This is a 2/3 week unit and can be used alongside Talk for Writing and Power of Reading. The aim is to write a quest story using the tale of Jason and the the Golden Fleece to help structure their own quest story. It is suitable for Upper KS2 (Year 5 and Year 6) and works well with the history topic Ancient Greeks. It contains flipcharts for use with Activ Inspire.

This is a 2 week unit of work with planning, flipcharts and resources. It is based on writing a set of instructions with a creative theme. There is also a grammar focus on language and expanded noun phrases. It is suitable for Upper KS2 (Year 5 and Year 6) and is based around 2 weeks of Talk for Writing. This includes flipcharts for use with Activ Inspire.

This resource could be used in conjunction with Talk for Writing and is based on a Warning story. It is aimed at upper KS2 (Year 5 and Year 6) and includes grammar, (subordinate clauses) , speaking and listening tasks and how to create suspense. It focuses on the different types of openings and linking them with an ending. This includes flipcharts for use with Activ Inspire.

Wolf Brother is a fantastic book, suitable for upper KS2 (Year 5 and Year 6) and which ties in well with prehistory topics, including the Stone Age. I taught it through Power of Reading for 3 weeks and have provided planning, differentiated resources, links to the new curriculum, activ inspire flipcharts, some SMART board resources and powerpoints. I have also included extra resources that I have used over the years that link it with Art (sketching) and Music (performance). I have also used it to inspire a variety of genres and have provided some of these resources which can be used for poetry, non-chron reports, recounts, quest stories etc... A strong grammar focus also runs throughout the unit.

This is a powerpoint I used during an observed lesson and is suitable for KS2.

I love teaching children how to write creatively and have confidence with language. To help unlock their potential, we start every English lesson with a 'quick burst' write. I display an image (or it could be an object or video) and set a task ie. to describe the setting in first person. I may change the viewpoint, the person to extend the more able and set a grammar challenge to link with previous learning ie. to include 2 subordinate clauses in a sentence. The challenges may be differentiated and I have included some differentiated support sheets. Some children may need work banks. The children then have 5 mins to write. It is important that the teacher does it as well on a flipchart, modelling the teacher as a writer, this can also support the children as they can magpie ideas if they get stuck. We always have a few minutes to edit and improve and then share our writing with a few friends. The children love it and it provides a good warm up for the lesson ahead as well as consolidating previous learning.

A series of lessons that are based around the text 'One Thousand and One Arabian Nights' by Geraldine McCaughrean. This could be used as a Power of Reading text for upper KS2 (Year 6 or Year 5) and could support the history topic Early Islamic Civilisation. It includes a flipchart for each lesson and supporting resources. There is a large focus on grammar during this unit, particularly different sentence types. This includes flipcharts for use with Activ Inspire.

These are resources for 2 poetry lessons based on Silver by Walter de la Mare. They focus on descriptive language and adverbial phrases as a grammar link. The first session has a focus on reading and the author's choice of language and the effect it creates. It is suitable for Upper KS2 (Year 5 and Year 6). This contains flipcharts for use with Activ Inspire.

This is a lesson I taught as an exemplar lesson to inspire a class of Year 6 children, who struggled with imaginative and creative language. I used a variety of images to build up a word bank to help scaffold learning. Here are the resources I used.

Here are resources for a few days focusing on poetry, with a particular focus on language choice and the effect it creates. This could link with a reading lesson on author's purpose. I taught this before teaching an instructions unit on 'How to Defeat a Monster' and while studying our history topic of The Ancient Greeks. We also linked it to art by creating masks . It is suitable for Upper KS2 (Year 5 and Year 6). It contains flipcharts for use with Activ Inspire.

This is a week long unit that can be used in conjunction with Talk for Writing and is based on writing a set of instructions on How to Defeat a Monster. The unit is aimed at Upper KS2 (Year 5 and Year 6) and has resources for LA children. Their is a grammar focus with expanded noun phrases, semi-colons and relative clauses. It links well with DT and ICT units as children can design and make their own monster. My class really enjoyed this unit! This includes flipcharts for use with Activ Inspire.

This resource can be used for a few lessons focusing on language choice and the structure of poetry and the effect that can be created. It can be used with upper KS2 (Year 5 and Year 6). I wrote the poem and have found it particularly useful when showing how short sentences and a range of punctuation can be used to create an effect and how important the choice of viewpoint can be in a poem or story. It links well with Citizenship and Environmental issues. This includes a flipchart for Activ Inspire.

Here are a variety of writing assessment tasks that I used to assess my children's writing. They are suitable for KS2. I have included prompt sheets, activinspire flipcharts, differentiated targets and planning sheets. I did an independent writing task with my class every 2 weeks, with a specific area of focus ie. structure/language etc... This enabled me to have a clear understanding of their needs and keep on top of the assessment!!

There have been so many changes to the grammar curriculum recently, that it is important to keep staff updated on the changes and help support them in their delivery. I created this quiz for a staff meeting, so I could establish the gaps in knowledge in a fun way!

Here are resources for ideas for teaching persuasive writing. The first is a wanted poster - the search for the ultimate villain! I used X Men cartoons for inspiration, which can be found on Youtube. I've also included an interview lesson that I did on Alton Towers theme park. The resources are suitable for KS2. Have fun and by the way - I got the job!

This is a poetry lesson which is written from the viewpoint of a blue whale. It focuses on the importance of language choice and structure. It is suitable for upper KS2 and ties in well with topics concerning Environmental Awareness and Citizenship. I find poetry a great starting point for fiction writing.

Here is a week's planning based on non-chron reports about animals and ties in well with the topic evolution and adaptation for Year 5 and Year 6.

Speaking and listening is a crucial element of English and one that many children struggle with. As English coordinator, I created these language lists to help children structure arguments, explanations, discussions etc. They are from EYFS to Year 6 and are grouped by genre from the National Curriculum. My SEN and EAL children found them particularly useful!

I love teaching newspaper recounts, particularly with an imaginative twist! We spent the first week studying examples of good quality recounts; developing the necessary language and organisational skills and researching a natural disaster, which they then wrote about. The following week, we turned the classroom into a newsroom and wrote recounts on fairy tale characters eg. Goldilocks as a thief! I did it as an observed lesson and we had a great time! It's suitable for Year 5 or Year 6 and could be used to tie in to environmental issues/climate. I've included planning, flipcharts using Activ Inspire and resources.

I've always found it hard to find quality examples of writing for upper KS2, that include all the grammatical features and structures that fit with the English curriculum, therefore I have resorted to writing my own. Here are a range of fiction and non fiction often with an adapted text for my less able learners and some include a story map to link with Talk for Writing. I hope you enjoy using them as much as I enjoyed writing them!