Reading Skills lesson: based on an extract from Enduring Love by Ian McEwan Always a winner with pupils! This presentation leads pupils to analyse the opening of the novel. A longer extract is attached. There are 4 comprehension questions which interrogate the text with model answers to each so that pupils can use self or peer assessment to mark them. The opening extract is on the power point; the first comprehension question could be completed as a whole class activity with the teacher showing pupils where the evidence is. I have also shown the extract from the film version of the novel as well (on Youtube); show before reading and stop it a few minutes in to entice the pupils to read the extract to see what happens. There are a number of writing tasks after the plenary.

The Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe. Sound effects starter, social and historical context of Poe's life, analysis of the opening to the story (pupils annotate their own copies) with leading questions in order to interrogate subsequent paragraphs. Comic strip writing activity with self assessment and review.

Persuasive speeches: Martin Luther King "I have a dream" Pupils watch an extract of MLK's famous speech and note spoken language techniques. They then read the extract, highlight specific persuasive language features, write their own speeches, peer assess the same then perform them to the class trying to emulate some of the techniques used by MLK. Engaging and fun!

An Inspector Calls: revision of themes and social and historical context. This is a highly visual and interactive presentation with a PEE formula card sort activity. Pupils review SHC and make notes, make links between images and themes in AIC then complete the PEE formula card sort (in pairs or individually). Now they have PEE formulas modelled, they continue by creating 3 of their own (quotations are provided) This work is then peer assessed, then the plenary uses images to review themes. Engaging, visual and effective.

Poetry: ‘The Quarrel’ by Maxine Kumin. Ideal for National Poetry Day! A fun poetry analysis and writing activity lesson (or two lessons) based on The Quarrel by Maxine Kumin. This detailed presentation analyses language and puctuation features at word level, there is thesaurus work and a range of poetry or creative writing tasks linked to the poem for the pupils to choose from. Includes the opportunity for peer assessment with target setting and review slide. Ideal for primary Y5 and 6 or KS3. Includes worksheet with poem and space for pupils’ responses to the poem. Slide 2 starter could be printed out for pupils or they could copy the spidergram into their books.

An exploration of Island Man by Grace Nichols. Activities on this 21 slide powerpoint include: a starter to revisit and subsequently show progression (slides 1 and 3), a culture map for pupils to complete (slide 2); images of the poem to annotate (slide 4) a cloze exercise of the poem before reading (slide 5), copy of the poem to highlight (slide 6), a link to an audio clip of the poem in performance, a group drama task, imagery work, stimulus for writing task (slides 18 and 19) which can also be used as exemplars to support pupils and thereby differentiate and, finally, peer assessment.

Different perspectives optical illusions presentation: ideal for tutor time. Encourages pupils to consider other people's different interpretations. Uses images of optical illusions to engage and provoke discussion.

GCSE assessment/marking codes and descriptors: pupil friendly, aesthetic and engaging. Useful laminated as a classroom or departmental resource. Pupils can then tick criteria boxes with a marker pen which is easily wiped off later. Ideal for self and peer assessment and making target setting accessible for all abilities. GCSE grades G-A* for Reading, Writing and Speaking and Listening (can be quickly adapted for the 1-9 framework) 6 assessment sheets in total.

A taste of The Gothic from Mary Coleridge. 'The Deserted House presentation includes: brief background to The Gothic; starter descriptive writing activity, the poem and 6 questions to answer, an opportunity to show progression by reviewing and improving the starter activity, PA/SA review and target setting. Copy of the poem included for highlighting and annotating (or slide 4 could be copied for pupils as it has the poem and the questions on it) KS3 or 4.

This is a GCSE resource on The Manhunt by Simon Armitage for use after reading the poem (poem attached) These resources (5 in total) explore PEE formulas, the poet's perspective, semantic fields and themes, leading up to an essay which is then self assessed using grade criteria sheets. The sequence of tasks is clearly organised. Pupils will need copies of the poem, the PEE formula worksheet and the Task 4 slide which has a word cloud of the poem on it. They are tasked to organise the words into groups. This is best done visually via colour coding. The lesson, or lessons as it can definitely stretch to more than one, is engaging and will appeal to a variety of learners to enable them to more easily interrogate the poem. New GCSE grades 1-9 on powerpoint. Assessment/target setting sheets have previous A-G grades. As they are still in flux, I thought I would leave them to suit individual and school preferences; they can be easily changed.

A fun poetry analysis and writing activity lesson (or two lessons) based on The Dentist and the Crocodile by Roald Dahl. This detailed presentation analyses language and puctuation features at word level, there is dictionary work and a range of poetry or creative writing tasks linked to the poem for the pupils to choose from. Includes opportunities for self and peer assessment with target setting and review slide. Ideal for primary Y5 and 6 or KS3.

A fun poetry analysis and writing activity lesson (or two lessons) based on Dino Thought by Jane Yolen. Illustrated copy of the poem attached. The presentation analyses repetition, rhyme and onomatopoeia, there is word level dictionary and thesaurus work and a range of poetry or creative writing tasks linked to the poem for the pupils to choose from. There is a peer/self assessment and target setting slide. Ideal for primary Y5 and 6 or KS3.

A fun poetry analysis and writing activity lesson (or two lessons) based on Rabbit by Ann Hoberman. Illustrated copy of the poem attached. The presentation analyses repetition, rhyme and onomatopoeia, there is word level dictionary and thesaurus work and a range of poetry or creative writing tasks linked to the poem for the pupils to choose from. There is a peer/self assessment and target setting slide. Ideal for primary Y5 and 6 or KS3. Did I mention the cute bunnies?...

Descriptive writing; semantic fields based on 'The Soldier' by Rupert Brooke. Enquiry based learning using a word cloud of the poem to create pupil led categories. These are then used as a springboard for writing and creating semantic fields before the poem is studied (I used an audio clip of the poem on Youtube) The pupils then revisit and improve their work (showing progression) and it is then either self or peer assessed using the WJEC grade criteria on the power point. The plenary has leading questions linking to semantic fields, key skills and target setting. I printed out copies of the slides showing the poem, the word cloud and the grade criteria (one between two) Don't let the pupils access the poem until they have tried categorising the words in the word cloud. This enquiry based learning lesson is effective in terms of varied activities, a range of learning styles, showing progression and target setting.

Detailed analysis of conflict in Romeo and Juliet. Sharp focus on Act 1 Sc 5, Act 3 Sc 1 and Act 3 Sc 5 with an exploration of themes and relationships. This resource is ideal for getting pupils to annotate copies of the texts during the whole class interrogation of the extracts slide per slide. With leading questions and colour coded word level analysis

Poetry analysis: ‘Text’ and ‘Quickdraw’ by Carol Ann Duffy. Detailed powerpoint with leading questions and colour coded for pupils to effectively interrogate and compare both poems.

Narrative writing carousel with 8 worksheets. For use with KS3 or 4. Worksheets are more effective if copied to A3 size. Pupils work in pairs to construct a section of a story, the worksheet is passed on for the next pair to complete a section and so on until the finished worksheet is returned. This is then checked and improved and can be written up or typed up to provide the finished narrative. Each worksheet has a different section already started; one worksheet is blank for higher achievers. Follows the ODCCR narrative writing framework. The pupils enjoyed reading out the stories once completed.