Hello, thank you for looking around my shop. I am a teaching deputy head teacher, with 16 years of experience, who works in a rural primary school. I know how wearing many hats can eat into your time but understand how important excellent resources are for engaging pupils so they make accelerated progress. I have included lots of free resources in my shop but placed a small charge for resources which have taken me many hours to create. I hope you enjoy them and use them to motivate your pupils.
Hello, thank you for looking around my shop. I am a teaching deputy head teacher, with 16 years of experience, who works in a rural primary school. I know how wearing many hats can eat into your time but understand how important excellent resources are for engaging pupils so they make accelerated progress. I have included lots of free resources in my shop but placed a small charge for resources which have taken me many hours to create. I hope you enjoy them and use them to motivate your pupils.
This is a list of over 140 fronted adverbials that include:
• How
• When
• Where
• Frequency
This is a great resource to improve pupils sentence starters that I use in most creative writing sessions in my class.
This is a sentence starter display for ADD SPICES which stands for:
• Adverbs
• Drop in clause
• Describing word
• Similes
• Preposition
• Ing word
• Connective
• Ed word
• Sub-ordinate clause
There is an explanation next to each spice jar which has the first letter of the acronym. This is a great display to have up all year round as a visual reminder to your class.
This is a 3 week unit of work that is based on the book ‘Ice Trap’ by Meredith Hooper. This book tells the amazing story of Ernest Shackleton’s epic attempt to be the first person to reach the south pole. When his ship, the Endurance, gets trapped in the ice his adventure turns into a battle to stay alive and fins a way to escape. My class love this gruesome and heroic story and always produce some amazing diary extracts as a character from the Endurance who suffered through this ordeal.
This unit includes all of the worksheets, plans and PowerPoints to teach it today.
The learning objectives for this unit of work are;
• To write a diary extract
• To ask questions and draw inferences to improve understanding
• To draw inferences and make predictions using the text
• To explore the themes of a book
• To evaluate the author’s use of language for effect
• To build background knowledge of a topic; gathering information and making notes
• To explore the character’s feelings and emotions through drama
• To identify different word classes
• To establish the key features for successfully writing in role
• To vary sentence openers to engage the reader
• To use brackets, dashes and commas to indicate parenthesis
• To understand the difference between colons and semi-colons and their use
• To portray contrasting viewpoints effectively in my writing
• To plan effectively for writing
• To edit and publish writing for the chosen audience
This unit of work uses the 3 stage planning process of:
• Stimulate and generate
• Capture, sift and sort
• Create, refine and evaluate
Stimulate and generate = This usually starts with a hook to interest the class where the class realise who they are going to write for so they have a clear purpose and audience. Activities can include reading excellent model texts, drama or researching more about the author or the content of the book.
Capture, sift and sort = This is the part of the unit where pupils look at key features, practise skills they will need in order to complete the final piece or new learning for objectives they have not learnt yet.
Create, refine, evaluate = This is where you bring all you have learnt together and plan the final piece before you write it and then edit it to improve the piece. This can include self, peer or teacher led reviewing.
Here are 6 versions of a storyboard to save yourself time creating your own. There are 2 with 8, 6 and 4 squares. One of the versions have larger areas for drawing with the other version more lines for writing. I have included it in a PowerPoint format so you can alter it if you want. I have also included it in a pdf format to make it easier to print.
A Venn diagram for Reading, Writing and Maths in PowerPoint. To add your pupils just insert a text box where they need to go. This is a simple tool for class teachers to use to track the progress of the pupils in their class throughout the year.
This is a word mat of words with the prefix auto. This is targeted at years 3 and 4 as it is part of the spelling curriculum. This is a useful resource for pupils to use to improve their spellings as well as a useful tool to improve their word choices and quality of their writing. It has two versions; one with colour and the other just in black and white to save on printing costs.
This is a 4 week unit of planning that produces a flashback recount from the time during the Lebanese civil war by a young girl called Ayesha. She has to brave the war zone to travel across enemy lines to find help for her sick granny by searching for medicine from a doctor. The story is fantastic and the writing produced as a result of it is even better. This text is best suited to Y4 and above as there are aspects of war such as loss (her mother dies after a shell hits their house) but the richness of the text has really engaged all my class and especially the boys.
I have listed the learning objectives for all of the lessons below. Also I have included all of the worksheets, PowerPoints, links and resources you will need to teach this unit straight away.
Stage 1- Stimulate and generate- Learning outcomes
• To write a flashback.
• To find the meaning of words.
• To retrieve and record information from text.
• To take notes to summarise details.
• To retrieve and record information from text.
• To write a diary extract as a character from a story.
• To retrieve and record information from text.
Stage 2 - Capture, Sift and Sort- Learning outcomes
• To find the key features of a flashback.
• To write expanded noun phrases.
• To write similes using abstract nouns.
• To find near synonyms of verbs.
• To write in the past tense.
• To write a descriptive setting.
• To modify adjectives with adverbs.
• To use a fronted adverbial to explain how, when or where something took place.
Stage 3 - Create refine evaluate- Learning outcomes
• To plan and organise my ideas to effectively support my writing.
• To convey viewpoint by writing in role.
• To revise, edit evaluate and improve my writing.
• To convey viewpoint by writing in role.
Stimulate and generate = This usually starts with a hook to interest the class where the class realise who they are going to write for so they have a clear purpose and audience. Activities can include reading excellent model texts, drama or researching more about the author or the content of the book.
Capture, sift and sort = This is the part of the unit where pupils look at key features, practise skills they will need in order to complete the final piece or new learning for objectives they have not learnt yet.
Create, refine, evaluate = This is where you bring all you have learnt together and plan the final piece before you write it and then edit it to improve the piece. This can include self, peer or teacher led reviewing.
This is a 3-week unit which is based on the text ‘Roman Soldier’s Handbook’ by Lucia Fabricius Imperiosa. This is a graphically pleasing and informative book which my class have enjoyed reading during our Roman topic. The final piece that this unit produces is a historical information text based on an area of Roman life (that interest each pupil). Most times pupils are inspired to either write about the army, Gladiators or the sanitation!
I have listed the learning objectives for all of the lessons below. Also, I have included all of the worksheets, PowerPoints, links and resources you will need to teach this unit straight away.
Stage 1 - Stimulate and generate- Learning outcomes
To gather information in note form
To write an information text
To find the meaning of words
To retrieve and record information from text
To gather information in note form
To use notes to write an information text
Stage 2 - Capture, Sift and Sort- Learning outcomes
To find key features of an information text
*To write in the third person
*To know how to write in the past tense
*To write using technical vocabulary
*To write headings and sub-headings
*To write captions
*To retrieve and record facts from a variety of texts
Stage 3 - Create refine evaluate- Learning outcomes
*To plan an information text
*Extended Writing - To write an information text
*To publish an information text using digital media
Stimulate and generate = This usually starts with a hook to interest the class where the class realise who they are going to write for so they have a clear purpose and audience. Activities can include reading excellent model texts, drama or researching more about the author or the content of the book.
Capture, sift and sort = This is the part of the unit where pupils look at key features, practise skills they will need in order to complete the final piece or new learning for objectives they have not learnt yet.
Create, refine, evaluate = This is where you bring all you have learnt together and plan the final piece before you write it and then edit it to improve the piece. This can include self, peer or teacher led reviewing.
This is a PowerPoint with a Story Mountain which is invaluable for pupils planning good stories. I have also included it in a pdf version for ease of printing.
This is a fantastic whole book planned guided reading unit based on the book Oranges in No man’s Land by Elizabeth Laird. The story tells the struggles of a little brave girl called Ayesha during the civil war in Lebanon. I have planned a unit of work that has between 9 and 5 questions for each chapter (18 chapters in total).
I have also included printer friendly pages where there are 4 copies of the questions on each page so it is easy to prepare for lessons. I have included all the answers too as this is a great time saver. The questions are designed to easily fit English books as I have adjusted the margins so they fit. I hope your class enjoys this book as much as mine have always done.
This is a 3 week unit of work that teaches all the skills to write a descriptive poem then perform this at the end of the unit. The book is a rich text by an excellent writer that helps support the unit as it is based about the after effects of a hurricane. Pupils really enjoy the creative process of this unit as they get to paint elaborate and engaging pictures in the reader’s minds.
I have included every resource you need to teach this unit tomorrow. Also below I have listed all of the learning objectives from the unit of work.
Stage 1- Stimulate and generate- Learning outcomes
• To write a descriptive poem
• To find the meaning of words
• To retrieve and record key facts
• To use drama to explore characters’ feelings
• To read and perform a poem
Stage 2 - Capture, Sift and Sort- Learning outcomes
• To recognise the key features of descriptive poetry
• To use figurative language such as similes
• To Identify how language contributes to meaning
• To use figurative language such as alliteration
• To use figurative language about your senses
• To use figurative language such as personification to describe objects
• To use figurative language such as metaphors
• To use descriptive language to engage the reader
• To revise, edit evaluate and improve my writing
Stage 3 - Create refine evaluate- Learning outcomes
• To plan and organise my ideas to effectively support my writing
• To revise, edit evaluate and improve my writing
• To perform poetry
Resources included:
• Hurricanes LOs PowerPoint
• Hurricanes Word Mat
• Fact file template
• Facts About Hurricane Cards
• Lesson 5 - Descriptive Poems
• Lesson 6 - ARE + GDS
• Lesson 6 – WT
• Lesson 7 – Photo
• Lesson 7- Simile WT
• Lesson 8
• Lesson 9 - S Word
• Lesson 10 – Diamonds
• Least Effective & Most Effective
• Lesson 11 - Senses
• Lesson 12 – Personification
• Lesson 13 – Metaphors
• Lesson 14 - Pictures
• Success Criteria for Descriptive Poetry Display
• Success Criteria for Descriptive Poetry
Stimulate and generate = This usually starts with a hook to interest the class where the class realise who they are going to write for so they have a clear purpose and audience. Activities can include reading excellent model texts, drama or researching more about the author or the content of the book.
Capture, sift and sort = This is the part of the unit where pupils look at key features, practise skills they will need in order to complete the final piece or new learning for objectives they have not learnt yet.
Create, refine, evaluate = This is where you bring all you have learnt together and plan the final piece before you write it and then edit it to improve the piece. This can include self, peer or teacher led reviewing.
This is a bundle of success criteria, that I use for the end of units. There is a column for both pupils and teachers as the expectation is pupils use the assessment tool to self assess their own work.
The success criteria include:
Biographies
Descriptive Writing
Diary Extracts
Explanation Texts
Instructions - Recipes
Information Texts
Newspaper Reports
Non-Chronological Reports
Persuasive Writing
Play Scripts
Poetry
Poster - Advertisement
Settings
This is a 3 and 1/2 week unit of work that is based on the book 'Street Child' by Berlie Doherty. The book tells the story about Dr Barnados and how the ragged schools were created through the eyes of an orphan Jim. Every time I have taught this unit there has been a special atmosphere as pupils have lots of ideas to discuss philosophical and moral issues and realise how lucky they are to be alive today in England. The end of the unit has two possible choices which are either writing as Jim in a diary extract or an alternative ending to the story.
The learning objectives for this unit of work are;
• To write a diary extract as a poor Victorian child.
• To find and improve adverbs in a piece of text.
• To make a freeze-frame to show what characters are feeling in a story.
• To describe a character from a novel.
• To write as a character from a novel.
• To convey character by using colloquialism (slang).
• To understand how a character from a novel feels. + Write expanded noun phrases.
• To write a list poem.
• To describe a character from a novel.
• To make a key scene into a freeze frame, considering the characters feelings and emotions.
• To map the story of a novel.
• To map out a characters journey and feelings throughout a novel.
• To find key information about Dr Barnardos.
• To write complex sentences.
• To identify cohesive devices for paragraphs. + I can describe the effect created by different cohesive devices
• To plan a diary extract. OR To plan an alternative ending.
• To write a diary extract. OR To write an alternative ending.
This unit of work uses the 3 stage planning process of:
• Stimulate and generate
• Capture, sift and sort
• Create, refine and evaluate
Stimulate and generate = This usually starts with a hook to interest the class where the class realise who they are going to write for so they have a clear purpose and audience. Activities can include reading excellent model texts, drama or researching more about the author or the content of the book.
Capture, sift and sort = This is the part of the unit where pupils look at key features, practise skills they will need in order to complete the final piece or new learning for objectives they have not learnt yet.
Create, refine, evaluate = This is where you bring all you have learnt together and plan the final piece before you write it and then edit it to improve the piece. This can include self, peer or teacher led reviewing.
I have made a list of abstract nouns to help pupils in my class write more interesting expanded noun phrases. There are 82 different expanded noun phrases which are split into two categories; human qualities or characteristics and showing emotions or feelings.
This is a 3-week unit which I have planned to support my pupils to write a short story, with a twist in the tale, for the BBC 500-word competition. It is a challenging unit as pupils learn to plan backwards so they decide upon the ending first. Pupils decide upon a theme for their short story and plan where they are going to place this throughout the short story. I have set my short story loosely around an old Fairground which allows pupils lots of scope to decide upon what happens in there or did happen in there when it was open. My class love this unit as it allows them to be creative and cunning when they write their twist in the tale.
I have listed the learning objectives for all of the lessons below. Also, I have included all of the worksheets, PowerPoints, links and resources you will need to teach this unit straight away.
Stage 1 - Stimulate and generate- Learning outcomes
• To understand the key features of a short story
• To understand themes in stories
• To decide a theme for my short story
Stage 2 - Capture, Sift and Sort- Learning outcomes
• To write an engaging setting
• To improve a piece of writing by using fronted adverbials
• To write engaging character descriptions
• To create an engaging character
• To write a twist in the tale
• To write a climatic ending with a twist in the tale
• To write a list of escalating emotions to build tension
• To use dialogue in story to give clues about the characters
Stage 3 - Create refine evaluate- Learning outcomes
• To plan and organise my ideas to effectively support my writing
• To revise, edit evaluate and improve my writing
Stimulate and generate = This usually starts with a hook to interest the class where the class realise who they are going to write for so they have a clear purpose and audience. Activities can include reading excellent model texts, drama or researching more about the author or the content of the book.
Capture, sift and sort = This is the part of the unit where pupils look at key features, practise skills they will need in order to complete the final piece or new learning for objectives they have not learnt yet.
Create, refine, evaluate = This is where you bring all you have learnt together and plan the final piece before you write it and then edit it to improve the piece. This can include self, peer or teacher led reviewing.
This is a 4 week unit of planning that supports pupils to write an ancient Greek Quest Myth. The beginning part of this unit is focussed on Persephone by Sally Pomme Clayton and Virginia Lee. This is used as a model and WAGOLL for pupils to write their own story. All children love Greek gods and goddesses and this unit of work has never failed in supporting pupils write some excellent myths that are richly descriptive and engaging for the reader.
I have listed the learning objectives for all of the lessons below. Also I have included all of the worksheets, PowerPoints, links and resources you will need to teach this unit straight away.
Stage 1 = Stimulate & Generate
• To write a review of an ancient Greek myth
• To use a range of strategies to explore a text
• To show understanding through intonation, tone, volume and action when performing a playscripts
• To retrieve and record information from non-fiction
• To describe using adverbial phrases and drop in clauses
• To demonstrate understanding of key details and main points of a text
Stage 2 = Capture, Sift & Sort
• To find the key features of a myth
• To start sentences using verbs, adverbs and connectives
• To write using commas to clarify meaning
• To use an increasing range of sentence starters
• To write in the style of the model text
• To edit writing to improve sentence structures and range of vocabulary
Stage 3 = Create, Refine & Evaluate
• To use expanded noun phrases and figurative language to describe
• To vary sentence structure and type for effect
• To plan a quest myth
• To write a descriptive setting for my myth
• To write a build-up in my myth
• To write a conflict
• To write a resolution to my myth
• To edit and improve my work
Stimulate and generate = This usually starts with a hook to interest the class where the class realise who they are going to write for so they have a clear purpose and audience. Activities can include reading excellent model texts, drama or researching more about the author or the content of the book.
Capture, sift and sort = This is the part of the unit where pupils look at key features, practise skills they will need in order to complete the final piece or new learning for objectives they have not learnt yet.
Create, refine, evaluate = This is where you bring all you have learnt together and plan the final piece
This is a word mat for the suffix ous. This is targeted at years 3 and 4 as it is part of the spelling curriculum. This is a useful resource for pupils to use to improve their spellings as well as a useful tool to improve their word choices and quality of their writing. It has two versions; one with colour and the other just in black and white to save on printing costs.
I have put these resources together using the NCTEM Teaching for Mastery questions and have used it as an assessment tool for my year 4 pupils at the end of the year.
This is a single A4 page of tips for using search engines. This can be used to help pupils use search engines more effeciently or as a training tool for staff at your school.
I run an after school club for cards as it is excellent for teaching pupils about probability, tactics and requires higher level thinking. I have included 3 sets of rules for the games I play, they are:
The Rules of Knockout Whist
The Rules of Hearts
The Rules of Contract Whist