I am an experienced English teacher and Literacy Coordinator. All of my resources are organised, engaging, ready to teach and designed to save you - the teacher - your valuable time!
Please have a look at all of my resources - at least 20% of which are free.
I am an experienced English teacher and Literacy Coordinator. All of my resources are organised, engaging, ready to teach and designed to save you - the teacher - your valuable time!
Please have a look at all of my resources - at least 20% of which are free.
A detailed and engaging one hour lesson to support students in their analysis of Christopher in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (play by Simon Stephens) for Edexcel English Literature IGCSE 4ET1. This lesson supports students to analyse the scene in the train station with many competing voices with the focus of considering how the writer creates a feeling of empathy for him.
This resources contains a slide which has the text from this scene moving and zooming around to create an immersive effect of how it would feel to be Christopher.
This resource contains a ready-to-teach Powerpoint with all teacher instructions included.
If you find this resource helpful, please leave a review and have a look at other resources available in my shop.
A detailed and engaging one hour lesson to support students in their analysis of Christopher in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (play by Simon Stephens) for Edexcel English Literature IGCSE 4ET1. This lesson helps students to think about how Christopher is presented at the start of the play and how he changes as a character by the end of the play.
This resource contains a ready-to-teach Powerpoint with all teacher instructions included.
If you find this resource helpful, please leave a review and have a look at other resources available in my shop.
A detailed and engaging one hour lesson to introduce the play version of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (play by Simon Stephens) for Edexcel English Literature IGCSE 4ET1. This lesson introduces students to the assessment objectives for the Edexcel Pearson IGCSE as well as exploring the background and context of autism and sensory overload as a way to understand the character of Christopher.
This resource contains:
A full PPT with teacher instructions included.
A KWL grid.
A handout for the ‘do it now’/bellwork activity.
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Two engaging and fully-resourced back to school English lessons with PowerPoints and worksheets which support students to write a slam poem about their identity. This allows the class to get to know each other, reminds students of poetic techniques and analysis and gives them the opportunity to do some creative writing through writing a slam poem.
I have used it regularly with key stage 3 and key stage 4 classes as it can be easily adapted to the poetic knowledge and ability of each class.
LESSON ONE
Learning Objective: Analyse the effect of poetic techniques used in a slam poem.
Learning Outcomes:
Bronze: Identify poetic techniques in a slam poem.
Silver: Explain the effect of vocabulary and poetic techniques in a slam poem.
Gold: Explain how the poet uses rhythm and structure for effect in a slam poem.
Lesson Overview:
Do it now: Vocabulary stretcher: how would you describe yourself in three words? Talk to the person next to you and share examples on a post-it note.
Starter: Think – pair- share: discuss images and techniques used in lines of poetry followed by teacher modelling.
Activity one: Watch example slam poem and discuss meaning and techniques. Teacher leads discussion and models some answers.
Activity two: Based on the slam poem you’ve watched, what would you say are some of the main features of slam poetry?
Plenary: Class tries to match the post-it note from the ‘do it now’ exercise to the correct student.
LESSON TWO
Learning Objective: Write a Slam Poem about your Identity
Learning Outcomes:
Bronze: Use a range of vocabulary and poetic techniques in your slam poem.
Silver: Use rhyme and rhythm to achieve a desired effect.
Gold: Write powerful stand-out lines that get stuck in the listeners’ minds.
Lesson Overview:
Do it now: What features of slam poetry do you remember from the previous lesson?
Starter: Think – pair- share: what language techniques can you identify in quotes from last lesson’s poem? Can you explain the effect?
Activity one: Use the graphic organiser to start planning your slam poem and then begin to write it.
Plenary: Share your most powerful line
Homework: Complete your slam poem
More Resources:
Check out this lesson which explores writing slam poems in more detail.
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This support mat/knowledge organiser is designed to help students in their independent literary textual analysis. It contains the following sections:
Annotation
Sentence starters for comparing/contrasting, introducing new information etc.
How to embed quotes within sentences
A checklist for outstanding analysis.
I use the checklist to help when giving students feedback (which is why they are coded by letters). I would then give students a specific letter to be their target for their next attempt.
I have included the file as a pdf for easy printing, and also as a ppt file so that you can edit it in line with your own teaching methods if you wish.
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This bundle contains six essential revision resources for Of Mice and Men revision.
It includes:
An Of Mice and Men revision card game which includes key quotes
A 10 page Of Mice and Men revision guide on loneliness (focused on IGCSE Pearson English Literature but relevant to a range of syllabi)
A 100 question Of Mice and Men revision quiz
An Of Mice and Men knowledge organiser
A knowledge organiser about Curley’s Wife and an activity in which students use this as a model to create knowledge organisers for the other characters in the book.
A home-learning/online resource to help students to independently learn the social context of Of Mice and Men.
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A detailed knowledge organiser about Curley’s wife accompanied with a revision activity whereby students make their own knowledge organiser about one of the characters in the text.
The knowledge organiser includes the following sections:
Key vocabulary
How Curley’s wife links to the theme of dreams
How she links to the theme of loneliness
Historical context about treatment of women
Overview
Explanation of key quotes
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I have a whole range of Of Mice and Men revision resources available in the shop and a range of revision videos on my YouTube channel (this is linked to in my shop).
A simple poster for reference to the four assessment objectives for the current Edexcel IGCSE English Literature course. I have included it as a pdf (without text titles) for easy printing, or as a PPT file so that you can add your own text choices.
An engaging one hour lesson to get students to think about how Shakespeare uses the structure of the play and the character of the porter to build dramatic tension for the audience.
This resource includes:
a full Powerpoint including all teacher instructions that is ready to download and teach straight away.
a worksheet to support students in reflecting upon the tension in the scene.
For detailed character profiles, please click here.
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An engaging one hour lesson to get students independently using the STEAL framework to analyse the characters of Macbeth or Lady Macbeth.
This resource includes:
a full Powerpoint including all teacher instructions that is ready to download and teach straight away.
For detailed character profiles, please click here.
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This dynamic one-hour lesson is designed to engage students in understanding how Macbeth is introduced as both a violent and loyal character. Perfect for exploring themes and character development, this lesson encourages students to think critically and creatively and prepares students to analyse how Macbeth changes later in the play.
What’s Included:
A complete PowerPoint with ready-to-use teacher instructions, allowing you to download and teach immediately.
Interactive activities where students will order the events of the battle and craft a compelling news war report based on the scene.
Ideal for:
Enhancing comprehension of Macbeth’s character and motivations.
Encouraging students to connect with the text through creative writing and discussion.
Lesson Objective: Write a news report about the battle in Act 1 Scene 2.
Learning Outcomes:
Read the scene multiple times to decipher the orders of events in battle.
Infer details about Macbeth’s character.
Add imaginative details to create a news report about the battle in this scene.
Lesson Outline:
Do it now: Think – Pair – Share What are the key features of a news war report?
Starter: Reading focus – as you read the scene as a class, students write down quotes that describe Macbeth’s character followed by an activity to list adjectives that describe him.
Activity 1: Re-read the scene in pairs and put the events in the correct order.
Activity 2: Students discuss features of a news report and then write their own based on Act 1 Scene 2.
Plenary: What are your predictions about Macbeth now that you know more about his as a character?
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A detailed and engaging homework menu to be used alongside teaching Macbeth. This menu structures homework tasks, but also gives students creative freedom to pursue their own interests.
I tend to set one homework per fortnight to ensure that students have sufficient time to produce something of high quality. The deadlines can be set by the teacher to allow more or less time for certain tasks. This has worked exceptionally well with my classes who produced some outstanding homework.
It is provided as a pdf for easy printing.
Please have a look at some of the other resources in my LikeAnExpert shop.
A detailed knowledge organiser/revision mat to support students studying horror writing.
It includes sections on punctuation, grammar, conventions of horror and famous horror writers.
This is an excellent resource to be used for setting homework, quizzing in classes or as a support mat. It is included as a pdf (for easy printing) and as a ppt for editing (please be aware the ppt does not display correctly in the preview).
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A detailed and engaging homework menu to be used alongside a horror writing unit. This menu structures homework tasks, but also gives students creative freedom to pursue their own interests.
I tend to set one homework per fortnight to ensure that students have sufficient time to produce something of high quality. The deadlines can be set by the teacher to allow more or less time for certain tasks. This has worked exceptionally well with my classes who produced some outstanding homework.
All the tasks require student to synthesise the information they’ve researched to present it in a new way. Students of all abilities are able to access this homework and are still challenged by it.
It is provided as a pdf for easy printing.
Please have a look at some of the other resources in my LikeAnExpert shop.
A complete scheme of work with activities to cover every chapter of ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’. The unit starts by introducing students to the context of the Holocaust, Auschwitz and Nazi Germany. It then moves on to covering reading, writing and oracy skills whilst moving through the novel.
This is designed for key stage 3. Key vocabulary per lesson and assessment ideas are also included alongside learning objectives and differentiated learning outcomes.
Peer assessment
Plenary: What do you think made Bruno feel “cold and unsafe” in the new house?
More Freebies:
Two pre-reading lessons to introduce students to the context of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is available for free here.
A lesson on chapter 1 of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is available for free here.
If you find this scheme of work useful, please consider purchasing this ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ Bundle or have a look at other resources available in my shop. .
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Two engaging and ready to teach one hour lessons to cover chapters 17 - 20 of ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ by John Boyne. The first lesson (chapters 17 - 18) requires students to use a range of reading skills and techniques - they read independently and in pairs to practise their comprehension and inference skills. The second lesson (chapters 19 - 20) requires students to think about the effects of pathetic fallacy and dramatic irony in the penultimate chapter and then to reflect on how they feel about the ending.
LESSON ONE
Learning Objective: Practise a range of reading skills.
Learning Outcomes:
Bronze: Read in pairs and individually, and use skimming, scanning and inference skills.
Silver: Support your partner by correcting them constructively in paired reading.
Gold: Make a perceptive prediction about what will happen at the end of the book.
Lesson Outline:
Do It Now: Match the reading term to the definition.
Starter: Paired reading of chapter 17 followed by comprehension and inference questions.
Activity 1: Chapter 18 individual comprehension questions and marking.
Activity 2: What do you predict will happen at the end of the book?
Plenary: How has Bruno changed over the course of the book?
LESSON TWO
Learning Objective: Reflect upon the story.
Learning Outcomes:
Bronze: Understand the terms pathetic fallacy and dramatic irony.
Silver: Explain how pathetic fallacy and dramatic irony are used to create tension.
Gold: Reflect upon the end of the novel.
Lesson Overview:
Do It Now: What are your expectations for finishing the book?
Starter: Explanation of pathetic fallacy and dramatic irony– how does that impact your expectations?
Activity 1: Reading focus for chapter 19.
Activity 2: Chapter 19 reflection followed by class questions for teacher.
Activity 3: Chapter 20 reflection.
Plenary: Questions on a post-it note.
Freebies:
Two pre-reading lessons to introduce students to the context of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is available for free here.
A lesson on chapter 1 of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is available for free here.
A scheme of work for teaching the entire novel is available for free here.
If you find this lesson useful, please consider purchasing this ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ Bundle or have a look at other resources available in my shop. .
Leave a review and choose any other resource of up to the same value for free from my shop.
Engaging and ready to teach one hour lesson to cover chapter sixteen of ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ by John Boyne. This lesson teaches students the features of an obituary and then requires them to write an obituary about Grandmother.
Learning Objective: Write an obituary for Grandmother.
Learning Outcomes:
Bronze: List the features of an obituary.
Silver: Apply these features in writing an obituary.
Gold: Creatively infer details about Grandmother.
Lesson Outline:
Do It Now: What is an obituary? What are the steps for writing an effective one?
Starter: Reading focus on Grandmother.
Activity 1: What are the features of an obituary? Paired work.
Activity 2: Planning and writing an obituary.
Peer assessment
Plenary: How do you think Father feels about the death of his Mother?
Freebies:
Two pre-reading lessons to introduce students to the context of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is available for free here.
A lesson on chapter 1 of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is available for free here.
A scheme of work for teaching the entire novel is available for free here.
If you find this lesson useful, please consider purchasing this ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ Bundle or have a look at other resources available in my shop. .
Leave a review and choose any other resource of up to the same value for free from my shop.
Engaging and ready to teach one hour lesson to cover chapter fifteen of ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ by John Boyne. This lesson asks students to probe how they think Bruno would feel after betraying Shmuel to Lieutenant Kotler. They explore how to use figurative language and different sentence structures and then write a diary entry as Bruno.
Learning Objective: Write a personal response as Bruno.
Learning Outcomes:
Bronze: Consider the complex emotions that Bruno feels in this chapter.
Silver: Express these feelings using figurative language.
Gold: Use a range of simple, compound and complex sentences.
Lesson Outline:
Do It Now: How would you describe the feeling of guilt using figurative language?
Starter: Reading focus – how does Bruno feel? Students create a mind-map and use a thesaurus to build vocabulary.
Activity 1: Hot-seating as Bruno, Shmuel and Lieutenant Kotler.
Activity 2: Focus on simple, compound and complex sentences.
Activity 3: Write a diary entry as Bruno
Peer assessment
Plenary: What thoughts and feelings do you think Shmuel would have experienced during this same time period?
Freebies:
Two pre-reading lessons to introduce students to the context of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is available for free here.
A lesson on chapter 1 of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is available for free here.
A scheme of work for teaching the entire novel is available for free here.
If you find this lesson useful, please consider purchasing this ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ Bundle or have a look at other resources available in my shop. .
Leave a review and choose any other resource of up to the same value for free from my shop.
Engaging and ready to teach one hour lesson to cover chapter fourteen of ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ by John Boyne. This lesson requires students to practise STEAL analysis of Gretel and then write a personal response as her to explore who she is as a character.
**Learning Objective: **Use STEAL analysis to explore Gretel’s character.
Learning Outcomes:
Bronze: Find appropriate quotes from the text for effective analysis.
Silver: Infer details from the quotes.
Gold: Synthesise what you know about Gretel with your knowledge of context to write a personal response as Gretel.
Lesson Outline:
Do It Now: How would you describe Gretel? Vocabulary builder.
Starter: Reading focus – find quotes that describe Gretel.
Activity 1: STEAL analysis of Gretel followed by whole-class feedback.
Activity 2: Students choose a task to develop their understanding of Gretel.
Students share work
Plenary: How do you think that Gretel will change as a character as she continues to live at Auschwitz away from her friends?
Freebies:
Two pre-reading lessons to introduce students to the context of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is available for free here.
A lesson on chapter 1 of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is available for free here.
A scheme of work for teaching the entire novel is available for free here.
If you find this lesson useful, please consider purchasing this ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ Bundle or have a look at other resources available in my shop. .
Leave a review and choose any other resource of up to the same value for free from my shop.
Engaging and ready to teach one hour lesson to cover chapter thirteen of ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ by John Boyne. This lesson requires students to consider how John Boyne creates tension in the dinner party scene and to compare how this is shown in the book and the movie. Students will then devise their own drama scene to put into practice tension-building devices.
Learning Objective: Analyse how writers and directors create tension.
Learning Outcomes:
Bronze: Understand which techniques can be used by writers and directors to create tension.
Silver: Explain clearly how these techniques create tension.
Gold: Use some of these techniques yourself to construct a dramatic performance.
Lesson Outline:
Do It Now: How might a movie director create tension?
Starter: Reading focus – how does John Boyne create tension?
Activity 1: Students complete an analysis table based on quotes from this chapter with teacher support.
Activity 2: How is tension created in the film?
Activity 3: Devising their own scene in groups and performing.
Plenary: What do you think happened to Pavel? What do you think will be the consequences for Lieutenant Kotler?
Freebies:
Two pre-reading lessons to introduce students to the context of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is available for free here.
A lesson on chapter 1 of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is available for free here.
A scheme of work for teaching the entire novel is available for free here.
If you find this lesson useful, please consider purchasing this ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ Bundle or have a look at other resources available in my shop. .
Leave a review and choose any other resource of up to the same value for free from my shop.