A selection of resources for a first lesson on spoken language/speeches, using Wordles and active learning - visual, audio, and movement. Lesson objective: Understand that different types of speech can be made, and identify key indicators of purpose, audience, and context. Print and laminate the Wordles and display them around the room, numbering them clearly, then work your way through the 6 presentations for the whole lesson. I have had fantastic results using this for GCSE level English Language. If the videos fail to play (they are quite big files, exported from my original Keynote into PowerPoint!), then search YouTube for the speeches: when studying the spoken word - and especially in an introductory lesson like this - it is important that pupils listen to language, and don't just read transcriptions of it. They must gain experience of pace, tone, volume, and pauses in order to analyse effective use of spoken language. (I've also made a PowerPoint of 'Just Wordles' in case the embedded videos cause problems, and you could have another window open on YouTube with the videos open in different tabs, and then just swap between the presentation and the browser - I had to do this once when the school's IT systems were playing up!) As an English teacher, I also kept these up in my classroom afterwards as inspirational posters.

KS3 novel - randomly allocate a character from the novel to each pupil (or also works in pairs, depending on ability), then get them to use this worksheet to develop deeper understanding of character. A nice follow-up extension is to work this into a Speaking and Listening class presentation for Key Skill Communication assessment.

A differentiated starter on facts/opinion when introducing language techniques (persuasion). Use the polar bear questions first, and high achievers can move on to Shakespeare (or allow pupils the choice at the start). Also includes a handout on Rule of Three. I designed this for use at KS3, but then, teaching lower-ability classes at GCSE, it came in very useful as a resource for language study in all kinds of units: multi-modal/media texts; speaking and listening writing own speeches; the study of spoken language; reading non-fiction; and functional writing.

Four handouts, prepared for KS5 study of Heaney's translation of Sophocles' Antigone, The Burial at Thebes, detailing Classical Theatre and Drama, as well as Greek gods and tyrants.

A pdf for handout or presentation on formal letters, and a detailed look at play scripts and how to format them, using two exemplars (one of which is from a past pupil). I have used both of these formats to differentiate GCSE English Language creative writing: for pupils who struggle with story structure, they can write a series of letters, or a letter and a reply, based upon characters they know from novels they've studied. Scriptwriting is excellent for gifted and talented pupils who find short story composition not challenging enough. Drama pupils will also benefit from the analysis in the scriptwriting section of how setting and stage directions function. This will aid GCSE and A-level pupils compose their own scripts (I adapted this from a course I taught in first-year university). For KS3 Communication, I used this letter-writing framework for final assessment on novel (so, can be adapted to mark either Reading or Writing as a Key Curriculum Skill).

Two past-pupil GCSE creative writing exemplars and a detailed peer-evaluation grid. Can be used for GCSE, but I've also adapted for KS3 writing (just change the theme in the grid from 'change' to whatever applies to your unit!).

A pdf to be used as a class presentation (or could be adapted to handout format!), based upon Christopher Vogler's work on mythic structures and the 12 stages of the archetypal hero's journey, to enable pupils to understand and create structure. I have illustrated each stage with examples. Particularly suited to GCSE creative writing, but I have also taught at KS3, and even used this in after-school creative writing club to compose fairytales.

A series of resources in one presentation to teach the narrative theories of Todorov, Propp, and Barthes so that pupils can understand structure in texts. Theories are illustrated with specific examples of writing that embody Todorov's theory of equilibrium, Propp's eight character roles, and Barthes' concept of enigma. Particularly suited to English and English Language GCSE, but I have also used for GCSE Media Studies, and taught this to KS3 classes for Key Skill Communication final assessment in writing.

A 31-page resource containing 14 poem comparison (AO4) grids for the Frost & Heaney anthology, including notes on situation of speaker (AO1), tone and poetic methods (AO2), and context (AO3) for the new CCEA English Literature specification. The grid format can be employed as a basis for first lessons on each of the poems, and should be used to gather quotations and write analysis. Alternatively, pupils may use the resource independently in order to plan an essay framework for practice exam questions. These are also extremely useful at the end of the course for revision purposes, where pupils use the class notes that they have made whilst studying AS1 to complete the grids from memory, as effective exam preparation.

A study map each on the possible AS1 examination question themes of Poetic Inspiration ('Personal Helicon' by Heaney and 'After Apple-picking' by Frost) and The Creative Process ('The Forge' by Heaney and 'Mowing' by Frost) on the new CCEA English Literature specification. These resources should be annotated by pupils and used to produce analysis of quotations and essay plans/frameworks after studying the poems.

A study map each on the possible AS1 examination question themes of The Night ('Had I Not Been Awake' by Heaney and 'Acquainted with the Night' by Frost) and Self Discovery ('Birches' by Frost and 'Personal Helicon' by Heaney) on the new CCEA English Literature specification. These resources should be used by pupils to locate quotations and produce analysis after studying the poems in comparison, in preparation for framing an essay plan and writing practice exam essays.

A study map on each of the possible AS1 examination question themes of Journeys ('Postscript' by Heaney and 'Acquainted with the Night' by Frost), and Landscapes ('Desert Places' by Frost and 'Bogland' by Heaney) on the new CCEA English Literature specification. These should be annotated by pupils with analysis and quotations after studying each of the poems.

Two study maps to be annotated with quotations from the poems and pupils' analysis, covering the possible AS1 examination question themes of The Past ('Mending Wall' by Robert Frost, and 'The Forge' and 'Bogland' by Seamus Heaney), and Childhood Experiences ('The Railway Children' by Heaney and 'Out- Out' by Frost).

Two study maps on the possible AS1 examination question theme of Rural Life or Work, relevant to the new CCEA English Literature Poetry 1900-Present specification (Frost and Heaney anthology).

A study map on the possible CCEA AS1 English Literature examination question theme of Nature, which can be used as a presentation on the board to guide discussion, or adapted as a revision resource to be annotated by pupils. The theme is considered in relation to the poems Postscript' by Seamus Heaney, and 'Gathering Leaves' and 'Going for Water' by Robert Frost.

A presentation and handout for studying 3 of the poems on the new CCEA AS English Literature specification: 'Acquainted with the Night' and 'Out- Out' by Robert Frost, as well as 'The Summer of Lost Rachel' by Seamus Heaney, under the possible examination theme of grief, loss or death.

A presentation, handout, and detailed notes on the Robert Frost poem 'Gathering Leaves', in the new CCEA AS English Literature specification.

A presentation and handout for a lesson on the poem 'Into my Own' by Robert Frost, one of the poems on the new CCEA AS English Literature specification.

A lesson presentation and a set of research questions on the Heaney poem 'The Summer of Lost Rachel', one of the poems on the new CCEA AS English Literature specification.

A presentation and handout on 'The Conway Stewart', one of the Seamus Heaney poems in the new CCEA English Literature AS specification.