A full scheme of work on Maya Angelou’s poetry collection ‘And Still I Rise’, designed for use to prepare pupils for the OCR A Level non-exam assessment (close commentary on a poem). Could also be used for a variety of classes and poetry teaching scenarios. This scheme includes detailed, well-designed PowerPoints on the following poems: Still I Rise Caged Bird The Lie Family Affairs There is also an additional worksheet on the poem ‘The Lesson’. There is a wide variety of material and range of tasks including: close analysis of Angelou’s techniques exemplar paragraphs critical material exploration of key themes including race and identity a full essay question and feedback sheet on ‘Family Affairs’ creative writing task guidance on comparing poems

Highly detailed workbook to accompany study of ‘My Name Is Leon’ by Kit de Waal. The booklet is 48 pages long and spans the whole novel, and includes a wide range of activities targeted at GCSE pupils. The booklet addresses the AQA GCSE Assessment Objectives, including close analysis of writer’s methods and context. It includes practice essay questions and model paragraphs. Ideal to give to pupils as a revision resource or to use as a workbook to accompany class reading of the novel.

A series of lessons on dystopian short stories and creative writing, focusing on Henry Slesar’s ‘Examination Day’ and Ray Bradbury’s ‘The Pedestrian’. Suitable for Years 8-11. Resources include: Well-designed PowerPoints with a variety of independent and group tasks Worksheets with comprehension questions and exemplar paragraphs A scaffolded dystopian creative writing task with self-assessment sheet An essay question and planning sheet on ‘The Pedestrian’ including examples of introductions Recommendations of dystopian novels for wider reading

Introductory work on the novel ‘My Name Is Leon’ by Kit de Waal (GCSE set novel, but could be used with Year 9 also). This includes a detailed PowerPoint with introductory tasks based on front covers, reviews, context including Kit de Waal’s life etc. It also has detailed tasks which incorporate language analysis, researching historical context, planning and writing an essay on the portrayal of adults in the novel. Several sheets for students are included. There are probably around ten lessons’ worth of resources depending on ability and length of lessons.

A collection of resources which can be used together or separately during the study of Act One of ‘An Inspector Calls’. These are aimed at GCSE students but suitable from Year 9 onwards (specifically aimed at AQA GCSE but easily adaptable). Includes: worksheet with ambitious adjectives and space for key quotations, key extracts about Mr Birling from Act One for group task, accompanying PowerPoint, worksheet with challenge questions, PowerPoint about Capitalism, Socialism and UK politics, essay planning sheet and guidance.

A comprehension worth 30 marks on Ray Bradbury’s short story ‘The Pedestrian’. This comprehension is designed to assess understanding of plot, vocabulary and character but also includes more develoepd questions assessing inference and language analysis. An extension task is also included.

A series of resources and tasks for students focusing on the character of Eric Birling in ‘An Inspector Calls’. This includes questions on Eric’s portrayal in Acts One and Two, a detailed PowerPoint with guided tasks for pupils and with particular focus on Priestley’s use of dramatic techniques and their effects on the audience. The PowerPoint includes model paragraphs analysing dramatic techniques such as positioning of characters on stage, and an essay question for students to plan. Designed to support GCSE study of ‘An Inspector Calls’ (specifically AQA but easily adaptable). Could be used with Year 9 upwards.

A self-contained poetry lesson which develops confidence in tackling unseen poetry, using Jackie Kay’s poem ‘Pork Pies’. This is a sinister poem about a crime which pupils find very engaging. The lesson includes starter questions to access the story of the poem, guidance on how to annotate and unseen poem, a task which involves identifying poetic techniques, and an essay planning sheet on the portrayal of childhood and children in the poem.

A collection of resources to use when teaching the end of ‘An Inspector Calls’. These include a sheet on the Inspector’s final speech, a PowerPoint on the responsiblity of male characters which includes contextual material and a writing task, and a worksheet on the changing family dynamics, and a plot test.

A selection of poems about winter compiled in a booklet and a series of accompanying tasks, including practice of annotating an unseen poem and group work to create presentations. Also included is a series of comprehension questions on Carol Ann Duffy’s ‘Stealing’. This is around three to four lessons’ work depending on ability and class size, as it also includes pupils presenting to the class.

A detailed PowerPoint and essay planning sheet with a series of tasks focusing on Priestley’s portrayal of Gerald in ‘An Inspector Calls’. This is designed to prepare pupils for producing a essay on Gerald’s character in the style of an AQA GCSE essay (although easily adaptable to another exam board/curriculum). The PowerPoint includes tasks, key quotations and examples of weak and strong essay paragraphs.

A complete lesson (possibly two depending on pace) on why poets write poetry about conflict, with a focus on understanding and closely analysin ‘Belfast Confetti’ by Ciaran Carson. The lesson starts with examples of art, poetry and rap inspired by the Grenfell Tower tragedy in order to introduce pupils to the question of why poets are inspired by conflict. There is a focus throughout on using the form, structure and punctuation of a poem to unlock meaning - pupils are asked to focus on structural techniques such as enjambment and caesura. The PowerPoint also includes a link to a relevant YouTube video as well as relevant historical context about the Troubles in Northern Ireland. There is a writing task with optional challenge questions, and a model paragraph of close analysis. Includes plenary task using exit tickets.

Full lesson on Ted Hughes’ poem ‘Hawk Roosting’ designed to develop unseen poetry skills for Year 9 of GCSE English Literature students. This well-designed PowerPoint contains a wide range of activities for pupils to complete individually and in pairs. These include how to access an unseen poem, coping with challening vocabulary, identifying poetic devices, and writing analytical paragraphs about a poem with exemplar material.