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Introducing a comprehensive and versatile resource for students and teachers delving into the intricacies of “Philadelphia, Here I Come!” This meticulously crafted collection comprises various documents tailored to facilitate a thorough understanding of the play, catering to both Ordinary Level (OL) and Higher Level (HL) courses. Cultural Context Table (Editable Doc): This document provides an editable table focusing on cultural context, offering space to incorporate notes specific to “Philadelphia, Here I Come!” and seamlessly adaptable for integration with one or two additional texts studied for the 2024 Leaving Certificate. Themes Exploration (PDF): A detailed exploration of five key themes, marked specifically for HL and OL. Covering themes such as Isolation, Freedom, Desire for a better life, relationships and family dynamics, and identity, this resource aids in a nuanced understanding of the play’s underlying concepts. Quote Flashcards (PDF): Featuring 26 carefully selected quotes, each flashcard delineates the theme related to the quote, its relevance to a specific mode on the comparative course, an insightful analysis, and guidance on the types of questions the quote can effectively answer. Key Moments Overview (PDF): A concise one-page revision document highlighting nine pivotal moments in the play, elucidating the significance of each moment. Ideal for last-minute revision and exam preparation. Revision Notes (PDF): A comprehensive 15-page document encompassing play summaries, historical context, a condensed exam preparation page, and in-depth character analyses. A valuable resource for students seeking a holistic overview of the play. Character Charts (PDF): Double-sided charts designed for brainstorming answers to key character-related questions. Facilitating group work, exam skill practice, and detailed character studies. Ordinary Level and Higher Level Tests (PDF): Tailored tests for both OL and HL students, featuring 15 questions with designated spaces for answers. The OL test includes accessible questions, while the HL test incorporates critical thinking essay-style questions. This resource pack is thoughtfully curated to enhance the teaching and learning experience, providing a multifaceted approach to understanding “Philadelphia, Here I Come!” at various levels of depth and complexity. It serves as a valuable tool for exam preparation, classroom activities, and collaborative study sessions.

This scheme of work covers the academic year and includes a diverse range of texts and activities to engage and develop students’ language skills. It encompasses poetry, drama, novels, short stories, oral texts, and written communication. The curriculum aims to enhance critical thinking, language proficiency, and a deep appreciation for literature and communication skills. It is divided into thematic units with specific learning outcomes and assessments.

“Boland makes effective use of symbols and metaphors to explore personal experiences and deliver penetrating truths about society.” (2017 Paper)

"Poet Biography Project: Understanding the Poet’s World This engaging project invites students to delve into the lives and backgrounds of renowned poets, gaining valuable insights into the context that shaped their poetry. Working in groups of four or five, students are tasked with researching an assigned poet and presenting their findings on an A3 sheet of paper. Key Objectives: Contextual Understanding: Explore the poet’s family background, upbringing, influences, and beliefs to comprehend the environment in which their poetry evolved. Biographical Details: Include the poet’s birth and death dates where applicable. Fostering Research Skills: Encourage students to conduct thorough research to create informative presentations. Classroom Display: Projects will be collected, with the best ones featured prominently in the classroom. Friendly Competition: Students will have the chance to compete, and the group with the most projects displayed at the end of the year will receive a prize. This resource not only enhances students’ knowledge of poetry but also cultivates research and presentation skills. It offers an exciting opportunity for creative exploration and deeper comprehension of the poets whose work they’ll encounter throughout the year."

Class test (1hr class) The test comprises five sections, each addressing specific aspects of William Shakespeare’s play “The Merchant of Venice.” Section 1: Plot Structure Requires identifying the key components of Freytag’s Pyramid (Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Denouement) within the play. Specific examples from the text are requested to support the identification of each component. Section 2: Character Relationships Focuses on the relationship between Antonio and Shylock, inquiring how this relationship contributes to the overall conflict in the play. A separate question explores the impact of the friendship between Bassanio and Antonio on the plot and characters. Section 3: Tension in a Scene Asks for an analysis of the scene with the most tension in the play. The student is prompted to describe the setting, characters involved, factors contributing to the tension, and how the tension is ultimately resolved within that scene. Section 4: Themes Explores the themes of mercy and justice in the play. It asks for examples of characters or scenes embodying these themes and how they contribute to the overall message of the play. Another question addresses the impact of prejudice on Shylock and his interactions with others. Section 5: Key Plot Details Examines the significance of the casket test within the play, focusing on its impact on the plot and characters. Another question prompts students to recall the events leading up to the courtroom scene and analyze how the trial affects the characters and resolves the play’s conflicts. Overall, the test aims to evaluate students’ understanding of the plot structure, character relationships, thematic elements, and significant plot details within “The Merchant of Venice.” Students are required to provide specific examples and detailed explanations to demonstrate their comprehension of the play’s nuances and themes. Revision Notes Document: The revision notes serve as a study guide summarising essential themes, character dynamics, key scenes, and their significance within the play. It explores and analyses various elements, including the relationship between Antonio and Shylock, the impact of friendship between Bassanio and Antonio, themes of mercy and justice, the concept of prejudice and its effects on Shylock, the significance of the casket test, and the pivotal courtroom scene. Both documents collectively provide a comprehensive resource for students preparing for the Junior Certificate exam. The test offers a structured way to assess students’ understanding of the play’s narrative structure, while the revision notes consolidate key themes, character relationships, and significant scenes, aiding in a deeper understanding and analysis of the text.

A detailed plan to cover first year English.

This resource is designed to assist English students and teachers in enhancing their question-answering skills by following the structured PQE approach. The resource is divided into sections that cover the fundamentals of this writing method. It includes explanations, practical tips, and examples to help users develop effective responses to questions. This valuable resource can aid both students and teachers in the classroom, empowering them to craft well-supported and reasoned answers.

Description: This resource comprises ten informative slides designed to help Leaving Certificate students effectively approach Question B on their exam paper. Question B is a critical component of the examination, and this resource offers a concise yet comprehensive overview of how to tackle it successfully.

**A Structured Study Aid for Higher Level Leaving Certificate English ** This annotation guide for Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan is designed to help Higher Level Leaving Certificate students engage critically with the novel, specifically through the Cultural Context and General Vision & Viewpoint comparative study modes. What’s Included? Chapter-by-Chapter Annotations – Key passages are highlighted with insights into cultural and historical context as well as the novel’s overall tone and vision. Detailed Explanations of Key Quotes – Passages are broken down to explore themes, symbolism, and their relevance to CC and GVV. Cultural Context Analysis – Examines 1980s Ireland, class divisions, religious influence, and societal attitudes that shape the characters’ experiences. General Vision & Viewpoint Discussion – Identifies the novel’s tone, moral dilemmas, and underlying messages, helping students form strong comparative links. Student-Friendly Language – Clear, accessible explanations support comprehension and deeper analysis. Who Is It For? Teachers – A structured teaching resource for exploring Small Things Like These through CC and GVV. Students – A useful reference guide for annotation, revision, and exam preparation. Comparative Study Candidates – Helps students connect key themes and perspectives for their comparative essay. This annotation guide provides structured analysis of Small Things Like These to support classroom discussion, independent study, and exam success. Download now to deepen your students’ understanding of the novel!

This Ordinary Level Unseen Poetry Practice Worksheet is designed to help students develop essential skills in analysing unseen poetry for the Leaving Certificate English exam. What’s Included? Two unseen poems: Today by Vivienne McKechnie and Coming Home by Owen Sheers. Comprehension questions focusing on imagery, sound, and themes. Suggested approaches to guide students in structuring their responses. Example answers to model effective writing techniques. Space for students to write their responses, making it a practical classroom or homework resource. How Can Teachers Use This Resource? As a classroom activity to introduce unseen poetry. For exam preparation and timed practice. As a revision tool to improve students’ confidence in approaching poetry questions. To encourage independent learning with clear guidance and support. This resource is perfect for Ordinary Level Leaving Cert students who need structured support in understanding poetry while improving their critical thinking and writing skills.

The writing task specifically instructs students to include: A unique and appealing name for their Barbie. A detailed description of Barbie’s appearance, clothing, accessories, and special features, emphasising the use of descriptive language. An explanation of why their new Barbie would appeal to young people today, potentially linking their ideas to current trends, hobbies, interests, or important social issues. Students are encouraged to be imaginative and vivid in their descriptions, with a suggested word count of approximately 150-200 words​

This Question B Quick Revision Guide is designed for Leaving Certificate English students to help them understand and apply the correct format for common Question B tasks. The guide includes clear and structured format templates for the following text types: Letters Short Talks / Speeches Reports Diary Entries Reviews Newspaper or Magazine Articles Interviews Advertisements Each section outlines the key features, format, and purpose of the text type, making it an easy-to-follow revision resource. This guide is ideal for exam preparation, classroom activities, and independent study. Perfect for both teachers and students, this resource ensures that students can confidently approach Question B tasks with clarity and structure.

This ready-to-use resource includes differentiated sample answers and peer editing tasks for the Ordinary Level 2023 Junior Cycle English exam question on Elizabeth Bishop’s poem The Prodigal. Designed to support both teaching and assessment, this two-part pack helps students develop their poetry comprehension, analytical writing, and self-editing skills. The pack contains: Six full sample answers (Ordinary and Higher Level versions) covering all five past paper-style questions on The Prodigal, including theme, setting, personal response, imagery, and suitability for a short film. A peer editing task sheet featuring intentionally weak sample answers that include vague ideas, poor structure, and limited development. These are designed to help students practise identifying and correcting common errors. A detailed corrections guide, explaining what is wrong with each poor answer and offering guided questions to help students edit and improve them in pairs or small groups. How to Use in the Classroom: Use the strong sample answers for modelling, annotation, or comparison activities. Use the poor answers and corrections sheet for peer editing workshops, group writing tasks, or exam preparation sessions. Ideal for Junior Cycle Paper 2 preparation, especially with Ordinary Level and mixed ability groups. Clear, accessible, and student-friendly content to build confidence with poetry questions.

This Poetry Techniques Mini Test is designed to support the Junior Cycle Poetry Booklet. It focuses on core poetic devices that students are expected to learn, recognise, and apply confidently by the end of the course. Content Overview: 10 essential poetic techniques (e.g. alliteration, simile, metaphor, etc.) A mix of question types: matching, multiple choice, identification, and creative writing A total of 30 marks, making it suitable for short assessments or in-class revision Accompanied by a full Answer Key for teacher use or peer correction Purpose: This test helps reinforce students’ understanding of poetic language and literary techniques, providing both revision and assessment opportunities. It is ideal for use: After studying a selection of poems As preparation for Classroom-Based Assessments (CBAs) As a formative assessment tool in class Supports Learning Outcomes: This resource aligns with the Junior Cycle English Learning Outcomes related to understanding poetic language, identifying key techniques, and creating personal texts using poetic devices.

This is a clear and accessible 30-mark test designed to assess students’ understanding of poetic devices. Ideal for Junior Cycle (Ireland) or Key Stage 3 (UK) English students, the test covers a wide range of techniques including metaphor, simile, alliteration, assonance, onomatopoeia, personification, tone, theme, and more. The resource includes: A printable student test (30 short questions, 1 mark each) A full answer key for easy marking Questions are a mix of multiple choice, fill-in-the-blanks, definitions, and examples to suit mixed-ability groups. Perfect for end-of-unit assessment, revision, or homework. Curriculum Links: Poetry techniques, Junior Cycle Learning Outcomes, KS3 English Literature and Language

A revision resource for The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, featuring three interactive activities: a fill-in-the-blank plot recap, a character matching task with descriptive adjectives, and a short fill-in-the-blank essay on key themes. Ideal for Junior Cycle students preparing for assessments, this resource encourages active recall and deeper thinking about characters and social issues.

A student-friendly revision worksheet for Of Mice and Men, including three differentiated activities: a fill-in-the-blank essay on themes and messages, a character-to-adjective matching task, and a key facts quiz on plot and character details. Perfect for Junior Cycle or GCSE students revising the novel’s key ideas, language, and emotional impact.

An engaging comparative activity designed to help students reflect on The Outsiders and Of Mice and Men. Includes a scaffolded table to compare key characters, themes, and messages across both texts, followed by reflective paragraph prompts. Ideal for Junior Cycle or Lower Senior Cycle learners preparing for comparative-style questions or thematic discussions.

This ready-to-use resource includes two model persuasive speeches written about popular public figures: “Why Taylor Swift Is the Best Female Artist Ever” “Why Lionel Messi Is the Best Footballer Ever” Each speech models a range of rhetorical and persuasive techniques in a clear, accessible style. Students are encouraged to identify techniques in context, building their confidence and critical literacy skills. What’s Included Student versions of both speeches with an analysis task Teacher versions with speech techniques fully annotated and matched to examples A speech writing techniques reference sheet (14 techniques with definitions, examples, and effects) Skills Developed Analysing speech techniques Understanding tone, audience, and persuasive structure Using rhetorical strategies in original writing Engaging with topical, relatable content to build confidence in speech writing

A clear and accessible Ordinary Level English revision pack designed for Leaving Certificate 2025 students. This resource includes: Paper 1 Section I: Comprehending tips and strategies Paper 1 Section II: Writing guide for nine composition types, including essay, short story, blog post, letter, podcast script, and more Paper 2 Section I: Key revision for The Crucible — character summaries, themes, important scenes, and useful quotes Paper 2 Section II: Comparative study notes on Small Things Like These and The Shawshank Redemption, covering the themes of freedom, relationships, and social setting Paper 2 Section III: A full Prescribed Poetry Revision Table covering all Ordinary Level poems (except Hopkins and Eliot), with brief notes on theme, tone, language, imagery, and personal response General exam advice and time management tips Perfect for quick revision, class display, and final preparation before the exam.