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.
An introductory handout for pupils embarking upon study of the Odyssey, covering oral tradition and the background of the Trojan War, accompanied by a book-by-book summary of the text. I have used these resources at both GCSE and A-level.
Comprehensive, relevant and individual contextual detail (AO3) for every one of the 24 poems in the Heaney/Frost anthology for the new CCEA AS1 specification in English Literature.
A lesson where pupils look at exemplar POINT-EVIDENCE-EXPLANATION paragraphs (written by my previous pupils on 'Boy in the Striped Pyjamas', but the success criteria of structuring paragraphs can be applied to any text), then use a table of success criteria to evaluate them in groups. With the understanding of these success criteria, and having seen 'What a Good One Looks Like', pupils then self-evaluate and improve their own work.
Two original essay maps for the novel 'Of Mice and Men' for pupils to complete as they prepare to write essays on the character Candy, and how he is pitiable, as well as the loneliness in the lives of Candy, Crooks and George. Sharing pupils' responses as a whole class discussion works well, as an intermediary stage before using the essay map to write the essay. I created these frameworks for my GCSE class to use as revision for their final exam after studying the whole novel, but colleagues also used them effectively as resources as they taught the text. They also form a good basis for writing a Speaking and Listening presentation on the text. These are based upon past-paper questions and markschemes.
A lesson on the poem 'After the Titanic' by the Northern Irish poet Derek Mahon, in which pupils engage in active, collaborative close reading and language analysis through 'Home Group/Expert Group' activities. Presentation is split into 2 PowerPoints, since the first includes a video and is larger. I have also removed the video and made the presentation into a pdf, if that is an easier format to work with. The handout is for printing, cutting, and distributing to the groups.
An activity where pupils identify types of words in a nonsense poem ('Jabberwocky'), then create their own dictionary of nonsense words in order to write their own poem about school.
A detailed handout on the context and content of Obama's 2008 presidential victory speech, for the study of language techniques and spoken language / inspirational speeches.
Also included is a hexagon activity, which my GCSE pupils always love - in groups, pupils must debate and defend their reasoning behind matching up and making shapes with the hexagons, displaying different levels of Bloom's taxonomy with regard to which hexagons touch which others.
I hope the hexagons haven't moved in the documents; some text boxes might need enlarging if Word changes the font. Print out the hexagons and laminate, and enjoy pupils' presentations to the class of their final patterns!
Exemplar paragraphs on computer games in functional / discursive essays, written by top-level KS3 class, and also used by a lower-ability GCSE class as 'What a Good One Looks Like' for English Language revision.
Detailed context of Malala Yousafzai's UN Takeover inspirational/motivational speech, with fully annotated transcript for complete unit of study (I used this speech for GCSE Controlled Assessment in English Language).
Folowing my lesson using the Wordles, this is lesson one in my scheme on speeches and techniques used in the Study of Spoken Language. Lesson objective: be aware of the different potential purposes of speeches, and be able to identify the purpose of a variety of presentations.
Three purposes examined are: persuasion, entertainment, and information. Includes videos of speeches to illustrate points.
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).
A set of poems to use as possible practice pieces for unseen poetry, and a guide to aid pupils in approaching unseen poems. Designed for GCSE, but I have also used for top-set KS3 pupils, and used the poem selection to widen A-level pupils' experience of poetry.
Two study maps for pupils to complete: firstly, considering how typical Circe is of the characters whom Odysseus meets; and, secondly, a detailed study map on the theme of xenia, with a completed version for use as teacher's answers. I found that these worked well as whole-class discussion once pupils had formulated their own responses, either in groups or independently. I composed these maps with the purpose of pupils then using their outcomes as structured plans for writing practice essays.
A set of lessons to work through chronologically in my unit on Macbeth, covering themes, genre, close language analysis, performance, group work, research tasks, and lots of active learning methods.
Three activities, covering Homeric similes and epithets, as well as exploring the role of the Greek gods in the text through a 'Mastermind'-style lesson. I have used all of these resources for both GCSE and A-level study of the Odyssey.
A lesson in two formats, guiding KS3 pupils through language analysis with study of the language techniques in Ted Hughes' poem 'The Jaguar', including expanding vocabulary, enjambment, imagery, similes and metaphors. Lesson culminates in a 25-mark poetry Reading assessment (extension task included: 'Second Glance at a Jaguar' by Ted Hughes).
To practise or assess KS3 key Communication skill Reading, a lesson presentation that can be completed in class time, or printed as a handout for homework, with comprehension questions (and mark scheme) on the story of Daedalus and Icarus (taken from The New Windmill Book of Greek Myths, Geraldine McCaughrean, 1997).
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.