Y4 Whole Class Reading –Ch 1 The Secret Diary of a Housemaid (Informal Language) Dyslexia Friendly

A complete lesson pack for Year 4 based on The Secret Diary of a Housemaid (Chapter 1).
Pupils explore Victorian informal and dialect language, comparing it to Standard English while developing vocabulary, inference and empathy.
Includes full lesson plan, PowerPoint, and differentiated worksheets — all formatted to British Dyslexia Association standards using Century Gothic, cream backgrounds, and dual-coding visuals.

What’s included:

Full lesson plan (Learning COGS format) with objectives, success criteria, and guided practice
PowerPoint slideshow introducing key vocabulary and dialect examples with dual-coding icons
Two differentiated “You Do” worksheets (main and LA versions) with widened line spacing and visual cues

Example extracts, discussion prompts, and challenge tasks for deeper analysis

Learning aims:

Identify informal and dialect words in a historical extract
Translate dialect into modern Standard English
Write new sentences using character voice and tone
Explain how speech shows personality, class, and context

Dyslexia-friendly design:

Century Gothic font for clear rounded letters
Cream background and dark grey text to reduce glare
1.5–2.0 line spacing and extra paragraph breaks for easy tracking
Left-aligned text (no justification) to support word spacing
Bold key words instead of italics or underlining
Dual-coding icons and visuals to reinforce meaning
Clean, uncluttered layout suitable for all learners
These adjustments follow British Dyslexia Association style-guide principles, ensuring accessibility for pupils with dyslexia, visual stress or working-memory difficulties.

Curriculum links:

Reading: vocabulary, inference, language in context
Writing: formal vs informal register, Standard English
Speaking & Listening: character expression, dialect performance
History: Victorian social class and everyday language

Perfect for:

Whole-class reading, guided group work, or SEND intervention.
Engaging, humorous dialogue and accessible design make this lesson fully inclusive and enjoyable for every learner.