A lesson on ‘The Prelude’ for lower ability learners. It includes: Multiple choice starter based on the Romantic Movement What is ‘The Prelude’? Context sheet + tasks Suggested annotations for lower ability learners True or false to test understanding Comparison task with ‘Storm on the Island’ Review

A lesson on John Agard’s ‘Checking Out Me History’ aimed at lower ability learners. It includes: Do Now task (shown on cover slide) Contextual information regarding the historical figures and events referenced in the poem, with corresponding worksheet. Link to relevant video + the meaning of ‘Eurocentric’ Quotation Hunt + Challenge Task Imagery in the poem worksheet Comparison table to complete with ‘My Last Duchess’ in terms of the presentation of the abuse of power. Review learning with challenge question.

A PPT that teaches ‘My Last Duchess’ from the Power and Conflict Anthology. It covers: The contextual background What is a dramatic monologue? The poem, broken down into manageable chunks and annotated. A series of questions for group work. Suitable for upper-middle ability learners. An alternative lesson for the same poem is available here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/my-last-duchess-11933556

This lesson enables learners to explore ‘Kamikaze’ by Beatrice Garland. It includes: Lesson Starter (see cover image) An image of the sinking US Arizona with the question, ‘When do you think this photograph was taken’? Learners discuss and then feedback. A context sheet contained a simplified explanation of the Pearl Harbour attack and the rise of Kamikaze pilots. There is a corresponding worksheet for this. A link to a BBC interview with a surviving Kamikaze pilot with three questions to answer. A sheet of questions to prompt annotation of the poem. The lesson is aimed at lower ability learners whose primary goal is understanding.

A double-sided, detailed context sheet for ‘A Christmas Carol’. As this doesn’t seem to show on the preview, the reverse side of the sheet contains a section on working conditions in the Victorian age and the ideas of Thomas Malthus. There is an accompanying worksheet on which students can write their notes. If preferred, these resources can be purchased as part of a larger unit of work on Stave One: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-christmas-carol-stave-one-11996048

A lesson on Imtiaz Dharker’s ‘Tissue’ for lower ability learners. It includes: Do Now Task (see cover image) Keywords Task: architect, transparent, monolith and sepia. Learners look at a six images and suggest which keyword they represent. This worksheet is best printed in colour or at least projected at the time of use. Contextual information with ‘How far do you agree with these statements?’ worksheet Storyboarding the poem worksheet (learners insert quotes) Analysing three quotations task Comparison with ‘Ozymandias’ table Learning Review

A two-page guide to writing a discursive essay. The topics covered are: The purpose and content of the introduction The role of topic sentences Different forms of evidence Concluding sentences The use of counterargument The content and purpose of the conclusion This revision sheet is suitable for upper-ability learners at GCSE.

This is a ‘crash course’ in Act Five aimed at lower ability learners who need to get through the text quite quickly. It includes: An overview of Act 5 (see cover image) with tasks. Scene summaries for Scenes 1, 5 and 8. A storyboard for learners to fill in for Scenes 1 and 8. On a basic level, they can use the scene summaries to create captions for each scene, although you can increase the challenge by removing the quotations as well. An activity which encourages learners to contrast the presentation of Lady Macbeth in Acts 1-3 with the sleepwalking scene. A focus on Macbeth’s ‘Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow’ speech. Learners number the images according to when they appear in the speech. These resources were created for low-ability learners who only had a limited amount of time in which to approach Act 5. However, you could use these as starters or revision tasks for more able learners.

A lesson on Ted Hughes’ ‘Bayonet Charge’ for lower ability learners, It includes: Starter - a short explanation of what a bayonet is and how they were used in WW1. Learners then answer ‘Why do you think the bayonet was considered to be a suitable weapon for infantry attacks?’ Feedback slide Basic contextual information about the poet. A link to a relevant YouTube video Learners then read the poem and use choose quotations to caption six images on a storyboard depicting the main events of the poem. This is followed by a worksheet in which learners are asked to make three basic comparisons with ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ (this will have to have been covered beforehand). The table is partly filled in. Review

Aimed at middle-upper ability GCSE groups, this PowerPoint teaches the layout and language of a formal letter. It is oriented towards AQA 8700/2/Question 5 but could be adapted for other boards. In order, the PowerPoint contents are: A multiple-choice entry task AQA advice on features of format A sample AQA-style question. Students identify PAF and reflect on the importance of being mindful of PAF in relation to Question 5. Extension task included. The layout of a formal letter, which students copy. Extension questions included. Notes regarding the formal greeting and formal sign-off A re-cap on the features of formal and informal language. Students cut the features out, organise them under two headings and stick them into their books. An example response to the given question. Students read and identify different features (differentiated) An opportunity for independent writing, with success criteria provided. Peer assessment and self-reflection. These files were last saved in Office 2010.

This assessment tracker uses the 2023 grade boundaries for AQA 8700 Paper 1 and 2 (English Language). It will generate a grade for Sections A and B of both papers and arrive at an overall grade for each paper and the whole course. Please email me using the address on my store front if you would like any adjustments made to your tracker, e.g. additional columns. A small charge may be incurred depending on how long the work will take. However, simply amendments will be made for free. Please do not send any pupil data when requesting adjustments.

Learners should cut up and match the descriptive techniques to the correct examples, focusing in on the emboldened words and phrases.

This lesson focuses on the creation of interesting and believable characters. It is aimed at lower ability KS3 and follows on from the ‘Developing Skills in Creative Writing’ series: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/developing-skills-in-creative-writing-12079150 However, it can stand alone. Lesson Structure: Do Now Task - see cover image Feedback slide How many of the following statements in relation to fictional characters do you think are true or false? Feedback slide The importance of creative interesting and believable characters, with two examples. The major ‘Do’s’ and ‘Do Not’s’ of character creation Character planning worksheet task Tell a friend about your character Write an extract from your character’s story, with WAGOLL. The WAGOLL is about a penguin who has never learnt to swim. Peer Assessment Review

This lesson is aimed at middle-upper ability learners and focuses on broadsheet article writing for AQA English Language 8700/2. The questions is: “Those who are obese have nobody to blame but themselves.” Write an article for a broadsheet newspaper in which you explain your point of view on this statement. The lesson includes: Do Now Task: learners use their general knowledge to match seven health-related terms to their definitions. Teacher answers provided. Extension task included. Feedback slide For the following slides, learners use a designated note-taking sheet to record information on: Key points about AQA Question 5, Paper 2 What an AQA Paper 2, Question 5 will look like The basic differences between broadsheets, tabloids and the middle-market dailies The difference between an article and a news report Broadsheet readers Layout features of an article (heading, strapline, lead photo, by-line and date + main body) Basic language requirements of a broadsheet article From this point on: Learners look at the question again and come up with arguments for and against the statement. Feedback slide They then consider what makes a good heading, with several made-up examples What is the strapline? (Example provided) The internal structure of an article e.g. introduction, main body with PEC (point, evidence and comment) paragraphs, counterargument and conclusion. Learners take notes on a designated sheet A WAGOLL The writing task is set for homework (basic planning sheet included) Review Initially, I wrote one WAGOLL and it turned out to be too long, so I shortened it! Both are included. The shortened version has been broken up into sections on PPT slides, which you can print out and use as a carousel and group work activity, if you wish.

A ready-to-go lesson on ‘Remains’ in the P&C Anthology. It is aimed at low ability learners whose primary goal is understanding the poem. The lesson includes: A starter that encourages learners to think about PTSD and how they might advise someone who is showing symptoms of PTSD Feedback slide What is trauma? What events could be considered traumatic? Discuss in pairs. Feedback slide with link to YouTube video A storyboarding activity in which learners read the poem and then label the nine scenes with quotations from the poem. This comes with two additional challenge tasks. A straightforward comparison table with ‘Poppies’, by Jane Weir, on the subject of internal conflict. Review. A free lesson on ‘Poppies’ can be found here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/poppies-for-lower-ability-12073600 You may wish to undertake this lesson before moving onto ‘Remains’.

A PowerPoint that covers leaflet writing for GCSE. It is aimed at middle-ability learners working towards an extended response to a task such as ‘Write the text of a leaflet for…’ The lesson covers the purpose and structure of a leaflet Persuasive language features (FOREST) Modal and imperative verbs. Leaflets with a multi purpose. There is an extended writing task at the end where learners have to work out the purpose and audience for themselves. These files were last saved in Office 2016. An alternative to this lesson is available here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/leaflet-writing-for-gcse-public-transport-safety-12002132

A mind map for AQA English Language Paper 2. Black and White version also included.

A powerpoint that teaches Duffy's 'War Photographer'. Suitable for GCSE English Literature.

This is Birling's early capitalist speech, annotated in Active Inspire. There are two slides. Please ensure you have access to Active Inspire software before you download.

Two revision clocks on PowerPoint slides: one blank and the other tailored to ‘Macbeth’.