A 2 hour training session on how to teach functional writing for GCSE Paper 2. Can be used to train both teachers and students. Contains 64 slides. Includes exam requirements, a sample lesson, model openings to evaluate, exercises on using a range of sentence types and paragraph formats, a range of different questions to plan and a group carousel writing task to end the session. All resources are included and can be previewed.

A lesson aimed at getting lower ability students to use more ambitious vocabulary. Students think of synonyms for ‘nice’ and ‘bad’ and then use the words to write a positive and negative holiday postcard. The main task where students redraft and improve the model paragraphs is differentiated. Tough: Students replace the boring adjective with better choices. Tougher: Students also replace the boring ‘The’ sentence starts. Toughest: Students change the structure of the sentences and add in similes and a full range of punctuation.

Using this marking code will speed up your marking without compromising the quality and specificity of your marking because it moves the time-consuming job of writing the targets from you to the students. Your marking will look something like this: WWW 1. 3. 7. EBI 4. 10. 15. Read the work and select 3 ways they have met the generic success criteria (WWW) and 3 ways they can improve further (EBI). The students have to then write out the target before trying to meet the target. The 20 criteria start with the basics of using P.E.E. to more advanced targets such as exploring more than one interpretation and commenting on the overall structure of the text. They should work with any text.

Two sample Paper 2 Question 3 English language questions with annotations and model answers aimed at students with a target grade of 7-9.

A grade 9 style response about an original exam question looking at how Dickens presents Scrooge’s anxieties/fears. Includes grade and examiner comment.

Students revise the information sheet about sentences and then go on to complete the knowledge test. Also contains detailed guidance on what makes a powerful sentence.

A grade 9 response exploring how Macbeth is presented in the play. Also includes a planning grid for students to follow It would comfortably fit into the top band of the mark scheme 26-30 marks due to the perceptive debate with judicious quotations and assured analysis of methods and exploration of wider ideas. Also includes a grade 8 version that does not quite meet the grade 9 requirements for a comparison. Also includes a differentiated writing frame for students working towards a grade 4 at the other end of the ability spectrum. The question is freely available here: https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/sample-papers-and-mark-schemes/2019/june/AQA-87021-QP-JUN19.PDF

100 question knowledge retention board game on A Christmas Carol. Includes answer sheet. Works well when used little and often as a 10 minute repeated activity to help commit the knowledge into long term learning. Check out my shop for other A Christmas Carol resources: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-christmas-carol-theme-revision-cards-poverty-isolation-ghosts-christmas-family-11869145 https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-christmas-carol-gcse-differentiated-revision-sheets-on-themes-and-context-11387723 https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/stave-1-and-stave-5-scrooge-s-transformation-in-a-christmas-carol-11503154 https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-christmas-carol-grade-9-lesson-and-essays-on-ghosts-11552659 https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-christmas-carol-100-comprehension-questions-with-answer-sheet-12450748 https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/revise-themes-in-a-christmas-carol-family-isolation-poverty-charity-christmas-supernatural-11577227 https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/grade-9-a-christmas-carol-exam-responses-12220340 https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-christmas-carol-top-50-quotations-11901568 https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-christmas-carol-3-grade-9-model-answers-for-eduqas-gcse-exam-style-11797550 https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/grade-9-response-on-poverty-in-a-christmas-carol-12512988 https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/6-grade-9-model-essays-on-a-christmas-carol-for-aqa-or-eduqas-11896608 https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-christmas-carol-aqa-1-9-super-bundle-11532059#

6 revision cards looking at 6 quotations that show the joy and happiness of Christmas in A Christmas Carol. Inspired by the November 2021 AQA question. Colour coded to link to A01, A02 and A03. Authorial methods are underlined. Also contains a 24 slide lesson guiding students on how to write about how Dickens presents Christmas as a time of joy and happiness.

Complete lesson looking at Chapter 12. Includes the following: Engaging starter 10 Comprehension Questions with answers Brief chapter summary Notes for annotating 12 key quotations in the text Extension activities looking at the ending in more detail

A detailed lesson which explores 13 quotations about Jack in great detail with inferences aimed at preparing students for attempting an exam question on the character of Jack. Also includes a grade 9 example response on the character of Jack.

Complete ready to teach lesson on Act 5 Scene 2 of Macbeth. Includes a differentiated starter activity, scene summary, detailed line by line annotations of the scene, comprehension questions and then an activity exploring how the motif of clothing is presented across the play. Includes answers. Ends with students writing an analytical paragraph on the motif of clothing.

A detailed revision lesson covering many key quotations from Stave 1 of A Christmas Carol. Each quotation appears chronologically to assist with annotating the text. Instructions for the lesson. Give out the worksheet with the 28 key quotations from Stave 1 and asked students to jot down their ideas in the blank boxes. Then in the second half of the lesson, go through the teacher answers either on the PowerPoint or on the answers worksheet.

Lesson with 3 differentiated worksheets for checking students understand the plot to Romeo and Juliet.

Lesson guides students through an exam question on Piggy. Aimed at students with a target grade of 7-9. Includes help with writing a thesis style introduction and an exemplar. For the main body there are a selection of quotes students can pick to support a specific idea that links back to the thesis. There is also an exemplar conclusion.

A full lesson on Act 1 Scene 5 including discussion about the role of women in Jacobean society, annotations of the whole scene followed up with an analytical writing task with an example paragraph as guidance. There is also an alternative version of the lesson included for differing abilities.

Differentiated - 3 different versions of essay plans for Macbeth to use with different ability groups. For ease of photocopying, I have created 6 exam questions on one A3 students. Each question has a planning grid for students to map out their ideas. Useful for final revision session. Also contains 4 completed plans for students to convert into essays. Great for revision lessons or for homework tasks.

2 lessons covering Act 3 Scenes 1 and 2 with annotations, comprehension questions and extension tasks. Other popular Macbeth resources include: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/macbeth-revise-20-extracts-11868136 Revision cards https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/macbeth-theme-revision-cards-ambition-supernatural-guilt-violence-deceit-courage-11868831 Grade 9 model ansers https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/macbeth-6-grade-7-9-model-responses-12187985 Knowledge organisers https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/macbeth-character-revision-sheet-quotations-themes-context-aqa-9-1-11868119 https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/how-is-lady-macbeth-presented-in-act-5-scene-1-worksheets-and-a-model-response-11422450

A full lesson analysing Chapter 1. Includes a context recap page, starter, comprehension questions and notes for students to annotate over 30 key quotations from the chapter. Ends with some extension questions. Also includes a lesson analysing an extract from Chapter 1 about the island with specific questions to elicit perceptive inferences.

20 slide PowerPoint for a 2 lessons looking at Chapter 10. Includes an engaging starter, 10 comprehension questions, detailed notes to help students discuss and annotate 10 key quotations from the chapter and extension activities looking at Freud’s psychoanalytic theory and defence mechanisms. You may also wish to consider my bundle which includes lessons on all chapters alongside useful knowledge organisers and other revision activities. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/lord-of-the-flies-mini-bundle-12072617