This unit includes a series of 11 plus, reading passages from well-known literary works, along with comprehension assessments tailored for dyslexic 11 plus students or students with additional needs such as autism or ADHD. The key features are:
Dyslexia-Friendly Design: The texts and activities are formatted to be accessible for students with dyslexia, including the use of double spacing and different colors for syllables in multisyllabic words.
Focus on Key Vocabulary: It highlights challenging words from the texts, breaking them down into syllables to aid spelling and pronunciation practice.
Key Phrases for Practice: Select phrases are provided for students to rehearse, enhancing their understanding of language use and meaning.
Comprehension Questions: Each text is followed by a series of questions designed to assess students’ understanding and analytical skills. These questions include identifying literary techniques, discussing the use of language, and continuing narratives using descriptive language. The comprehension assessment is in a similar format to the 11 plus exam.
Understanding Metaphor, Simile, and Personification
This resource focuses on the use of figurative language, specifically metaphors, similes, and personification, within literary texts, a key feature of the 11 plus assessment. The key aspects include:
Definitions and Examples: Clear explanations of metaphors, similes, and personification are provided, along with examples from literature.
Analytical Questions: The document includes questions that prompt students to identify and analyze the use of these figurative language elements in given passages. This helps in developing a deeper understanding of how authors use language to convey meaning and create imagery.
Practice Tasks: Students are encouraged to find their own examples and create sentences using metaphors, similes, and personification, fostering creativity and application skills.
These resources are designed to enhance literary comprehension and critical thinking skills among students with additional needs, making them well-prepared for the analytical demands of the 11 plus Examinations.
Do your GCSE, English Literature students struggle with Shakespeare? This “Romeo and Juliet” educational package is designed specifically for GCSE English Literature students, especially those with additional needs like dyslexia. It can be difficult to understand the language and themes of this classic play, so I have created resources that break the play down into manageable, engaging parts.
What’s Inside:
Simplified Summaries: Clear and concise summaries of each act and scene, written in accessible language to help students grasp the plot without getting bogged down by Shakespearean English. Each section is accompanied with a key word activity to help them read the sections more easily.
Character Outlines: Detailed character outlines with key words highlighted. Each character is accompanied with a visual prompt.
Detailed Essay Plans: Step-by-step essay plans on key themes such as fate, love, societal conflict, and the role of authority. These plans include topic sentences, evidence, and detailed analyses to help students structure their essays effectively. Students can use the plans to help write their own responses.
Interactive Quizzes: Fun and interactive quizzes to test comprehension and reinforce learning. Perfect for revision and self-assessment.
Visual Aids: Helpful visual aids that highlight important characters, themes, and plot points to aid visual learners.
Special Features for Dyslexic Students: A glossary section and structured notes support students with dyslexia and other additional needs in their learning journey.
The package is crafted with the understanding that every student learns differently. “Romeo and Juliet Made Easy” is invaluable for mastering this timeless tragedy and helps make Shakespeare accessible and enjoyable for struggling students. It provides an excellent support for students wanting to catch up over the Summer.
This GCSE, English Literature resource provides an extract and a comprehension from Chapter 2 of Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel, “Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde”. The extract delves into Mr. Utterson’s troubled thoughts and the nightmarish visions that plague him as he grapples with the mystery surrounding Mr. Hyde.
There is a set of 12 questions designed to test students’ understanding of the passage, focusing on the imagery, character descriptions, and thematic elements.
Example questions include:
What recurring images does the lawyer see in his dreams?
How does the lawyer describe Mr. Hyde’s face?
What does the lawyer hope to achieve by seeing Mr. Hyde’s face?
An essay question prompts students to discuss how Stevenson presents the themes of duality and the nature of evil in this extract and throughout the novel.
Guidance is provided for structuring the answer, including an introduction to the themes, analysis of the extract, comparison with other parts of the novel, and a concluding summary.
This resource is ideal for GCSE students studying “Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde”. It encourages critical thinking and detailed analysis of key themes and characters in the novel. The comprehension questions and essay prompts help students engage with the text at a deeper level, fostering a better understanding of Stevenson’s literary techniques and thematic explorations.
For more Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde resources, including a study guide, visit my Shop.
This comprehensive, GCSE, English Literature study guide is specifically designed to support dyslexic learners and learners with additional needs in their study of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel, “The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.” Aimed at enhancing understanding and accessibility for their GCSE, English Literature course , this resource ensures that all students, regardless of their reading challenges, can navigate and appreciate the complexities of the text.
Tailored to accommodate the unique learning needs of dyslexic students, the guide employs a pale yellow background, dyslexia friendly fonts with key words highlighted, simplified language, and structured formats to facilitate comprehension.
It includes an in depth plot summary, character overview with visuals , themes and discussion questions and key vocabulary - each word/phrase divided into syllables.
Ten carefully crafted booklets break down the novel into manageable sections, each focusing on key extracts to maintain the narrative’s essence while easing the reading load.
Carefully selected key extracts from each chapter are provided. Comprehension questions follow each extract, designed to reinforce understanding and critical thinking, allowing students to engage deeply with the text at their own pace.
This differentiated study guide for “The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde” is an invaluable tool for educators seeking to provide an inclusive and effective learning experience for dyslexic students, ensuring that all learners have the opportunity to succeed in their GCSE course and enjoy this timeless literary work.
This dyslexia friendly, functional skills writing workbook includes a structured approach to improve writing by using model answers, questionnaires, plans and colour-coded spelling of key words. The questions are focused on improving a park and reviewing a visit to an amusement park.
Each section begins with typical writing questions on the Functional Skills (AQA) Paper.
To engage students, questionnaires and discussion questions are provided to help students develop their ideas. This will also support the speaking and listening element of the exam.
There are colour coded words to aid the spelling and reading of key words related to the questions. This is aimed to support students with additional needs and has proved an effective way to support dyslexics due to the visual elements involved.
There are two model answers - one aimed at Level One and another at Level Two. This is provided to differentiate for those who show progress in their writing.
A scheme accompanies this unit and provides additional ideas to support teaching.
This is an invaluable resource to deliver the writing element of the Functional Skills exam.
This GCSE, Power and Conflict (AQA, English Literature) resource contains a mind map for each of the poems.
Each colourful slide provides an overview of every poem in the anthology (15 in total) There is a section dedicated to the subject of the poem and the purpose for writing (something low to mid ability students find problematic).
There are also sections dedicated to metaphors, language devices and symbols. Each slide lists small quotes from the poem.
As well as this there is a section which provides evaluative language and reader response emotions so that GCSE students can use more ambituous vocabulary.
Colourful and visually appealing, the mind maps give students an invaluable overview of each poem. The resource is an excellent way to summarise the teaching of each poem and will also offer an effective revision aid!
Ideal for GCSE, English Literature, the pack contains resources to support students with additional needs access A Christmas Carol for AQA examination. It contains a drama version of the text, a study guide, key vocabulary and numerous language based activities.
The drama unit contains a play version of key moments from each Stave and allows students who learn best using ‘hands on on learning’ study the novella.
The study guide contains information on key themes, characters, key quotations and vocabulary. It is accompanied by a more in depth quotation booklet.
There is also an additional vocabulary pack with key, colour coded words which help students discuss and write about each character,
The pack provides a host of resources to support students who struggle to understand this key, AQA, examination text!
The unit is aimed to teach Bayonet Charge and Exposure from the Power and Conflict Anthology (AQA). Ideal for students with dyslexia and other additional needs, the pack - based on Bayonet Charge and Exposure - includes colour coded - key words, essay plans, model essays and language activities to help understand these two poems.
The colour-coded words help students learn to remember, read, spell and understand the language needed to write meaningfully about the poems.
A range of language activities help comprehend the poem and lead into writing an essay. There is a model essay on Bayonet Charge and an essay plan to compare Bayonet Charge and Exposure.
Finally, I have included a brief study guide on all 15 poems! This contains an overview, key quotes and a quick analysis. There are a series of imaginary monologues delivered by the poets to understand the purpose for writing the poems.
The unit will provide everything you need to write about Bayonet Charge and Exposure as well as helping students learn about all 15 poems!
Ideal for preparation for GCSE English Language, AQA - Paper 2, Q4, this unit has two extracts, an exam question based on Q4 and a marking rubric.
The rubric focuses on the use of narrative voice and tone to convey a message.
The two texts are based on ‘Litter Picking’ - one from Victorian times and one modern.
Having used the resource with my students, it has been successful and exploring the use of narrative voice.
This Paper 2, Question 5 (AQA), English Language resource contains a comprehensive list of writing viewpoint and perspective topics, 13 sample essays and a marking rubric . It provides lots of discussion questions on a wide range of topics that are often tested in the GCSE, English Language exam paper.
The Persuasive Topics booklet is full of discussion question aimed to deepen understanding of controversial topics such as Fast Food and Advertising, Lowering the Age of Voting, Social Media Use and many others. It is an 80 page booklet packed with informative content, including the Pros and Cons of each topic and useful questions.
The Model Essay booklet contains 13 sample essays on a range of controversial issues which can be analysed and discussed using the Marking Rubric.
The Marking Rubric is a generic scheme which identifies the features of an effective introduction, main body and conclusion.
The Unit is an invaluable resource to deliver sessions on Writer’s Viewpoints and Perspectives as well as offering a handy revision guide!
These GCSE, English Language Courses target the elements need to succeed at GCSE level. It is suitable for SEN and ESL students who are able but lack the language skills needed to progress.
The Reading course includes exercises on the use of topic sentences and other sentence types needed to write a coherent reading response paragraph/essay. It incorporates explanations of the stages and features of a well written paragraph.
The Vocabulary Course is based on the Academic word list which outlines key words used in the kind of texts students will need to read at GCSE level. It will also improve their writing by allowing them to develop the use of academic words. Included are visual prompts and speaking and listening activities to help understand the words.
Designed to develop sentence structure, the Grammar in Context Course outlines sentence types required in narrative, persuasive and argumentative writing.There are speaking and listening activities, visual prompts and opportunities to practice writing in the unit.
Finally, I have included a SATs vocabulary course which you will receive for free. This can be used with SEN and ESL students, or as a useful course for Year 7 students.
The courses are an effective way of helping under achieving students progress. They can delivered as part of lessons, or as interventions.
This free lesson uses a football story to engage KS2 and KS3 students about persuasive writing. It is also suitable for lower ability SEN and ESL students at GCSE level.
The story is about a footballer who adopts a pet dog. It outlines the benefits he receives from the relationship with his beloved pet. After a story there is a comprehension activity.
Finally, there is a persuasive, writing activity about adopting a pet and a checklist for marking.
This AQA, English Language resource focuses on the text structure question (Q3)found in Paper One. It provides explanation texts to cover subject specific terminology such as focus, flashback, foreshadowing etc, along with quizzes and comprehension activities.
It contains texts, model responses and detailed mark schemes to help students understand how to write a reading response answer for this question. The texts are broken down into paragraph sections to enable a step by step approach.
The explanation texts to explain subject terminology are followed by comprehension tasks to ensure understanding of the terms and there are quizzes to further embed the definitions.
A separate unit is devoted to flashback with a text and an AQA style question.
The unit has proved successful in providing students with the knowledge and language needed to successfully respond to what can be a challenging part of the reading paper!
It is suitable for GCSE, English Language students who struggle to express their ideas using the correct terminology and structure and will be an excellent revision programme in the run up to the exams.
Suitable for GCSE students who struggle with sentence structure and grammatical expression, this English Language Course - suitable for all exam boards - teaches the sentence types needed to write a range of genres. It supports the GCSE Writing Questions - Narrative/Descriptive and Persuasive/Argumentative.
Using cause and effect conjunctions and phrases, The Grammar in Context Unit (Persuasive and Argumentative), provides a range of cause and effect sentence openers such as, SINCE, DUE TO, AS A RESULT and WHEN. It has exercises to practice these sentence types using different contexts for writing at GCSE. There is a Speaking and Listening prompt series of questions to support this.
For narrative, the second unit presents sentence openers that make a descriptive text successful. Students are provided with an opportunity to write using sentence openers that focus on location, mood or action. Alongside this there is an assessment using engaging visual storystrips.
The unit is an effective and research based way of explicitly teach sentence structure across a range of genres typically assessed at GCSE. It is a useful resource for SENCOs, English Teachers and Teaching Assistants. It can be used as a standalone course or as part of lessons on GCSE English writing.
The pack is ideal for GCSE, English Literature students studying Macbeth and is differentiated for students with additional needs.
It contains model essay gap fill activities based on six essays with key words colour coded and a plan to help students plan independent essays based on extracts from Act One.
It also contains resources to teach Act 1, Scene 2 and Act 2, Scene 1 in an engaging way - ideal for reluctant learners. Each of these packs contains a ‘Gangster’ version of the scene, an illustrated, original scene along with quizzes and comic strips to aid understanding.
I am providing a unit on Key Metaphors in Macbeth for free! (Usually costs £3.89)
These resources are differentiated to support students with additional needs and have proved successful in raising attainment!
This unit is designed for GCSE, English Literature - Macbeth. It focuses on Act 1, Scene 2 and engages students who struggle with the content and language.
There is a Macbeth, rap poem to summarise the plot, as well as a modern gangster version of the scene. The genre of a gangster scene has been successful in engaging reluctant students!
After they read the modern version there are multiple choice quizzes to help students summarise the plot of the scene and understand the main characters.
The second resource contains a key quotation, colouring activity to aid memory and the original version with comic book style illustrations. The second resources finishes with a comic strip of the Macbeth soliloquy. Students are required to write down what he said.
Full of engaging images and content, the unit is an excellent way to engage SEN and ESL students and help them understand Act 2, Scene 1!
This unit is designed for GCSE, English Literature - Macbeth. It focuses on Act 1, Scene 2 and engages students who struggle with the content and language.
There is a Macbeth, rap poem to summarise the plot, as well as a modern gangster version of the scene. The genre of a gangster scene has been successful in engaging reluctant students!
After they read the modern version there are multiple choice quizzes to help students summarise the plot of the scene and understand the main characters.
The second resource contains a key quotation, colouring activity to aid memory and the original version with comic book style illustrations. The second resources finishes with a comic strip of the sergeant approaching King Duncan. Students are required to write down what he said.
Full of engaging images and content, the unit is an excellent way to engage SEN and ESL students and help them understand Act 1, Scene 2!
This GCSE, Vocabulary course focuses on the academic words needed to succeed in the GSCE, English Language course. It is suitable for GCSE students, often with a good verbal ability, who struggle to express their language using formal language.
There is a section focused on targeted words from the Academic Word List. It contains speaking and listening activities, gap fill tasks and an explanation of the body language and facial expression linked with some of the words. This should aid narrative writing.
It also contains graphic organisers to analyse key meanings and story examples to help learn key words.
There is an assessment to help understand if students have grasped the key vocabulary.
Also included are a reading and wordsearch activity and discussion questions.
Finally, there are two units to explore how to write about vocabulary in a GCSE examination.
I have also added a free vocabulary unit - Reading Response - Analysing Situations! This will provide you with a list of words to analyse situations.
The course is excellent for English coordinators, SENCOs and TAs who want to run targeted groups for students who are verbally strong but struggle to use academic language. Since vocabulary is a key component of comprehension and writing, the course has proved successful in helping underachieving GCSE English Language students succeed!
This GCSE, English Literature Unit contains all the resources you need to teach An Inspector Calls!
It contains writing frames, model essays, vocabulary activities, a play summary poem, comprehensions and much more!
To help students who struggle to understand the play, there is a poem to summarise the plot along with a comprehension.
There is a presentation on the relationship between Birling and The Inspector which contains key topic sentences, a model essay and an assessment.
Another presentation explores the characters and contains a summary of their role in the play, along with key quotations and an example essay which is colour coded to highlight each stage.
A suggested writing frame is provided along with an example of how to use this.
The unit is particularly useful for SEN and ESL pupils who struggle to express their ideas, although it would also be invaluable for mainstream students.
The unit offers excellent value and will provide you with a wide range of resources to teach the play!
This graded, GCSE, English Language unit uses a story and a picture as a way to help students understand some of the consequences of heavy traffic. The student uses these prompts to write a persuasive article about have a no car zone near school.
There are also two model letters, one formal and one informal, to show students how they could structure a GCSE writing task.
The resource is also useful for KS3 and KS2 English students.