This is a highly-effective tool for implementing a vocabulary and comprehension element to school-wide 'literacy across the curriculum' initiatives. Not only does it encourage students and teachers to focus upon fully understanding key words in each of their subjects, but it provides the school with a clear and concise measuring device for gauging students' vocabulary and comprehension improvements. Students first sit the baseline test in each subject - a booklet that tests their complete knowledge of whichever subject-specific terms they need to learn in the next assessment period. Examples of the tasks they are asked to complete are: - Spelling the word; - Defining the word; - Giving an example of the word in a sentence; - Self-evaluating their understanding of the word; - Selecting what type of word it is; - Thinking of synonyms for the word, and more. They are given a score for their performance in the tasks. Upon completion of the teaching unit, students complete the 'End-Point' booklet, completing the same tasks. The two scores (from the baseline and the end-point) are recorded into the tracker document, (10 sheets are provided for different departments) which automatically calculates baseline and end-point percentages, and percentage increase or decrease. It also colour codes red or green dependent upon student performance. This gives the user a clear measure of the effectiveness of the literacy scheme across the school - perfect for performance management, reporting to OFSTED, and school improvement.

This lesson aims to help students to write descriptively, using a range of descriptive writing techniques. Students also learn how to incorporate the five senses into their writing. Furthermore, students explore social and moral issues such as 'swimming against the tide' and 'being different,' through the story of Oskar Schindler. Informative and engaging, this lesson follows a clear and logical learning journey. Students learn to: - Define the key term 'humane' - Understand the story of Oskar Schindler, and consider the social and moral dilemmas that he faced; - Consider decisions that they have had to make which contrast to popular opinion; - Remember the five senses, and discuss why they are important to descriptive writing; - Use the five senses to create descriptive sentences based on scenes from Schindler's List; - Write a descriptive piece about a difficult decision that they have had to make; - Peer-assess each others' learning attempts. Resources included are: A whole-lesson PowerPoint, that guides the teacher and learners throughout the entire lesson, an engaging worksheet, a writing to describe help-sheet, and a teacher guidance sheet. Note: I'm aware that this is a 15 film - however the clips that I have selected are not amongst the most graphic, and so I feel that the lesson can be used with students younger than 15. You will need a Youtube connection for the links to work. All images are cited at the end of the PowerPoint presentation, and are licensed for commercial use.

Based on the popular game show 'Pointless', this resource is perfect for use as a whole lesson resource, enrichment option, or revision tool. Editable, so that you can change to any other topic or change questions. (I've also added a blank template so that you can make your own games from scratch). Containing almost 30 slides of sound clips, engaging visuals, and suitably challenging questions, this resource is effective at both promoting engagement and enhancing learning. There are several full rounds of questions to build or revisit knowledge of different animal classes and types - an important KS1 Science topic within the National Curriculum. Round 1. Reptiles Round 2. Animal Classes Round 3. Anagrams Round Round 4. Birds The nature of this game ensures that the resource can challenge students of all levels.

Now with PDF version included! This resource booklet contains a wide range of age-appropriate, engaging, and meaningful comprehension activities for use in guided reading sessions. They are perfect for aiding the progress of children towards meeting the Year 6 expectations within the new National Curriculum framework. Children love learning from these resources, whilst they are also of great use to teachers, as there is explicit information within each task regarding which comprehension strands the task is designed to demonstrate. They are also generic enough to ensure that they are appropriate for use with all texts. Activities and games within the booklet include: - Texts from other Cultures - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: 'Increase their familiarity with a wide range of books, including from our literary heritage, and books from other cultures and traditions.' - Court Case: Defending a Text, and Room 101 - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: 'Provide reasoned justifications for your views, Explain and discuss and understanding of what has been read, including through presentations and debates, maintaining a focus on topic.' - Stress Graph - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: 'Understand what you read by drawing comparisons within and between books.' Plus many more activities (the booklet is over 20 pages in length!) All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on a separate document (included.)

This detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for students learning or revising knowledge of The Hundred Years’ War. It contains comprehensive sections on: -Overview and Maps; -Key People: Edward III, Henry V, Henry VI, Philip VI, Charles V, Joan of Arc; -Major Events: The Edwardian War; -Major Events: The Caroline War; -Major Events: The Lancastrian War; -The Hundred Years’ War Timeline. Key words and ideas are underlined for easy reference. The resource is designed to be printed onto A3, and is provided as both a PDF and a Word version (so that you can edit if you want to). All images used are licensed for commercial use and are cited on a separate document (included). It can be used by students of all ages, but is best suited for those in KS3.

This interesting and engaging lesson enables students to build their knowledge of the content, language, and structure of Simon Armitage’s contemporary relationships poem ‘Mother, Any Distance...’ In particular, students learn how the poet’s use of figurative language portrays the key messages in the poem, for example the maternal relationship between the speaker and his mother. Students learn through a logical and step-by-step learning journey, including: -Discussing and applying the key messages and meanings in the poem; -Understanding key contextual information about the poet and his life; -Reading and interpreting the poem; -Understanding the poem, with a particular emphasis upon the content, language, and structural features; - Identifying and analysing the poet's use of figurative language; -Writing an extended analysis piece based upon how Simon Armitage presents the strength of the maternal bond in Mother, Any Distance; -Peer assessing their partners' analysis attempts. Included is: - Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful, engaging and substantial; (including hyperlink to a reading of the poem) - Copy of poem; - Figurative Language in 'Mother, Any Distance' worksheet; - Figurative Language in 'Mother, Any Distance' answer-sheet; - Analysis template with in-built success criteria for creating well-structured responses; - Comprehensive lesson plan. There are also opportunities for group learning, peer assessment, and whole class discussion. This was originally taught to middle-ability year 9/10 groups, but can easily be differentiated for groups of different ages and abilities. All images are licensed for commercial use, and image rights are listed on the last page of the presentation.

This interesting and engaging lesson enables students to build their understanding of the relationship between Gerald and Sheila, two of the main characters in ‘An Inspector Calls.’ In particular, students learn about about how both characters contribute to the downfall of Eva Smith, and how their relationship is affected as details of their actions emerge. The lesson follows a clear, logical, bite-size learning journey, which guides students towards differentiated learning objectives. Over the course of this journey, they become able to: - Recall and understand the key features of Gerald and Sheila's character profiles; - Link Gerald and Sheila to the historical context of the play; - Read and understand the section of the play in which Gerald is interviewed by the inspector; - Analyse the effect of Gerald's revelations on the relationship of Gerald and Sheila; - Create a diary-entry piece in which they consider Gerald's character and relationships with both Sheila and Daisy Renton; -Peer/self-assess learning attempts. This resource pack includes: - A visually engaging whole-lesson PowerPoint presentation; - A clear and interesting worksheet for the development task (with answer sheet); - An extract from Act 2 of the play for students to read and interpret; - Guidance for completing diary entries; - A detailed lesson plan, complete with what the teacher and students should aim to achieve at each stage of the lesson. All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final slide of the PowerPoint.

This lesson enables students to build their knowledge of the content, language, and structure of James Fenton’s modern relationships poem ‘In Paris With You.’ In particular, students learn how word play, colloquial language, rhyme, and poetic structure can influence the mood and tone of a poem. Students learn through a logical and step-by-step learning journey, including: -Understanding the location described in the poem (Paris) and how it is commonly viewed; -Understanding key information about James Fentons' life; -Reading and interpreting the poem; -Understanding the poem, with a particular emphasis upon the content, language, and structural features; -Writing an extended analysis piece based upon how Sheers gets across the narrator's feelings in the poem, through the use of language and structure; -Peer assessing each other's learning attempts. Included is: - Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and substantial; (including hyperlink to a reading of the poem) - Copy of poem; - Structural devices worksheet - Analysis template with in-built success criteria for creating well-structured responses; - Comprehensive lesson plan. There are also opportunities for group learning, peer assessment, and whole class discussion. This was originally taught to middle-ability year 9/10 groups, but can easily be differentiated for groups of different ages and abilities. All images are licensed for commercial use, and image rights are listed on the last page of the presentation.

This interesting and engaging lesson enables students to build their knowledge of the content, language, and structure of Carol Ann Duffy’s contemporary relationships poem ‘Before You Were Mine.’ In particular, students learn how the poet’s use of vocabulary, devices, and poetic structure portray the contrasts in the mother’s life between past and present. Students learn through a logical and step-by-step learning journey, including: -Discussing and applying the key messages and meanings in the poem; -Understanding key contextual information about the poet and her life; -Reading and interpreting the poem; -Understanding the poem, with a particular emphasis upon the content, language, and structural features; -Writing an extended analysis piece based upon how Duffy reflects on her mother’s past and the changes that she has made to her life since becoming a mother; -Peer assessing their partners' analysis attempts. Included is: - Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful, engaging and substantial; (including hyperlink to a reading of the poem) - Copy of poem; - 'How has Ma Changed?' comparison worksheet; - Analysis template with in-built success criteria for creating well-structured responses; - Comprehensive lesson plan. There are also opportunities for group learning, peer assessment, and whole class discussion. This was originally taught to middle-ability year 9/10 groups, but can easily be differentiated for groups of different ages and abilities. All images are licensed for commercial use, and image rights are listed on the last page of the presentation.

This lesson enables students to build their knowledge of the content, language, and structure of Lord Byron’s classic love/relationships poem ‘When We Two Parted.’ In particular, students learn how the poet’s use of vocabulary, rhyme, and repetition influence the mood and tone of the poem. Students learn through a logical and step-by-step learning journey, including: -Understanding key contextual information about the poet and his life; -Defining key terms and vocabulary from the poem; -Reading and interpreting the poem; -Understanding the poem, with a particular emphasis upon the content, language, and structural features; -Writing an extended analysis piece based upon how Byron gets across the themes of sadness and forbidden love in the poem, through the use of language and structure; -Peer assessing each other's learning attempts. Included is: - Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and substantial; (including hyperlink to a reading of the poem) - Copy of poem; - Key questions worksheet, with model answers; - Analysis template with in-built success criteria for creating well-structured responses; - Comprehensive lesson plan. There are also opportunities for group learning, peer assessment, and whole class discussion. This was originally taught to middle-ability year 9/10 groups, but can easily be differentiated for groups of different ages and abilities. All images are licensed for commercial use, and image rights are listed on the last page of the presentation.

This thought-provoking and stimulating lesson enables students to create travel writing texts containing thoughtful and imaginative content, utilising planning techniques to add increasing depth to their writing. By the end of the lesson, students are able to understand which features should go into a travel writing piece, and use strategies to enable them to write in appropriate depth for the needs of purpose, audience, and form. The lesson follows a clear, logical, bite-size learning journey, which guides students towards differentiated learning objectives. Over the course of this journey, they become able to: - Define what travel writing is, and understand why it is an important and popular genre; - Think beyond the obvious, noticing and describing subliminal and periphery features, in addition to those which they deem as most important and pressing; - Consider how stimulus can be described using each of the different senses; - Use a success criteria to analyse a model travel writing attempt, and to plan their own; - Self/Peer assess travel writing attempts. This resource pack includes: - A visually engaging whole-lesson PowerPoint presentation; - A clear and logical template to record descriptions during the sensory task; -A well-structured success criteria/ planning template to aid students' creative attempts; - A detailed lesson plan, complete with what the teacher and students should aim to achieve at each stage of the lesson. All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final slide of the PowerPoint/ the bottom of worksheets.

Wondrous Writing is an interesting and effective way to enable young people to build their writing skills. Focussing on one key writing skill, students compose sentences during timed intervals, using picture prompts as inspiration. This aids them in constructing a larger, more substantial piece of writing over the course of the lesson. Assessment for Learning is utilised throughout, with success criterias provided for students to peer/self assess both before and after the main task. The focus for this lesson is sentence openers - utilising the topic of 'The Seven Wonders of the World.' Included in this pack is: - Whole lesson PowerPoint, complete with visual stimuli for writing; - Hyperlink to stopwatch app; - Writing Template - Writing to Describe Help-sheet - Success Criteria - Peer/Self-Assessment Form

This engaging and detailed resource pack has been designed to make the understanding and use of apostrophes and inverted commas (heaviy emphasised in the new curriculum) easily accessible, engaging and interesting for all children. These resources enable students to develop their skill in using two of the more difficult to master punctuation marks: apostrophes and inverted commas. Students learn through clarifying what the punctuation marks represent, understanding how they add meaning to sentences, and evaluating their use in the writing of others. The lesson follows a clear, logical, bite-size learning journey, which guides students towards differentiated learning objectives. Over the course of this journey, they become able to: - Define what apostrophes and inverted commas are; - Learn rules for when they should be used, and how to use them in more complex grammatical situations; - Identify apostrophes and inverted commas being used correctly and incorrectly in writing; - Analyse and evaluate what it is that makes the use of apostrophes and inverted commas more logical and effective in some situations than others; - Write an advice leaflet for other students about how to use these punctuation forms, modelling correct use themselves; -Peer/self-assess learning attempts. This resource pack includes: - A visually engaging whole-lesson PowerPoint presentation; - One clear and interesting worksheet about apostrophes, with answer-sheet; - One clear and interesting worksheet about inverted commas, with answer-sheet; - A template for students to use for the main leaflet task; - A detailed lesson plan, complete with what the teacher and students should aim to achieve at each stage of the lesson. All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final slide of the PowerPoint.

This interesting and engaging double lesson enables students to define what homophones are, use a range of homophones correctly, and to be able to explain why homophones have been used correctly or incorrectly. This knowledge is of particular importance when working through the new National Curriculum. Throughout this lesson, students learn through a range of stimulating and interactive challenges and games, which logically guide them towards the learning objectives. Examples of these are homophones pictionary, crosswords, and the creation of homophones advice posters. Over the course of this lesson, they learn by: - Defining and identifying homophones; - Finding spelling patterns in a variety of homophones; - Advising others on how to remember to spell tricky homophones correctly; - Collaborating on a range of group activities; - Self-evaluating through frequent AfL tasks, in order to observe their progress through the lesson. This resource pack includes: - A visually engaging whole-lesson PowerPoint presentation; - Word cards for the Pictionary game; - Worksheet with homophones questions; - Challenging homophones crossword; - Two varied AfL question sheets, for gauging progress through the lesson; - A detailed lesson plan, complete with what the teacher and students should aim to achieve at each stage of the lesson. All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final slide of the PowerPoint.

This resource booklet contains a wide range of age-appropriate, engaging, and meaningful comprehension activities for use throughout the reading of J.B. Priestley's 'An Inspector Calls.' Teachers have found them particularly useful in exam revision, comprehension tasks, or guided reading sessions. They are perfect for aiding the progress of students towards meeting the KS4 expectations within the new National Curriculum framework - this makes the tasks suitable for all examining bodies. Students have found these resources extremely engaging, and for teachers there is explicit information within each task regarding which comprehension strands the task is designed to demonstrate. They also relate to key extracts, characters, and themes from the story, ensuring that students gain a deep understanding of the text. Activities within the booklet include: - 'Context: Pre-War Britain' - to aid students with 'Drawing on knowledge of the purpose, audience and context of the writing, including its social, historical and cultural context and the literary tradition to which it belongs, to inform evaluation;' - 'Priestley's Description' - to aid students with 'Analysing a writer’s choice of vocabulary, form, grammatical and structural features, and evaluating their effectiveness and impact;' - 'The Inspector' - to aid students with 'Seeking evidence in the text to support a point of view, including justifying inferences with evidence;' - 'Editing the Play' - to aid students with 'Making an informed personal response, recognising that other responses to a text are possible and evaluating these.' Plus many, many more activities (the booklet is around 30 pages in length!) I've also added it as a PDF in case the formatting differs on your computer. All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on a separate document (included).

I delivered this CPD session to all members of our staff team who maintain regular contact with parents and other stakeholders, in a bid to improve the quality, accuracy, and clarity of our written communications. I'd recommend that the session takes about 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes to deliver. We had received some negative feedback comments, regarding our communications, varying from examples of poor grammatical accuracy, to instances in which the tone of emails, letters, and other forms of correspondence were perceived as rude. It is surprising how common this is across schools, and how little training is provided on these forms of interaction. Following this training, we are receiving far fewer complaints, and many staff members now keep the help-sheets pinned up by the desks to refer to when communicating with parents. Participants learn through: - Participating in a fun pub-style quiz to eradicate common spelling, punctuation, and grammar misconceptions and errors; - Considering the role of parents, their needs and interests, and what they expect from their child's school, as a means to understand why schools sometimes receive difficult communications; - Reading and analysing examples of poor written correspondence, considering how both the tone and the accuracy can be improved; - Exploring different language strategies to create a personal, polite tone within emails, by considering the connotations of different words; - Taking away help sheets that can be referred to whenever written communications are being drafted. The resource pack includes: - Colourful and engaging whole-session PowerPoint presentation ; - Examples of written communications for participants to analyse; - Quiz answer sheet; - Accurate Written Communication help-sheet; - Polite Written Communication help-sheet. All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final slide. (Please note that the only section of the PowerPoint that you may wish to modify is with regards to the distinct features of parents at your own school - Aside from this, the resources are good to go!)

These resources enable students to build their knowledge of the content, language, and structure of Denise Levertov’s Vietnam War poem ‘What Were They Like?’ In particular, students learn about the historical context of the Vietnam War. They also learn how features of language and structure aid the impact of the poem. Students learn through a logical and step-by-step learning journey, including: -Exploring the historical concept of the Vietnam War; -Understanding key information about Denise Levertov and her life; -Reading and interpreting the poem; -Understanding the poem, with a particular emphasis upon the content, language, and structural features; -Writing an extended analysis piece based upon how Levertov gets across her feelings about war in the poem, through the use of language and structure; -Peer assessing each other's learning attempts. Included is: - Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and substantial; (including hyperlink to a reading of the poem) - Copy of poem; - Structural devices worksheet - Analysis template with in-built success criteria for creating well-structured responses; - Comprehensive lesson plan. There are also opportunities for group learning, peer assessment, and whole class discussion. This was originally taught to middle-ability year 9/10 groups, but can easily be differentiated for groups of different ages and abilities. All images are licensed for commercial use, and image rights are listed on the last page of the presentation.

In this engaging and informative lesson, students are enabled to make sustained and developed interpretations regarding the introduction and development of the character of Mr Darcy in ‘Pride and Prejudice.’ In particular, students learn about how he at first appears solely proud and aloof, before studying the events through which the more subtle aspects of his character emerge. The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which students learn through: - Establishing how Darcy fits the criteria of the ‘Romantic Hero;’ - Reading and understanding how Darcy is introduced in the novel, using relevant textual evidence; - Tracking how his character develops through the notable events of the novel; - Analysing how Austen introduces and develops Darcy’s character through plot events and Elizabeth’s thoughts; - Peer assessing each other’s learning attempts. Included is: - Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and comprehensive; - Extract from Chapter 3; - ‘Development of Darcy’ task resources - with teacher answer sheet; - Supportive and clear essay template; - Comprehensive lesson plan. There are also opportunities for group learning, peer assessment, and whole class discussion. These resources were originally taught to GCSE students, but with subtle adaptations they have also been used with both younger and older (up to A Level) students. All images are licensed for commercial use, and image rights are listed on the last page of the presentation.

This interesting and highly stimulating lesson enables students to make clear and sustained links between Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge and the social and historical context of Italian American immigration in the early to mid-twentieth century. In particular, students engage analytically with Marco and Rodolpho’s arrival at the Carbone household, interpreting their key quotations about life in both Italy and America, and linking these to knowledge of real-life context. The lesson follows a clear, logical, bite-size learning journey, which guides students towards differentiated learning objectives. Over the course of this journey, they become able to: - Understand the key features of Italian immigration to America in the early to mid-twentieth century; - Understand the relevance of Arthur Miller’s life and influences upon elements of plot; - Create a timeline detailing contextual information regarding Italian immigration; - Read and understand the middle section of Act One, interpreting quotations which Marco and Rodolpho arrive and offer key information about life in Italy, and their hopes for America; - Understand cultural differences that lead to Eddie’s unease with Rodolpho; - Make clear and sustained links between the text and its social and historical context, by analysing the middle of Act One; -Peer assess each other’s learning attempts. This resource pack includes: - A visually engaging whole-lesson PowerPoint presentation;; - Paper copies and online links to the extract needed for the lesson (mid-section of Act One); - Timeline template; - Linking to context worksheet (including answer sheet for teachers); - A logically scaffolded essay template; - A detailed lesson plan, complete with what the teacher and students should aim to achieve at each stage of the lesson. All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final slide of the PowerPoint.

This interesting and highly-stimulating lesson enables students to demonstrate a developed, sustained understanding of the language devices utilised in Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge. In particular, students engage analytically with Miller’s use of language at the beginning of Act II, in which Eddie Carbone appears to lose control over his actions. Students examine how similes, rhetorical questions, imperative commands, and other language features serve to highlight his descent into desperation. The lesson follows a clear, logical, bite-size learning journey, which guides students towards differentiated learning objectives. Over the course of this journey, they become able to: - Define and provide examples for each of the relevant language devices; - Identify each of the language devices in short sentences, and begin to comment upon their effect; - Understand some of Miller’s intentions behind writing the play; - Critically engage with Miller’s use of language devices at the end of the Act Two, including the events leading up to Eddie’s call to the Immigration Office; -Peer assess each other’s learning attempts. This resource pack includes: - A visually engaging whole-lesson PowerPoint presentation;; - Paper copies and online links to the extract needed for the lesson (beginning section of Act Two); - Language Devices Cards; - Language Devices worksheet (including answer sheet for teachers); - A logically scaffolded essay template; - A detailed lesson plan, complete with what the teacher and students should aim to achieve at each stage of the lesson. All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final slide of the PowerPoint.