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.
Used in class (June 2016) with Year 9's and 10's, linking their responses the trial exam questions to words they can add to improve vocabulary. Particular relevance to MacBeth, though the words themselves, plus pronunciations, could apply to any text where these features are apparent.
CHIASMUS, HYPERBOLE, SYNECDOCHE, EUPHEMISM
FOR USE WITHIN TRIAL EXAMINATION RESPONSES AND GENERAL DISCUSSION
A TWO-PAGE RESOURCE.
Used this resource in class this week - works with fantastic results when students asked to complete second draft using 'Effective Connectives' - found a full table of these online and projected it. The difference between the Year 7 first-draft response compared to the second draft, incorporating 'and' highlighting the connectives was amazing in terms of the fluidity of their writing.
Currently using with Year 7's so they can achieve a snapshot of the entire storyline.
First-page summary used for shared classroom reading.
Then in pairs the students describe their own understanding of the story.
They then feed this information back to the whole class.
Then tackle a first draft - summary writing in their own words.
Finally, they complete a final draft of the summary, introducing connectives.
A four-page resource, printing double-sided 2 pages.
Very effective to achieve an general understanding of the novel through writing and discussion, not solely through reading.
Worksheet used with Year 7-8's in conjunction with 'Gothic Novel Create Your Own' resource, as a feed-in to them exploring The Castle of Otranto and Frankenstein.
SUGGESTION: Circle three from the options and then add three 'unique' adjectives of your own.
Then create a piece of horror-writing with your new words incorporated using the resource associated with this (available by the same author) or develop your own.
A nine-page resource, prints as five-page double-sided.
Initially discusses Sir Robert Walpole's 'The Castle of Otranto', then mentions modern-day books influenced by this genre, such as the Twilight series.
Provides a template of an 'ancient book' so the students (suited more to KS3) can create a cover/title and a synopsis.
The pages then contain 'gargoyles' to suggest the student plans their own Gothic Story and complete this within the lined-pages provided.
Discussion and Debate sheet prompting student critical-thinking and wider subject interest. Used with Year 9's and 10's in 2016, prompting a discussion that spanned three lessons, with students choosing the 'hot seat' to constructively debate their point of view.
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.
A resource controlled by students to decide their own exam questions based on their interpretations of any text.
This was used with Year 10's recently (June 2016) with some very in-depth analysis of the varied literature they are studying. It led to them understanding the text at a deeper level, simply by 'them' considering the questions that may be asked of them in a final exam.
A two-page resource analysing three student responses to Heart of Darkness (1902) by Joseph Conrad – later developed as ‘Apocalypse Now’, a film (1979) and a documentary ‘Hearts of Darkness’ (1991) by the Director Francis Ford Coppola.
The student is asked to read the extract and respond in their own way to identifying language features, incorporating connectives within their own draft(s).
Trialled resource this week (June 2016) in class. Students initially read through the introduction and the extract and then identified words they were not familiar with, using a dictionary. From here they are re-reading what was to many of them an unfamiliar text and supplementing with the new word definitions. Thus, a completely non-familiar extract becomes more familiar and they write their understanding of this on the 'draft' page, prior to tackling the main question. They then 'compare' their responses to the exemplar answers provided. I have used this with Year 7's and 8's now and really drilled down into the language - around 3-4 lessons for fantastic results.
An eight-page (prints as four page double-sided booklet) resource containing:
- Summary of the novella, including previous/original title(s)
- An overview of the whole story in eight steps
- Single page extract
- Space for a student 'draft' attempt
- Space for the final draft
- Two examples of 'exemplar responses' as a student guide to the level they are aiming for - i.e. a strong response and a top level response
Responding to: Explore how Charles Dickens presents Scrooge’s character in this extract.
A ten-page resource printing as 5-page booklet.
Two pages of text to read and respond to.
From: When I wake up, the other side of the bed is cold
To: Fine bread like this is for special occasions
Brief description of what figurative language is, then asks the reader to list two similes from the opening paragraphs, then two of their own.
Analysing the extract and meaning of 'foraging' and 'black-market'.
Describing how the central character wakes up when she thinks about her Father.
The reader is then asked to:
- Describe their own experience of having been placed in District 12
- Plan and respond to the suggestion that the reader is breaking free of District 12 and starting a revolution
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.