I'm an English teacher with 18 years teaching experience in the state and independent sectors. I've held TLRs for KS3 and KS5, am a GCSE examiner and have worked in education research and development. All my resources have been successfully tried and tested in the classroom.
I'm an English teacher with 18 years teaching experience in the state and independent sectors. I've held TLRs for KS3 and KS5, am a GCSE examiner and have worked in education research and development. All my resources have been successfully tried and tested in the classroom.
Four resources covering two lessons - one lesson analysing Scene 3 with an AO1, AO2 and AO5 focus and leading to students writing an analytical essay on the scene; one lesson on essay feedback and DIRT. Resources include PowerPoints for each lesson, comprehensive lesson plans and an essay cover sheet I created using the mark scheme for the AS exam.
These lessons form lesson 8 and lesson 11 of the SOW I created for the new Edexcel English Literature AS Level. However, both are equally valid for the new AQA spec.
The lesson plan also explains how essays will be worded in the Edexcel AS Level drama exam. There are also ideas for other essay titles to help students develop their understanding of the play and prepare them for exam essays.
Resources (12 slide PowerPoint and comprehensive lesson plan) for a lesson analysing Scene 11 of A Streetcar Named Desire. This is lesson 16 of my SOW for Other Drama for the new Edexcel English Literature AS/A Level. However, it would be just an effective for the new AQA spec.
Extension tasks are included and there is a differentiation by task/group activity detailed.
Assessment objectives 2 and 3 are the focus of the lesson.
Introductory lesson to A Streetcar Named Desire. This lesson forms lesson 1 of my SOW for the new Edexcel English Literature AS/A Level spec. However, it would also work for the new AQA spec.
Three resources: 21 slide PowerPoint, homework sheet and comprehensive lesson plan.
There are differentiation by task opportunities for the homework task - setting students more challenging topics to research and then present to the class.
The background information sheet is not included as this was taken from a free Teachit resource. Details on how to find this on the Teachit website are included in the lesson plan.
This introductory lesson has proved hugely successful both times I have taught it. Students were really engaged and gained much more from watching the 1951 film in the following lessons than previous students had.
An outstanding lesson exploring the use of generic conventions (AO2) in Wuthering Heights. This lesson, containing 5 resources including a comprehensive lesson plan and 13 slide PowerPoint, is part of my SOW for the new Edexcel English Literature A Level spec - teaching Wuthering Heights as one of the two coursework texts. However, the lesson can easily be used for the new AQA spec.
Extension tasks and independent study task included as well as opportunities for differentiation by group/task.
In a mixed ability class, students all made progress during the lesson (clearly demonstrated to the students and lesson observers in the mini plenary and plenary). Plus the subsequent essay also revealed much improved understanding and analysis skills for AO2.
Lessons 1-12 of my Wuthering Heights SOW have also been uploaded to TES Resources as two separate bundles.
8 resources covering 5 lessons on my SOW for A Level coursework for the new Edexcel English Lit A Level spec. These could easily be used/adapted for the new AQA English Lit A Level spec. Lessons examine language, setting, narrative voice, character relationships and include independent learning tasks. The last two lessons involve students presenting chapters to the rest of the class. The final task is an essay question.
There are a number of different learning tasks to encourage student engagement as well as developing their knowledge and understanding of the novel.
The comprehensive lesson plans include ideas for differentiation and show how each lesson links to at least one of the assessment objectives.
Lessons 1-7 of my SOW have been uploaded separately onto TES Resources.
8 resources for 3 lessons (lessons 9-11 of my Year 10 SOW) focusing on Chapters 8-11 and developing key skills for AO1 and AO2. Resources include detailed PowerPoints for each lesson (lesson 9 = 10 slides; lesson 10 = 9 slides; lesson 11 = 10 slides); 2 sheets of extracts; a homework task sheet encouraging students to re-read an earlier chapter and analyse minor characters; a starter task sheet of an opinion article from The Telegraph and comprehensive lesson plans.
Lesson plans include homework tasks building on class tasks and/or practising key analysis skills, extension tasks for the more able and suggestions for possible activity adaptations to suit different teaching groups.
The lessons also encourage students to complete DIRT after teacher, peer or self assessment.
All these tasks worked extremely well with my current Year 10 class and build on from lessons 1-8 which I have also uploaded in TES Resources.
Details of the first 7 lessons on my SOW on Wuthering Heights as the main text for the coursework essay for the new Edexcel A Level English Literature spec. It could, however, easily be adapted for the new AQA A Level spec. There are PowerPoints for the first 4 lessons, including introducing students to the main literary theories as well as introducing students to the early chapters in the novel and some historical context.
The SOW details activities and the main AOs for each lesson. There is homework set for each lesson and extension activities are in purple on the PowerPoints. The last 3 lessons have students watching a film/TV adaptation of the novel to explore a different interpretation of the text (possible affected by contextual factors) before studying critical reviews later in the SOW.
I have also included a number of example coursework essay titles to encourage students to consider their essay focus and choice of second text.
These lessons proved to be successful in re-focusing my Year 12 students after their AS study leave. They then read the rest of the novel over the summer before their return in Year 13.
Please note that the cloze exercise on Chapter 3 is not included as it is a Teachit resource. This can be downloaded as a PDF from Teachit for free. Teachit also has a useful literary critical theories handout you could give students during lesson 1.
6 resources covering 3-4 lessons (lesson 7 could be split into two separate lessons) preparing students for the new AQA GCSE English Literature Paper 1 exam (Section B - the 19th century novel). These are lessons 6-8 of the successful SOW I created for my current Year 10 class and focus on key aspects of Chapters 3-8 of Great Expectations Volume One. Moreover, they really helped students develop understanding of the novel, Dickens' techniques and key analysis skills needed for AO1 and AO2.
Resources include: 3 detailed PowerPoints (lesson 6 = 9 slides; lesson 7 = 15 slides; lesson 8 = 9 slides); a starter worksheet for lesson 7; extracts from Chapter 8 and lesson plans giving extra information and assessment objective/skills focuses.
All lessons include extension tasks for the more able. There is also some scaffolding to help students plus a homework task offering differentiation by choice.
Please note that the themes handout for lesson 7 is not included as this is a Teachit resource. It can be obtained as a free PDF from Teachit once you register with them.
6 resources covering 3 lessons (lessons 3, 4 and 5) in my Year 10 SOW teaching Great Expectations (AQA GCSE English Lit Paper 1 Section B - 19th century novel). Resources include: 3 detailed PowerPoints (lesson 3 = 17 slides; lesson 4 = 8 slides; lesson 5 = 15 slides); lesson plans with differentiated activities flagged; example PEE paragraph to help students write their own and an extract from the novel for students to highlight and annotate.
The lessons focus on the opening chapters (establishing character and use of setting) and developing students' AO1 and AO2 skills. Homework tasks are included with each lesson.
These lessons worked really well with my Year 10 class this year. They especially liked lesson 5 exploring setting and use of pathetic fallacy.
6 lessons with 11 resources covering: 20th and 21st century buzzwords/jargon; text-talk/multi-modal communication and political correctness for the new AQA English Language A Level specification - Paper 2 Section A: Language Diversity and Change. Resources include: 5 PowerPoints; an article to use with students for information and exploring different attitudes to language use (links on the scheme of work document take you to the 2007 John Humphrys article for lessons 2, 4 and 6 and to The Guardian article for lesson 5); example texts to analyse and numerous web links for class and independent study tasks.
Differentiation and extension options included for a number of tasks with further details on the scheme of work document which also gives an overview of the new AQA English Language A Level. Also opportunities to revise some genderlect and sociolect features/theories studied at AS and tasks for students to practise responses to Paper 2 Section B: Language Discourses.
These 6 lessons were created as a mini scheme of work to be delivered to Year 13 students after they have studied language change and diversity from 1600+ to 1900s.
Nine resources for six lessons covering the learning to write part of the new AQA English Language A Level Children’s Language Development for Section B of Paper 1 (replacing the old CLA). Resources: five PowerPoints, two children’s writing data sets, learning to write booklet for students and sow including details of each lesson as well as a useful overview of the whole A Level. Various activities included for class and independent study in this area of children’s language development, a number of which have extension tasks. All tasks linked to AO1 and AO2. One homework is differentiation by choice of tasks which would all be written up as a mini investigation.
This unit would be taught after students have already learned about speech acquisition and how young children learn to read.
Lessons can be adapted to any size class.
Four lessons covering the learning to read part of Children’s Language Development (old CLA) literacy for the new AQA English Language A Level (Paper 1 - Section B). Six resources: nine page CLD booklet for students covering learning to read and how to analyse children’s books; four PowerPoints and an overview of the new A Level with details of the four lessons included with relevant AOs. Extension tasks are included. One homework (Phonics research) includes differentiation by choice. One student task also includes directed writing practice for Paper 2.
These lessons should come after you have taught students about spoken language CLD. Spoken language CLD lessons are not included here as I have adapted the brilliant downloadable resources on TES by Naomi Gilligan for the first nine lessons of my new CLD sow.
Lessons on CLD literacy learning to write are available separately: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/new-aqa-children-s-language-development-cld-learning-to-write-11302233
A lesson for the new AQA English Language AS/A Level using an Argos Barbie advert to bring together genderlect theories students have learned and apply them to an example for analysis. Lesson leads to students writing a practice AS / A Level English Language Paper 2 essay on language and gender. Example essay question included on the final slide. Annotated modelling example to get students started, addressing different linguistic methods, is also included on the PowerPoint.
Three lessons and a copy of the poem. Created for part of a Year 8 ballads scheme of work. Extension tasks are included.
Although the lessons show progress through my school's adapted APP levels, each could easily be adapted.
The first lesson focuses on reading the poem and understanding the poet's choice of viewpoint and possible effect on the reader. The two following lessons focus on writing skills -specifically correct use of the semi-colon.
8 resources covering 4 lessons examining language and occupation for the new AQA AS English Language (Paper 2 - Section A). Resources cover sociolect, jargon, medical language, legal language, teacher-talk, buzzwords, restaurant talk and lead to a timed essay response. A number of tasks offer differentiation ideas.
I have also uploaded the mark sheet I created from the AQA AS English Language Paper 2 Section A AOs which I staple to student essays and highlight to show where they have met the AOs. Students find this really useful.
8 resources for 4 lessons helping students prepare for writing comparative exam essays on The Handmaid's Tale and Frankenstein for the new Edexcel AS Lit spec Paper 2 Prose. I have also included differentiation ideas for many of the activities which can be adapted depending on the size of your class. Student responses to all activities and resources were very positive as were the timed essays written afterwards. I have also included the mark sheet I staple to the front of student essays where I highlight where they have met the AOs and issue to students to help them mark example essays. This has really helped students understand the mark scheme (using the Edexcel wording) and what they need to include in their own essays.
The PDF Edexcel Lit prose exemplars pack is not included, but I have included the hyperlink (beneath slide 3 of the Writing a comparative essay PowerPoint) so you can download it.
A 21 lesson detailed scheme of work on The Handmaid’s Tale of 28 separate teaching resources covering the whole novel. This was produced for the new Edexcel AS / A Level English Literature and is the first part of preparing students for the prose exam (will compare with Frankenstein - details uploaded separately). This pack on The Handmaid’s Tale includes a comprehensive 8 page scheme of work which links each lesson with relevant assessment objectives and details each lesson activity. There are PowerPoints for most lessons as well as a number of student hand-outs you can just print out. I have used it successfully with mixed ability Year 12 students.
28 page adaptable user-friendly handbook for English Language AS and A Level students. It was created specifically for the new AQA English Language AS/A Level specs, but could easily be adapted for another exam board. Contents include: an outline of both the AQA AS and A Level courses; an extensive glossary of linguistic terminology and examples with space for students to add more terminology they may come across; useful phrases to help create well-structured analyses; tips on how to analyse an extract and what contextual factors to consider; useful website links; a chart covering some key historical events affecting the evolution of the English Language with examples of lexis derived from those eras and space for students to record their assessment marks and targets.
Useful websites page updated in September 2020.
32 page adaptable student handbook for AS / A Level English Literature students. It includes: an outline of the AS and A Level course, details on the assessment objectives, a useful glossary of literary terminology, tips on A Level essay writing (including a list of key phrases to help write well-structured and coherent essays) , critical approaches, context ideas, suggestions on the format of wider reading logs and reading journals, space for students to record essay marks and targets and AS mark sheets. Some of the information is adapted from the AS and A Level specification and online resources to help prepare students for the new specifications.
It was produced for the new Edexcel AS and A Level English Literature specification but can easily be adapted for another exam board.
It received very positive feedback from my students.