Single page A Christmas Carol resources for quick-reference and/or revision. A Brief Guide to Key Characters - with short quotes and thumbnail images. Key Quotations - organised by character and stave. Includes audio of Stave One conversations between Scrooge and Fred ('Bah Humbug!") and Scrooge and the charity collectors (‘Are there no prisons?’) Ideal for GCSE English. Linked to more resources, including presentations, audio & worksheets here

Presentation & worksheets introducing young children to the wonderful world of nocturnal animals. The worksheets and the audio/visual materials are at an appropriate language level - also suitable for young second language learners.

The War of the Worlds is an exciting story but a difficult text for new readers These presentations, worksheets and adapted extracts (text & audio) from the opening chapters help students to become familiar with the central narrative. They are ideal for GCSE English Literature classes, guided reading, exam preparation or as an introduction to late 19th Century fiction. About me - I write graded reading materials, and my published titles include original stories like Love by Design (Macmillan Readers) & simplified versions of classics like Washington Square, The Secret Garden, Vanity Fair (OUP), Jaws, A Picture of Dorian Gray, A Picture of Dorian Gray & Rainman (Penguin).

The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle is the only Sherlock Holmes Christmas story - and generally of the most entertaining of the series. Worksheet based on slightly shortened text from the opening - with illustration, quick check comprehension & vocabulary questions. Can stand alone or be entry point for the video clip (from vintage BBC production with Peter Cushing). This expands on what Holmes deduces from the ‘seedy felt hat’. The text for the complete original story is available online.

A Christmas Carol is often challenging for new readers. I have written a condensed version which enables students to enjoy the story and become familiar the core elements before progressing to the original text These materials are based around my adapted version. This stays close to the original, with an identical stave structure. I have pruned the physical descriptions and unfamiliar vocabulary, and slightly simplified the syntax in many instances. These small changes make the central narrative easier to follow. All of the dialogue is from the original and the most famous quotations are unchanged. I specialise in adapting texts for English language learners - my published work includes retellings of Washington Square (OUP) and The Picture of Dorian Grey (Penguin) Ideal for GCSE students, English language etc. Linked to more free materials, including complete text & audio. here.

Two stand-alone resources for Christmas lessons. 1. Marley was dead - adapted opening from A Christmas Carol, with text and audio, glossary and worksheet. a) Students watch/listen to opening extract b) read text and complete quick check c) complete worksheet 2. A Christmas Ghost? Fred & Rita are college students. They argue about everything. In this story Fred see ‘ghosts’ on his way home from the Christmas party. Fun script and worksheet ideal for end of term classes. More Fred & Rita stories here. More Christmas Carol here

In 1872 a deserted ship is found drifting in the Atlantic Ocean. Her captain, his family and seven crew members have disappeared… Mary Celeste resources include presentations, worksheets (with answers), interactive activities etc. Ideal for Years 6/7/8 and for English language learners. Can be adapted to age and level.

A Christmas Carol is a great story but a challenging text for many GCSE students. These materials help establish the key themes in Stave One. Includes presentation glossary and Key Quotations sheet. Linked to more materials here: https://esolepacks.com/christmas-carol/

Abridged version of key A Christmas Carol episode with exercises, audio reading and teaching notes. Ideal for reluctant readers, ESOL students etc. The spirit takes Scrooge to Christmas dinner with the Cratchit family - and Scrooge is forced to consider the ‘dark shadow’ over Tiny Tim. CEFr language level: B2. Linked to more resources, including complete adapted version here

Doctor Jekyll is one of the most respectable men in London. So why does he share ‘the house with the door’ with the ‘detestable’ Mr Hyde? Reading and listening worksheet for Chapter One. More materials introducing The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde including a Google quiz here:

Classic ghost story set on a ‘dark and lonely’ railway line. Adapted version for new classes, with audio, graded text, worksheets and links to the original text. More resources including a free presentation with audio, a video, and a short listening activity about Dickens’ personal experience of the Staplehurst train disaster

Introduces a) the character of Scrooge b) the ‘pre-story’ of his relationship with Joseph Marley. Linked to more Christmas Carol materials here Suitable for all levels and ideal for GCSE.

Extracts from opening chapters of a new adaptation of Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. Adapted by specialist author. Text and audio Ideal for home learning (Years 7-10) Very close to the original but much shorter. Ideal ‘bridge’ to the original Accompanied by worksheets, presentations, extension activities. Treasure Island.

Classic comic ghost story about an American family defying an ancient English ghoul. Lesson materials include adapted extracts, audio/video, worksheets (with answers), quizzes & presentations.

Extracts (text & video) worksheets & answers to help establish the key themes in Animal Farm. Materials are aimed at GCSE English Literature students new to the novel and its historical context. The focus is on familiarising students with the central story, rather than jumping straight to the allegorical connections with the Russian Revolution. Similarly, characters can be introduced sequentially: Mr Jones, Old Major and other key (non-porcine!) are animals introduced in C1. Those scheming pigs (Snowball, Squealer & Napoleon!) do not appear until C2. I specialise in adapting classic texts for language learners and reluctant readers - did The Picture of Dorian Gray for Penguin, plus Washington Square, Vanity Fair and Gulliver’s Travels for OUP. My approach is to encourage students to engage with the fable before bringing in the Russian Revolution. The first names they need to learn are Old Major, Mr Jones and Boxer rather than Trotsky, Lenin & Stalin. Once the students have grasped the essentials of the story they can engage more with the original text and its historical sources. With Animal Farm I stay close to the original but reduce the density of the text and convert much of the reported speech into dialogue. The chapter structure remains intact, which simplifies cross-referencing for quotes etc. Materials relating to the rest of the novel - including a presentation on the Napoleon v Snowball struggle are available from the eslreading website

Adapted version takes young learners straight into the heart of the story . Includes, audio, ppt presentations, reading worksheets etc. Guided reading for KS3 & KS4, GCSE English language and Literature etc. Suitable for all secondary - especially#KS3, #KS4, GCSE English I write graded reading materials children/young adults, including original stories like Love by Design (Macmillan Readers) & simplified versions of classics like Washington Square (OUP), The Picture of Dorian Gray, Jaws & Rainman (Penguin).

Man-Size-in-Marble by E Nesbit “Although every word of this story is true, I do not expect people to believe it…” A young couple move to the country. Every night they visit a beautiful local church. Inside there are two marble statues. Why do these statues frighten local people? And what is the secret of the broken marble finger? Man-Size-in-Marble (1893) is a classic late-Victorian Halloween ghost story by E. Nesbit (The Railway Children).

Fred and Rita are college students, who argue about everything. These comic stories cover key#covid-19 events: the school/college shut down in March, the easing of lockdown in late May (‘Just wake me up when it’s over!’) and #Zoom classes in September. Includes a presentation (‘Night Before Zoom’) guided reading worksheets & teaching notes/answers). About the author: I write graded reading materials children/young adults, including original stories like Love by Design (Macmillan Readers).

Edited extract from Defoe’s classic account of the Great Plague of London. With presentation, video and worksheet. The Great Plague of London (1665-6) was perhaps the most significant medical emergency in English history. It changed our approach to pandemics. A quiz plus free worksheets, presentations etc here

A collection of materials showing how different branches of medicine work together. Aimed at English language learners but useful home learning for #KS3. Resources include worksheets (with answers) ppt presentations, audio and videos. Pack available for free download during #Covid-19 here. Topics include: Becoming a doctor Your GP Emergency medicine Specialists The NHS Treating a sprained ankle Surgery. Language Level: Intermediate (CEFr B1+) Skills Practice:: Reading & Listening, Writing, Speaking & Use of English Digital resources: text & audio files, worksheets, mock exam questions, quizzes, teaching notes & extension materials. Extension: More medical English resources Author: I write graded reading and listening materials for English language learners. Details here.

Act One is the key to Macbeth. These materials introduce the storyline, main themes and key characters. They include presentations with video clips, worksheets, quizzes, key quotes and scene summaries More free resources, including presentations for all seven scenes in Act One, are here.