A book I've written to be given to all staff and students. Topics include: What is literacy? How to improve your work: responding to feedback Making your writing more interesting: Sentence Variety Three tips for improving your writing style Making your writing accurate: Punctuation Commas Speech Marks Colons and Semi-colons Apostrophes Making your writing flow: Paragraphs Making your work flow: connectives How to develop your answers Making your writing accurate: Spellings Spelling strategies Nine spelling rules to learn Homophones Homonyms 25 commonly misspelt words How to improve your work: Redrafting How to improve your word power Worn out words 70 words to sharpen your expression Common literacy errors

Cards that can be cut out and used to practice the full range of punctuation for Level 5-7.

A series of lessons in which pupils use persuasive writing. Pupils are to persuade a group of Hollywood producers to turn the class novel into a blockbuster film. A useful end of topic activity.

10 common literacy errors with an explanation of why they are made, and the correct response for each.

The same point and quote written about in three different ways. Pupils highlight the differences to see what makes a top grade response.

Two lessons in which pupils firstly write out a presentation on what they would like to do/achieve before they turn 30, and then present their ideas to the class. Ideas to get them started are included, planning resources, ideas on how to structure their talk, and a self-assessment form.

143 word games with answers. Useful to put a couple up at the start of a lesson to get pupils settling down and engaged, or as fun little 'fillers'.

Make marking easier by using these tick sheets. You do not need to write down what they have done well, just tick. Pupils can even write their own E.B.Is once their work has been returned.

A handy 2 page worksheet taking pupils through the steps of analysing any non-fiction text.

A whole lesson the poem Quickdraw by Carol Ann Duffy. A discussion and analysis of key imagery and writer's ideas. Includes an activity where pupils have to get out of their seats to discuss some of the issues in the poem.

Lots of words to help students write their own Gothic/ghost story. Includes ambitious vocabulary such as 'lugubrious' to push higher attaining students and encourage students to think carefully about their vocabulary choices.

A lesson on the Phillip Larkin 'Born Yesterday' including word associations and analysis of key imagery and a discussion on the ideas in the poem.

A lesson on writing to describe. Includes criteria, model responses, AfL tasks, guided writing activity to allow students to progress.

A two sided sheet full of interesting words to describe characters. Useful for creative writing and improving vocabulary.

For creative writing and analysing characters.

This is for EDUQAS, but mark schemes etc can easily be adapted for other exam boards. There are lots of practise questions, a few model answers, a resource showing the steps to answering a response, assessment materials, and a few handy hints.

A lesson which teaches pupil how to analyse a poem for themselves - the teacher should be doing very little in this lesson. Pupils work in groups: each member of the group is assigned a role. A carousel activity follows, ending with a whole class feedback.

A fun and challenging lesson in which pupils use sensory detail and imaginative vocabulary to create their own chocolate poem. Pupils will need a small chocolate bar for this lesson. Drag out the torture - they have to smell the chocolate, then describe it, a small bite, then describe it, and so forth. I have done this many times before, and it has always gone down well. This is very good as a memorable Year 6 induction lesson, or a lesson on creative writing.

Lots of ideas for 'bell work', that 2-5 minutes of dead time while you wait for other students to arrive. Great for embedding literacy skills, engaging the class, calming and settling challenging classes, and providing reasons to get to lessons on time!

A creative writing lesson based on the poem The Deserted House. Resource includes presentation including starter, activities etc, copy of the poem and a lesson plan (this was a an observed lesson which was judged outstanding). Focus for the lesson is on sensory detail and ambitious vocabulary.