit on the whole play.
It has been designed to introduce learners to Shakespearean language in a less threatening way by focusing on two key scenes. Both scenes revolve around Lady Macbeth, and the unit comprises a character study.
A range of reading skills are developed throughout the unit, resulting in a detailed analysis and comparison of Lady Macbeth’s character between the start and end of the play.
This pack is ideal for non-specialists as teacher notes/answers are included for key tasks. This resource has been used with 13-14 year old pupils as an introduction to studying Shakespeare but could also support teaching of the play for 15-16 year olds.
This resource includes:
a two page teaching & learning overview, that can be taught as a standalone unit or integrated into a larger unit on the play
a 38 slide PowerPoint that covers all aspects of the T&L overview, including differentiated versions of language analysis grids that can be given to pupils of differing abilities
an additional 19 pages of resources, for pupils and staff, including annotated copies of the extracts
Teaching time is based on 3 weekly lessons of 50 minutes - 1 hour.
The Time Machine H. G. Wells - this resources is a thorough narrative overview of the novel, divided by chapter.
This four page resource is a useful resource that can be used in different ways:
to have a clear overview of the narrative prior to reading the novel
to support tasks and assessments through being able to identify the location of key scenes within the text
to revise the text once it has been studied
Cross-curricular Literacy Anagrams includes six worksheets and answer sheets aimed at supporting GCSE students with subject-specific vocabulary.
Six subjects are covered in these anagrams:
English
Numeracy
Science
Geography
History
Physical Education
There are twenty anagrams per subject.
These are ideal as form time activities or starters, taking 10-20 minutes each, depending on the learners’ confidence with subject-specific terminology.
Romeo and Juliet Narrative Tasks is a narrative overview of the play and group activities to support understanding of key elements of narrative and character.
Students will work in groups, establishing their group roles before they start: there is a space to write in their role on the task sheet.
Once they have read through the summary, they complete a series of questions that require them to locate answers from within the summary. The sheet is differentiated into must, should, could sections, and the level of complexity increases per section.
An answer sheet is included so that students can self-mark their work once finished.
An Inspector Calls Narrative Overivew is a three page account of the play.
This is particularly useful to give to GCSE English Literature learners prior to reading the text, to provide them with an overview of key characters and events.
This is also helpful during the revision stage to ensure that learners remember in which order the characters are questioned, which can become a point of confusion.
A Valentine’s Day Colour by Number worksheet, including answer key. This worksheet is designed to help learners practise the key homophones there/their/they’re and to/too/two. This resource is suitable for pupils in primary, but could range beyond that depending on ability. It will take about 30 minutes to complete.
In this task, pupils will select the correct use of the homophone to complete each sentence. Correct answers will provide a key to use to colour in the image. The image is suited to a Valentine’s Day activity. An answer key for staff is included for both elements of the worksheet.
Of Mice and Men Revision Activities Bundle includes a range of different ways in which learners can revise for their GCSE English Literature Unit 1 exam (WJEC).
This bundle includes:
a narrative overview of the novel and a supporting task sheet to support recall of main points/characters/themes
five part essay structures for each character and three key themes
scaffolded approaches to essays, with space for learners to add supporting quotation
an essay planning tool that enables learners to incorporate all elements of success criteria, and using shapes to support different learning styles
a range of revision activities that can be used as a pack or as classroom activities
All of the above have been tried and tested in a classroom environment.
Inference Worksheets 1 - Peter Pan and The Wind in the Willows
These worksheets support learners in developing the skills of reading for meaning and making inferences. The teacher guide at the start helps you navigate through a series of activities that support learners in understanding a text. Each text will take approximately an hour to complete. These work particularly well with small groups of 3-6 learners but can be used 1-1 or with larger groups.
These activities help learners to practise:
making connections with current knowledge
visualising
questioning
word meaning
explaining subtext
empathy
prioritising
summarising
The two texts in this pack are extracts from Peter Pan and The Wind in the Willows.
Also available in my shop are:
Inference Worksheets 2: Treasure Island & The Secret Garden
Inference Worksheets 3: A Christmas Carol & The Wizard of Oz
A bundle offer including all six extracts
Inference Worksheets 3 - A Christmas Carol & The Wizard of Oz
These worksheets support learners in developing the skills of reading for meaning and making inferences. The teacher guide at the start helps you navigate through a series of activities that support learners in understanding a text. Each text will take approximately an hour to complete. These work particularly well with groups of 3-6 learners but can also be used 1-1 and with larger groups.
These activities help learners to practise:
making connections with current knowledge
visualising
questioning
word meaning
explaining subtext
empathy
prioritising
summarising
The two texts in this pack are extracts from The Wizard of Oz and A Christmas Carol.
Also available in my shop are:
Inference Worksheets 1: Peter Pan & The Wind in the Willows
Inference Worksheets 2: Treasure Island & The Secret Garden
A bundle offer including all six extracts
English Anagrams 1-3, includes three different anagrams worksheets and the answer sheets. These worksheets are designed to help KS3 pupils develop their language skills (such as the alphabet) and extend their vocabulary. The anagrams on each worksheet have a common theme and are listed in alphabetical order. Each sheet will take 10-20 minutes to complete, depending on the age/ability of the class.
In these tasks, pupils will unscramble the letters to identify the words. Once they have unscrambled a few, they will be able to identify the common theme. They will also be required to apply their knowledge of the alphabet and elements of language to help them unscramble less familiar words. An answer key for staff is included for all three worksheets.
There is also a bundle available containing English Anagrams 1-6:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12934233
Creative Writing Prompt Cards | Upper Primary School-Lower High School
These creative writing prompt cards would be useful for upper-primary or lower-high school aged students.
There are five categories of cards: main character, setting, season/weather/time, emotion and object.
The intention is for students to pick one card from each category and use these to create their own original story. This task can be differentiated up or down, depending on the needs of the students in the class, as outlined on the first page of the resource.
If this product is helpful to you, you may also like to have a look at these products in my shop:
Punctuation of Speech Activity: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/punctuation-of-speech-peter-pan-worksheet-12979465
Capital Letter Challenge Sheet: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/capital-letters-worksheet-the-secret-garden-12979226
Group Reading Task Sheet Bundle: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/inference-worksheets-12974999
GCSE English Language Revision Checklists (WJEC)
These checklists are to support learners in the build-up to mock exams and external exams.
They can be used by individuals to identify gaps in their own knowledge, or they can be used on a whole class level to identify areas of concern across the class to guide targeted teaching/learning/revision in the build-up to exams.
If a student cannot tick all columns for a skill, they should focus on that skill until they can. Once all columns have been ticked, they can move on to the next row.
The first checklist focuses on reading skills required across Units 2 & 3, including the editing section of Unit 2. The second checklist focuses on the writing skills required across Units 2 & 3, including the proofreading task on Unit 2.
Once gaps have been identified, some of these resources may be useful in addressing them:
Revision Pack: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/gcse-english-language-exam-revision-pack-wjec-12969501
Reading Skills Success Criteria Card Sort: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/gcse-english-language-reading-skills-wjec-12979433
How to plan writing task responses effectively: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/gcse-english-language-writing-planning-wjec-12984776
A GCSE English Language Resource Bundle, containing the above: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/gcse-english-language-bundle-wjec-12986501