The new AQA English Spec. for teaching from 2015 includes a whole reading and writing paper [Paper 1 in the specimen material] given over to both reading and writing creative material. These exercises can be 'drip-fed' to KS3 and KS4 to help them hone the skills for this task. This set of tasks focuses on descriptive vocabulary and figures of speech. I've marked them A-C in order of how I use them, but they stand alone; the extract handout goes with PPT C. All photographs by Graham Hobbs.

Kids love playing teacher and in this exercise they get to 'mark' Clarence P. Clapp's spelling. The answers are on the second page and can be projected or handed to a group or table to check their marking. If you can, let pupils mark in red pen to add to the game. This work is aimed at weaker KS3 students, but should also suit KS2. 'The Boy who Swam with Piranhas' is written by David Almond, published by Walker Books and is illustrated, so ideal for reluctant readers. As an extra challenge, project a letter table containing a 9-letter word from the task. students should find the 9letter word as well as 4-or more letter words using the letters. Answers are on slide 2.

This 'trial' exam paper is based on the AQA specimen paper for the 2015 Spec to be examined in 2017. The tasks are different, but the style is similar, so this work sheet can be used as exercises with current KS3s to familiarise them with the type of task, or as revision with KS4 in the future. The PP starter gives them a strategy when faced with a similar exam paper and some extracts to inspire their writing. On the last slide an extra click of the mouse [when they've had time to try] reveals the answers.

This resource covers two lessons or a lesson and a homework for Chap.3 and . I set the Chapter 3 questions as homework and went over the answers on the PP in class and ended with the newspaper article, but the lesson could as easily begin with the questions and the newspaper article set as homework. Handout sheet 1 has the differentiated questions for homework or independent class work, including a word game for those who enjoy them. The second handout sheet is to help weaker students with the newspaper article. Time taken going over the answers and explaining them will be well spent as even the basic retrieval questions require some thought. Help the students notice how the author gives the reader a lot of information, some of which will be vital clues to future events, but ensures that it is not boring even though very little actually happens. With the newspaper article, emphasise that the factual information comes first, the 'story' is there for those who are interested in more information. Chapter 4's lesson is covered by a PP and focuses chiefly on Sig's character. A word document worksheet allows for 2 levels of help with the task.

This quiz is foremost about remembering key quotes by remembering the covered word. Students discuss the relevance of the quote and what points it could evidence as well as which story it belongs to. In this way it could be used as a starter. To build on this, students could create their own quote quiz, perhaps working in groups and focusing on a particular story. An alternative strategy is to give students the fill-in sheet to do first, in pairs or groups, thus making the feedback ‘quiz’ session livelier (recommended with a weaker group). If there isn’t time for students to make their own quizzes as a plenary, they can at least find one more quote to share with the class. Having a filled in sheet (corrected) gives students handy notes for revision. However, don’t despair if paper use / printing/copying is limited: so that each student can be given a different slide [or slides] to prepare, the page is arranged to make cutting it into strips do-able.

This is an exciting novel, especially for boys: short enough for reluctant readers to give it a chance and gripping enough for all readers to be engaged. The PP covering chapter 5 begins with a focus on the structure of the novel, introducing the term 'generating circumstance' and then structure at sentence level. Chapter 6 begins with a deceptively simple test: True or False to test recall and a] or b] to test understanding of imagery. The answers are on the Chapter 6 PP to enable peer assessment. For more able students there is an enrichment question on juxtaposition in imagery - expect a PEEL paragraph to the effect that contrasting God and the Devil, stroking and hammering emphasises how evil the man looks - and turns out to be .

The PP contains the lesson, which focuses reading: by practising finding apt quotes; inferring and deducing; and writing about reading by analysing key words. Slide one presents a starter question which partners can discuss briefly. This gives students a POINT. Subsequent questioning leads them to EVIDENCE and EXPLORE/ANALYSE and there are slides with possible answers to allow for self- or peer assessment. The lesson ends with a SPaG plenary on the use of quotation marks. There is also a differentiated handout, one page giving a condensed lesson for weak or visually impaired students - could work with TA outside the classroom [give the TA a slide handout for reference]- and another for slow workers who need to be given a copy of the quote rather than write it out.

The first Power Point gives contextual information about the Great Exhibition and a visual impression of the Crystal Palace. The handout consists of two 19th century non-fiction articles: an extract from a letter writer by Charlotte Brontë to her father about her visit to the exhibition and then extracts from Queen Victoria’s diary about her visits. There are simple questions on each passage reflecting the type of question that may be asked at GCSE: retrieval and inference. Then there are questions comparing the texts. Once students have answered the questions, they can self- or peer assess work as the answers are on a Power Point slide that can guide feedback. These extracts can also be used in conjunction with ‘The Diamond Necklace’ by Guy de Maupassant. For a modern writer’s version of the Great Exhibition, you could read Queenie’s description of her visit in Andrea Levey’s Small Island.

We all know it is no revision at all to tell students to write loads of past papers in timed conditions – only a few would do it. These tasks lend themselves specifically to the revision of essay questions of any topic or content subject [R.E., Biology; English; History; Geography...] and all you have to do by way of preparation is apply the tasks to the specifics of your subject, particularly your exam board and provide some guidance as to where students can find information, whether that’s in the text book, online or reference books. Your exam board’s website should be able to provide you with sample questions, mark schemes and sample answers. Before using these tasks you will need to prepare the material, but chances are you’ll have it to hand anyway as it is what you’d be revising: this resource helps you approach it in a different way and gets the students actively involved in their revision. On the task prompt sheet is a ‘You will need’ list to help you prepare. Slide one has 6 images – choose any icon to click on in a way that engages the class [throw a di, ask a question, choose a quiet student to make the choice]. A hyperlink will take you straight to the relevant slide, where the tasks will come up in steps on your click [adapt the wording of these to suit your specifics if you wish]. At the end of the lesson ‘end show’ to get back to slide 1 for the next lesson. Each task is explained in your ‘recipe for success’ word document and alternatives or ways to differentiate suggested. The central idea is to get students helping each other while you facilitate only when required. And I’ve added a bonus task in recognition of the price rise – you should get at least 8 lessons out of this pack – Enjoy!

These are the 100 words the DfE claims primary pupils should be able to spell in y3/4 – of course older pupils could do with a bit of revision too. They are divided into groups of five and after five groups there’s a test, But here’s the difference… Being dyslexic myself, I’ve written the words out in a way that makes learning them easier for others with a similar condition – by looking for patterns and words within words – without being a problem to good spellers. Use as a weekly homework, a fill-in starter while you call the register or an occasional filler for a quick worker. At the end of the list there’s a revision opportunity and words to find in a string of letters along with some unscrambling to do. Work is set out for ease of printing/photocopying and teacher’s answers are on the last pages of each set (week 1-5)– print or project as suits. A PP gives end of list answers to the strings and unscrambles. If you do these with older students, just do remember to remove the ‘year’ label with each test to avoid embarrassing them. 6 downloads gives you 5 weeks of daily spelling, 5 tests and 2 revision activities, all self-mark and dyslexia friendly!

Everything you need for exploring the short story 'Subha' by Rabindranath Tagore. [Multiculturalism in the context of Empire has a firm place in 19th century writing ; this is a good place to ensure it's not lost with the new syllabus]. The lesson begins with prediction, requiring students to infer and deduce, then looks at 3 extracts with imagery that suggests things about the character while describing something else. The focus then moves on to how language is used to present the character, while the plenary asks students to consider other ways in which the character is presented. The extracts to be annotated are given on a handout, with key phrases to be noticed in bold. The teacher's note also has links to the text, a reading and information about Rabindranath Tagore, along with the outline of the lesson and possible homework or extension tasks.

With language becoming an even higher priority in the new Specs, vocabulary is a vital – but difficult to teach- component to preparing KS3 students for the years ahead. This series of starters focuses on building up their word-hoard [as the Anglo-Saxons called it]. Little and often is the best way to extend vocabulary and if it’s a game, so much the better. ‘Odd one out’ is a quick self-check starter with a handout version for weaker students. Reasons can be given verbally or in writing and any reasonable response is acceptable. This is probably a good place to begin the series as it is quick, easy, and introduces a range of words that can be used as synonyms.

Using a variety of sentence openers is an effective and easy way to improve writing. The PP begins with a reminder of the ways in which sentences can be opened more effectively. The worksheet task - 2 to a page to cut costs - is to label the openers in a piece of writing, using the reminder slide if needed. Students check their own work from the next slide, writing in correct answers. This task is also useful preparation for any task that requires close reading. A final slide challenges students to complete the story in at least 4 more sentences, each with a different opening, a task which could be set as homework, a plenary or extension work.

Shakespeare Day this year has the added thrill of marking 400 years since the Bard’s death [or 452 since his birth!]. To help you mark the anniversary, here’s a ‘Where’s Will?’ competition with quotes, student fill in sheets and an answer sheet. Set up the competition school wide, departmentally or as a class activity to get students reading quotes and finding where the action is set. The competition is really easy – its merit is exposure – participants have to find the posters, read a quote and be alert to where the action is set. At the very least they’ll have heard of a few more plays. This activity is easy enough for upper primary pupils. That’s just one activity. On the quotes PP you have a template you can send to students and colleagues on which they can write their favourite Shakespeare quotes [even if it is from the play they are currently studying] to display around the school. Primary pupils could display insults they've generated. Each subsequent slide can be printed [on coloured A3?] to make a display for the classroom or to boost the display around the school. Longer term, there is the set of starter quotes that could introduce students to Shakespeare’s language, as a Shakespeare ‘quote of the half-term’, or for 6 lessons in April… the idea is to get students to think about both the literal and figurative meaning of memorable lines, as well as expose them to a wider range of plays. The ‘fill-in’ version allows you to set the whole task as a one off lesson activity or a self-mark homework. For anyone who has missed the lesson, quotes and answers are available as a paper version too. The Teachers' Guide also provides useful links and ideas. Enjoy a super Shakespeare Day!

Use Halloween as an excuse to focus on close-up description to cut out the waffle, create atmosphere and promote concise writing. This resource offers a lesson on how to make monsters seem scary using extracts from 19th century novels, on PP with the text extracts available as a handout. The cre-ATE PP hyperlinks you via pictures to vocabulary that can help get the description started - great for letting students refer to when they're stuck. The 'you try' worksheet suggests a step-by-step structure illustrated with quotes from 'Game of Thrones' that can be used as a model.

5 weeks worth of daily spelling activities and self-mark tests! These are the 100 words the DfE claims primary pupils should be able to spell in 5/6 – of course older pupils could do with a bit of revision too. They are divided into groups of five as 'week 1' etc. with a test at the end of each week. Standard practice, but here’s the difference… Being dyslexic myself, I’ve written the words out in a way that makes learning them easier for others with a similar condition – by looking for patterns and words within words – without being a problem to good spellers. Use as a weekly homework, a fill-in starter while you call the register or an occasional filler for a quick worker. At the end of the list there’s a revision opportunity and words to find in a string of letters along with some unscrambling to do. Some y3-4 words are revisited in the last lists and tests. Tests are also designed to promote proof-reading skills, with 'you be the teacher' adding fun to the process - red pens work wonders here and cut your workload to quick checking , rather than marking. Work is set out for ease of printing/photocopying and teacher’s answers are on the last pages of each set – print or project as suits. A PP gives end of list answers to the strings and unscrambles. Y5&6 have an additional task – words to fill into a script, similar to SATs tests. If you do these with older students, just do remember to remove the ‘year’ label with each test.

In this lesson, explore the power of choosing the right verb. The Power Point provides the lesson from start to finish and the word doc. provides a fill-in opening for weaker students, to get them started. The Lesson provides a definition, an 'odd-one-out' task, some quick physical activity [select someone to demonstrate if the class would be unsettled by a bit of movement], an extract from 'The Recruit' and some writing suggested by photographs. At the heart of it all is 'show don't tell' to move writing up a gear.

The culmination of the series focuses on question A6 following a similar pattern as before. It begins with a ‘quick-fire starter’ when the technique required by the question is practised in its simplest form, first on the PP, then with written texts. First, to give students confidence, two short texts from speeches on immigration. This keeps the time pressure on so that working quickly becomes a habit. Then the question requirements are explored through the exam board’s directives and again quick and easy examples with answers build up to more demanding practise through the series. Visual texts and Extracts of both 19th century and 21st century texts are used in the series to ensure students are undaunted by older texts. In all cases answers and a simplified mark scheme are provided.

A word of the week is a great way to start a lesson and kids love using the new word, but don't think you can't use this resource if you haven't been doing the weekly words - simply print out each slide sans the WOW heading and display them in the classroom or put them on a 'help-desk' and turn the task into a Thesaurus lesson. The wordsearch is not one of those mindless exercises that have brought the genre into disrepute: here students need to find the WoW from the definition and list the words that need to be found. The favourite trick of highlighting anything that looks like a word has been thwarted by there being lots of words that aren't on the list - students lose a mark if they have highlighted an irrelevant word. Alternatively [or for another day] there's a spelling test. Answers make both tasks easy self-mark tasks.

Ideal task for World Space Week! Cover it! Descriptive writing, photo prompt, differentiated w/s, all printed, suits non-specialist. Sometimes you need a class just to get on with it, or you're supplying cover at short notice for a non-specialist - this series covers those times when it needs to be plain and simple on paper, but nonetheless needs to be worthwhile and relevant. In this task students have a picture and have to write a story inspired by it. There are 3 different levels - the simplest provides a frame and even some words to trace for those who can't write legibly and need help coming up with ideas. The next level up has just the prompts and the most able are challenged to go further with some story openings to inspire their creativity. The topic of this exercise is SPACE.