A free PowerPoint and script for a school (secondary) assembly about the history of libraries starting with Qarawiyyan Library in Tunisia. The resource also contains clips of famous films/tv programmes involving libraries from Agatha Christie to Ghostbusters. Originally written for a World Book Day and presented by a group of students, the script can be split up for several readers.

This is a sheet I made for students, clearly outlining the skills for each English Language paper as well as the different levels of response, e.g. Level 4 Perceptive, detailed, Level 3 Clear, relevant, Level 2 Some, attempts, Level 1 Simple, limited. It was very useful as an overview of what is expected by the two exam papers.

A quiz to check students can identify significant characters from Romeo and Juliet. Includes answers.

A wordsearch made up of the players in Shakespeare’s theatre. Includes the answers!

This resource was made for an English faculty assembly about famous women writers starting with Aphra Behn and ending with J. K. Rowling. There is a PowerPoint with quotations from each writer, and a script which tells the stories from the writers’ points of view.

This is a detailed PowerPoint taking students through the four reading question for the June 2020 AQA English Language paper 1 on The Silk Factory. It goes through the questions methodically, providing advice and model answers alongside mark schemes. There should be time given for students to try each question under timed conditions. Answers can then be peer assessed by partners and discussed as a class. I am including the question paper and insert along with a mark scheme that has a student-friendly version.

This is a detailed PowerPoint with accompanying documents to practise skills for GCSE Paper 1 reading questions. The PP takes students through questions 1-4 using mark schemes, advice and model answers. It is focused on achieving the top level of the mark-scheme (level 4) and uses self-assessment and peer-assessment. The package includes the PowerPoint, the extract and questions, a student handout and an extra structure worksheet.

Practice paper for GCSE English Language paper 1, section A. This uses the opening of ‘The Lovely Bones’ by Alice Sebold. It is a detailed PowerPoint, going through each question, giving guidance and techniques as well as setting tasks for students. It includes model paragraphs for highlighting (also included on a separate sheet) and detailed explanations of the markscheme using student friendly language. It focusses students on the requirements of the top band for each question. PP, model answers and question paper included.

This is a detailed PowerPoint taking students step-by-step through the reading section of paper 1 using the opening of Rebecca. It has detailed reference to the mark-scheme and assessment objectives, with hints and tips as well as key vocabulary. Students are asked to complete each section and then peer assess using mark-schemes. Also included is the actual paper (which does include a picture for question 5 although I haven’t referred to that in the PP) and a student copy of the model answers.

This is a PowerPoint, mark schemes with student friendly explanations and original exam papers for the 2017 question on ‘The Tiredness of Rosabel’ by Kathryn Mansfield. It covers Section A, question 1-4. I made the PP to thoroughly prepare students for answering the reading questions and it includes tasks, a student answer to discuss, and guidance for answering questions 2,3 and 4. Ideally, after working through the tasks, students respond to those questions under exam conditions. I am also including model answers. I always found it a successful resource in introducing the paper.

This is a booklet I devised for preparing students for the writing to argue/persuade task in paper 2 (question 5) It takes students step-by-step through the process of planning the task and the sort of techniques necessary for communicating clearly, and structuring a coherent argument. There is a section on punctuation along with suggestions for writing tasks. It was a very effective introduction to paper 2 question 5.

This is a transcript of a conversation between Shelagh Fogarty of LBC and a caller called Jonathan on 14/02/24. Jonathan had rung to criticise Shelagh for giving her opinion on her radio talk show. This conversation has since become notorious for being a man trying to tell a woman what she can and cannot talk about, even saying to her he would tell her when she could speak. I have put the link to the YouTube recording of the conversation on the worksheet, because it is best to listen to the original conversation in order to understand some of its pragmatics. There are two extracts followed by eight discussion points (to be done either verbally or in writing) drawing on linguistic theory from Zimmerman and West, Grice, Fairclough, Dale Spender and others. This is very useful in preparing for AQA paper 2 section A when considering some of the main theories for Language and Gender (particularly Dominance theory). It is also great for class discussion focusing on attitudes to women’s speech.

This is a PowerPoint I put together for preparing the READING section of paper 2, November 2022. The paper asks student to examine two texts about insomnia. It takes students through questions 1 - 4, focusing on question requirements and allowing them to practise key skills whilst familiarising them with the mark-scheme. Vocabulary from the exam and the mark-scheme is explored as well. There are tasks throughout and opportunities for peer assessment but the final question should be marked by the teacher. I am including the question paper, insert and mark-scheme from AQA.