This tracker lists all the skills that need to be taught in English Language throughout KS3 and KS4 on a handy tracker for either whole class or individual student use. The list of skills that need to be taught are linked to the GCSE spec, and has also designed to build on skills at KS2 (the writing grid incorporates the 'I Can' statements at KS2). Simply by covering the skills on this tracker, you can be sure that your students are receiving an adequate diet of English Language skills right from year 7 that builds upon their prior knowledge.

This assessment effectively bridges the KS2 and KS4 styles of questions and averts the Year 7/8 dip. Did you know, for example, that KS2 students are not required to comment on the effect of language or structure in their SATs tests? Nor are they required to evaluate texts. It is therefore unsurprising that students often perform badly in KS3 tests that are based solely on GCSE papers. My assessment paper takes elements of the KS2 paper that students are familiar with and works in aspects of the KS4 paper at an appropriate level. The grade boundaries are on the front of the paper and have been based upon 2017 threshold levels (AQA). This is one of the first of a set papers that aims to encourage students to become increasingly independent through their secondary school career and has been designed through a careful investigation into KS2 papers and an in-depth knowledge of GCSE papers. Please follow me if you find this useful and keep a look out for future bundles of assessment papers. Copyright acknowledgement to the author of this extract, who has circulated this first chapter as a free resource. Please do bu her book if you enjoy it.

This fully differentiated lesson teaches students to identify, explore the effect of and employ sibilance.

This fully differentiated lesson teaches students how to identify, explore the effect of and employ plosives.

This fully differentiated lesson, with support and challenge sheets, teaches students how to identify and employ onomatopoeia.

This lesson explores narrative hooks and how to use them in creative writing. It has a set of lower and higher ability cards for sorting.

This lesson teaches students about anaphora through identification in examples and exploration of the effect. The tasks are fully differentiated to bronze, silver and gold levels, with support and challenge sheets included.

This lesson asks students to create their own spinner to use in future creative writing lessons. The spinner would be best printed on card.

A fully differentiated lesson (bronze, silver and gold) that teaches how to describe a character using similes. Included are examples and support and challenge sheets.

Lesson 1 of a fully differentiated Creative Writing unit. This lesson (differentiated and includes support and challenge sheets) covers describing a character using picture prompts.

Useful posters with key quotes for each character in An Inspector Calls. Display around the classroom or school, print off pairs of copies and use as a memory matching game with all the quotes of one character face down - students can turn over two cards per turn, or just display on the Powerpoint and discuss or debate. It's always useful to have a set of key quotes.

Simplified mark schemes based on the on-screen drag and drop comments on the AQA Examiner marking software. These much reduced mark schemes help teachers to understand exactly what the examiner is look for, can streamline marking and planning and can be modified to give feedback to students by simply highlighting their areas of competence. A valuable resource.

This unit asks students to exercise their Literacy skills and plan a festival. They are required to write a letter to apply for the job, write a report, design logos and band profiles, design posters and respond to a complaint. This is an engaging collection of resources that would be ideal for Summer 2 or in a situation where students benefit from working on a 'real' task.

GCSE Language style paper for the fight scene of Of Mice and Men. This assessment is designed for all abilities, though it also supports KS3 or lower ability students to understand how to answer the new GCSE style questions. It could also be used a support document or walk-through, with students answering the questions without a guide in their books. Threshold levels are included on the first page.

A sound understanding of the social and historical context of A Christmas Carol is essential to gaining higher grades at GCSE. The new specifications demand that students see the play as a 'construct' and thus need to understand the intended message of the text and the influences upon the author at the time. With this knowledge, students are then able to consider the authorial choices as they read the text. I would advise working through this presentation at the start of the unit and revisiting it after reading the entire text. The presentation can be spread over two lessons.

A sound understanding of social and historical context is essential for a Grade 4 and above in the current English Literature specifications. It is imperative that students learn the intended message of the playwright or author of the text and the influences upon them at the time of writing. Being able to explain these features in relation to the text will place students within the higher bands of the GCSE mark scheme. This lesson directs children to consider the influences upon J B Priestley and the messages he intends to convey to his audience in An Inspector Calls. It can be taught at any point of the unit and is ideally repeated after reading the novel, as students will be able to link the images more readily to events and quotes in the play. The Powerpoint of statements are conclusions that the students will be coming to at the end of the lesson and can be displayed as starters in later lessons, asking students to brainstorm quotes and events which support the given point. The Powerpoint of images can also be used in a similar way, or as a display where students add quotes as they read the play. 1. Arrange the tables in the classroom as six workstations (six groups of tables). Print out the resources and place each set on a different table with the relevant heading. You might want to add a laptop that is set up to one of the websites on the links provided. 2. Arrange students in six groups of four or five and give each student an overview sheet. Point out that if they have not yet read the play they will not be able to fill in the quotes and events thought bubble, but can add to this later. 3. Allow students 5-6 minutes per workstation with the aim of completing the overview sheet. 4. At the end, ask each table to feedback about the subject covered at the table they are seated at. 5. Ask each student to write a message that Priestley was trying to convey on a Post-It and stick onto the wall. This will form the 'Student Comments' for later use.

Game instructions: Use counters as Tiddlywinks. When you land on a space, you must say explain: Which poem it is from, a meaning or idea that is inferred by the quote, a device used in the quote and its effect. For a bonus point, compare it to another quote on the game board (poetry) or explain the context (Macbeth). Bronze – 1 point Silver – 2 points Gold – 3 points If you pass, the person on your left or your opponent may attempt your turn an d claim the points. Anyone in the team may attempt the bonus comparison point after the turn has been played. This resource needs to be printed on A3 paper.

A lesson that identifies and explores foreshadowing, followed by an opportunity to read a class text and look for examples of foreshadowing. The final task is differentiated and links closely to the demands of the new GCSE spec, so would be useful for both KS3 and KS4. The lesson is concluded with a reflection activity. This lesson is part of a 12 lesson bundle for sale on TES at https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/class-reader-generic-lessons-x-12-bundle-set-1-analysing-the-author-s-craft-11347361 The current TES system won't allow thumbnails of the Powerpoints, but all of the lessons are of this standard.

Fun assembly for Y6, KS3 and KS4 that promotes reading through a nostalgic visit to the books students enjoyed when they were younger. Simply print off the final three slides to use as Phone a Friend, Ask the Audience and 50/50 prompts and set up the data projector and you’re away! I recommend surprising a fellow colleague by asking them to come up to the front during assembly and try to win a million pounds; the students will be itching to tell them the answers! Sound is enabled.