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.
Christmas Wordsearch | Aimed at KS3/11-14 Year Olds
This Christmas wordsearch contains 45 seasonal words to find. Once they have been found, there are instructions for how to colour-code the remaining spaces to reveal a Christmas-related image.
This resource includes:
the list of words and instructions for the whole activity
the word grid
a completed example of the wordsearch, including the colouring of the image
This worksheet could be used in the following ways:
as a quiet, individual activity during a lesson or form time
as a paired/group activity to include a competitive element
as a ‘reward’ task before the holidays or for completing all other work
You may also be interested in this Christmas literacy activity pack, which contains 20 seasonal tasks: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13128246
I also have some festive anagrams available: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12942667
Halloween Wordsearch | Aimed at KS3/11-14 Year Olds
This Halloween wordsearch contains 36 seasonal words to find. Once they have been found, there are instructions for how to colour-code the remaining spaces to reveal a Halloween-related image.
This resource includes:
the list of words and instructions for the whole activity
the word grid
a completed example of the wordsearch, including the colouring of the image
This worksheet could be used in the following ways:
as a quiet, individual activity during a lesson or form time
as a paired/group activity to include a competitive element
as a ‘reward’ task before the holidays or for completing all other work
You may also be interested in this Halloween literacy activity pack, which contains 10 seasonal tasks: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/halloween-word-games-and-activities-pack-13107470
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)
Heroes Essay Structures provides essay structures for learners who are fairly confident with writing essays, or as a quick revision tool. There is an essay structure for each character, in addition to four thematic structures. This has worked well as a revision resource for all abilities, and as a lighter form of scaffolding for B+ grade learners when beginning to produce essays (GCSE - Wales).
King Lear A-Level Critical Approaches brings together some key quotes and views of the plays from various critics.
The work pack is set out so that students can make notes about what the quotes/views mean, and also so that they can identify key acts/scenes/events that this approach is relevant to. The first three views have notes next to them as examples to guide students in their notes. The resource is five pages.
This is particularly helpful for students who have to engage with critical approaches as part of their exam responses, such as WJEC GCE English Literature Unit 4.
If this resource is helplful, have a look at the King Lear quote pack and summary in my shop:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/king-lear-revision-materials-for-a-level-12969963
GCSE English Language Individual Researched Presentation Booklet (WJEC)
This eight page resource supports students whilst they prepare their individual researched presentations, worth 10% of their English Language GCSE (in Wales). This can be used as a resource with the whole class to ensure they consider all required elements during the planning stages.
This is also a useful resource for any student who is absent from preparation lessons, as they can still be guided through the stages of planning through accessing this booklet.
Of Mice and Men Narrative Worksheet includes a narrative overview of the play and group activities to support understanding of key elements of narrative and character.
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.
You may also be interested in the following:
Essay structures: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12970873
Revision activities: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12945645
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.
King Lear A-Level Quote Revision Game
This resource is targeted towards A-Level students in need of key quotes revision. It is a great way to get students revising whilst making it feel like a game.
There are 32 cards included, each containing a quote, act and character. A student will read the quote on their card, and students must identify whether the character on their card said this quote. They must also identify whether the character said it in the act specified on their card.
Full instructions are included in the resource, as are all of the answers on a separate teacher sheet.
There are also suggestions for differentiation, including making the game more or less challenging, as needed.
If you found this resource helpful, you may also like:
King Lear Exemplar Annotated Extracts - https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/king-lear-a-level-extract-analysis-13018351
King Lear Revision Bundle - https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/king-lear-a-level-revision-bundle-13019013
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.
A Christmas Carol Quotes Revision supports students with recollecting important quotes for key characters and includes an answer key. This is ideal for students who have finished reading the book and will take between 15-25 minutes to complete, depending on levels of confidence.
Students have seven groups of quotes and they need to identify the character represented by each group. However, there is also an odd one out within each group to be identified.
This resource includes an answer key for teachers, including some key points about key quotations.
If this resource is useful to you, you may also be interested in other A Christmas Carol resources available from my shop:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-christmas-carol-revision-board-game-12989845 - a board game is a brilliant way of engaging learners in revision without it feeling like work!
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-christmas-carol-extract-analysis-12935968
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-christmas-carol-annotated-extracts-12933695
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
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
Reading Skills War of the Worlds is a resource aimed towards KS3 learners in Wales. Answers are included.
The questions are based upon the style of those that learners will see in the National Reading Test (now called Personalised Assessments). The resource has been used successfully with a Year 9 group, and a more able Year 8 group. Using this resource will leave teachers able to use the old paper tests for internal assessment purposes.
Questions encourage learners to practise:
extracting information
reading for meaning
inference
word definitions
sequencing
true/false
At the end of the resource there is an area to encourage learners to reflect on their own learning and identify skills areas in need of improvement.
War Poetry Annotated Rupert Brooke & Wilfred Owen
An ideal resource for English lessons in the approach to Remembrance Day.
This resource includes two iconic war poems - The Soldier and Dulce et Decorum Est.
For each poem, there is:
a blank copy where students can make their own annotations
a highlighted copy, which guides students towards sections they may want to focus on when annotating
a highlighted and annotated version -> this is an ideal teacher guide, or can be used by students to self-check what they identified
These variations make this a valuable resource that can be used with different ages/abilities. It is also helpful for non-specialists as key talking points are identified for each poem.
Also included is a comparison grid, which encourages students to think about key aspects of the poems. There is a blank version for students to complete and a teacher version, which includes some pointers for each aspect.
Of Mice and Men Essay Planning Tool support learners to plan responses for whole text questions in the GCSE English Literature Unit 1 exam (WJEC).
The use of shapes supports some learners in planning more effectively than bullet points/mind-maps. In this resource, the triangle shape reminds learners of the importance of the rule of three when producing whole text responses. Additionally, having a set space for each element of planning ensures that no element of the success criteria is missed.
This resource helps learners to plan for:
context
content
analysis/evaluation
quotation
This pack contains:
a blank template
a labeled template
a plan for a Curley’s Wife question
a plan for a Crooks question
a plan for a George & Lennie question
At the end, there is a blank circle template in case any learners find this shape more manageable when planning.
An Inspector Calls Essay Planning Tool support learners to plan responses for whole text questions in the GCSE English Literature Unit 2 exam (WJEC).
The use of shapes supports some learners in planning more effectively than bullet points/mind-maps. In this resource, the triangle shape reminds learners of the importance of the rule of three when producing whole text responses. Additionally, having a set space for each element of planning ensures that no element of the success criteria is missed.
This resource helps learners to plan for:
context
content
analysis/evaluation
quotation
This pack contains:
a blank template
a labeled template
a plan for a Mr Birling question
a plan for a Sheila question
a plan for a Gerald question
a plan for a Mrs Birling question
a plan for an Eric question
At the end, there is a blank circle template in case any learners find this shape more manageable when planning.
An Inspector Calls Essay Structures provides essay structures for learners who are fairly confident with writing essays, or as a quick revision tool. There is an essay structure for each character, in addition to four thematic structures. This has worked well as a revision resource for all abilities, and as a lighter form of scaffolding for B+ grade learners when beginning to produce essays.
Christmas Literacy Activities Secondary School
This PowerPoint includes 20 literacy-based activities all centred around the theme of Christmas.
Tasks engage students with key aspects of literacy, including:
the alphabet
vowels
consonants
spelling
The types of task include:
anagrams
identifying missing vowels/consonants
putting words into alphabetical order
creating their own words
finding hidden words in grids
Ideal as lesson starters in the weeks building up to Christmas to keep engagement levels high whilst still completing meaningful tasks.
They could also be used to create a sense of community within a class or community of students by having these as set form time activities.
All answers are included and the PowerPoint is editable so that you can add other activities or change colours/fonts to suit the needs of your learners.
If you like this resource, have a look at some other festive activities I have available:
Christmas Anagrams: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/christmas-anagrams-12942667
Annotated extracts from A Christmas Carol: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-christmas-carol-annotated-extracts-12933695
Christmas Colour-by-Number (spellings): https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/christmas-colour-by-number-spellings-12942709
Euro 2024 Literacy Activities
This editable PowerPoint contains 20 literacy-based activities based on the countries involved in Euro 2024. These make perfect starter activities or form time tasks. Slides have a simple colour scheme so that they can be printed at a lower cost if hard copies are needed.
As well as being enjoyable and competitive, these activities will encourage learners to apply their knowledge of the alphabet, vowels, consonants and languages.
Activities include:
placing words into alphabetical order
matching terms to different languages
anagrams
identifying missing vowels/consonants
word grids
creating their own words