Most resources I develop are geared towards GCSE 2016-18 (AQA and Edexcel) curriculum and are practical solutions to classroom teaching. I keep most of these black and white for simple/cost-effective print.
I read each novel/play/poem and break down into manageable parts.
I find this most effective within classrooms where students require chunks of information they can order, in sequence. The 'study-packs' I create can apply to any book/play/poem and provide visual tools for memory recall.
Most resources I develop are geared towards GCSE 2016-18 (AQA and Edexcel) curriculum and are practical solutions to classroom teaching. I keep most of these black and white for simple/cost-effective print.
I read each novel/play/poem and break down into manageable parts.
I find this most effective within classrooms where students require chunks of information they can order, in sequence. The 'study-packs' I create can apply to any book/play/poem and provide visual tools for memory recall.
This is a 20-page resource, printing as a 10-page double-sided booklet, used in class as a combined resource to examine AQA Paper 1, using MacBeth and The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The resource contains the 'full' list (table format) of AQA options for literature and then takes the student through each exam question with the extracts and content broken down. Includes the indicative content notes and AO details.
Has proven useful for current Year 9's compiling a complete 'Study Pack', i.e. so they have specified resources to refer to, in different formats. Highly useful for the purpose of memory recall, where the student can 'see' the journey they have made through each text 'in order'.
MACBETH
How does Shakespeare present Macbeth as a hero in this speech?
How does Shakespeare present Macbeth as a hero in the play as a whole?
THE STRANGE CASE OF DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE
How does Robert Louis Stevenson use the setting to create mystery and fear in this extract?
How does Robert Louis Stevenson use settings to create mystery and fear in the novel as a whole?
Used with Year 9's this week as a handout in class to show them the literature options at a glance which led to discussion on reasons for departmental choices on each book, play and poetry cluster. Then used to form an interesting group talk based on government dictatorship and freedom of choice, versus what would be the situation in a country with no centralised government. Includes a single lined sheet for student notes.
Resource shows one example I have filled in and one blank after this - 2 pages. Any school logo can be attached.
This was first introduced at a West-London High School where students I was teaching had low-esteem and needed tasks based on who they were as individuals, i.e. to get then develop their interest in the subject before they could tackle curriculum-based work. I developed it as a means of allowing face-to-face communication to discuss 'their' interests and I based the assignment(s) on this. When a 1000-2000 word assignment is returned to you, with Harvard-referencing notes and a proud, smiling face, by a student who, previously, didn't attend school, it kind of has one questioning whether 'personalised' subject matter can 'still' hit the assessment criteria and create a more harmonious environment.
LIMITED /MANDLESHTAM
BASIC AWARENESS
IDEAS FORMING/SIMPLE
VALID ATTEMPT
APPROPRIATE/SOME CLARITY
ACCURATE/ ORGANISED
RELEVANT/ CONSISTENT
CLEAR/ EFFECTIVE
CONSISTENT, DETAILED, DEVELOPED
CONFIDENT/LACKS ORIGINALITY
PERCEPTIVE/JUDICIOUS
SOPHISTICATED
This resource was used from a discussion with Year 10's who watched the PP 'Insight - A Writer'. This led to them describing how they felt they were not engaged enough in 'free-writing'. Each student then used a single page resource the same as this to express their thoughts, with some fantastic conversational results and some very interesting and quite often abstract subject material.
The student is asked to look at and discuss the photograph, taken on San Gregorio beach in California. The student is asked to describe their own trip overseas, where they can visit any destination. Useful if this can lead to a discussion relating to the 'wider' geographical picture and lead to some form of research. Additionally helpful if the student can identify their own homeland and find this on a map.
A four-page resource providing reading information relating to Planet Earth and the reality of its demise under the control of human beings. The resource then asks the reader to discuss the facts and construct a piece of writing (within a lined table) to explore the issues facing the current generation and potential routes to explore to improve the planet's chances.
A five-page resource showing the origins of the English Language.
Old English (450-1100 AD)
Middle English (1100-1500) /
Early Modern English (1500-1800)
Late Modern English (1800-Present)
Interesting to compare the Shakespearean English to current Americanisms which have their root in English Language.
A two-page resource with a table containing a list of the AQA novels, plays and poetry, with a Home-Learning blank table on page two for students. Used for the purpose of encouraging additional reading outside of the classroom to assist with overall understanding of the texts.
A four-page resource. Describes an event taking place in Santa Clara County, California.
The resource asks the student to read the social-media article and then create one of their own using the guidelines provided.
Template for planning and tracking lessons throughout each school week/term.
Helpful as an online tool for identifying at a glance where each class is at.
Additionally useful to decide the flow of each week in terms of what subject matter can be incorporated and where.
Used in class with all year groups. Effective because the student can file the sheets in a specific order and review their progress. The sheet provides an alternative to often messy alterations within exercise books and helps the teacher maintain a working file to allow Ofsted the opportunity to see valid attempts made by student and teacher to develop SPaG. Can also be used as a lesson starter/end or a homework sheet.
A printed resource along the same lines as the PP.
Provides examples of how poetry is used in Film, Music and Advertising with a visual example of each of these.
The final page of the six-page resource then asks the student to create their own piece of work.
Prints as 3-page double-sided.
The PP is the same so could use this via Google Drive perhaps and then simply use a single-sheet of paper for the student response - save on resources.
A PP showing how poetry is used in everyday Film, Music and Advertising as a basic introduction to students, particularly those who consider it a boring or challenging or highbrow subject. This is a a succinct presentation which leads to the student then creating a piece of work containing 'poetry'.
Similar resource available from same Author for AQA Love and Relationships cluster and for EDEXCEL.
A robust booklet containing all poems from the Power and Conflict cluster, with individual noted sections for each poem and space for student annotation and notes after each poem's explanation.
Ideal as a printed booklet (prints as a 16-page booklet, i.e. double-sided) as a resource students can continue to add to throughout their term-time and to use as a homework reference booklet for exams.
TITLE
AUTHOR/DATE
STRUCTURE
CONTEXT/DETAIL
SUBJECT/NOTES
POEM EXPLORES
Encouraging young minds to delve and create their own verse is an immediately effective way to connect with who they are and to allow them to see that poetry can be accessible to anybody. By providing examples of avant-garde work and discussing changes in language through time, every student will be able to create something in a style and with a rhythm of their own. Then, when they approach the clusters, they'll be able to interpret from the perspective of a writer, rather than a complete novice.
