Three resources covering two lessons from my Year 10 Great Expectations SOW for the new AQA GCSE English Literature spec (the 19th century novel - Paper 1, Section B). Lesson 25 covers key aspects of Chapters 49-53 (Volume Three). A variety of activities including close analysis of the Chapter 49 episode when Miss Havisham sets herself alight. Extension tasks included. A homework task is also included with an optional extension task. Lesson 26 focuses on key parts/quotes from Chapters 54-56. Extension tasks are included. Several tasks encourage pupils to find their own evidence, encouraging resilience and greater knowledge and understanding of the text. All the tasks worked well with my Year 10 class.

An eleven slide PowerPoint which guides pupils through Act 3, Scene 1 and helps them produce a high quality response to the question: Why does Macbeth plan to kill his friend and his friend’s son? The resource includes extension tasks to challenge the more able, starter sentences, modelling examples (including one you can print out and get pupils to annotate and assess before they complete their own answer), the assessment criteria for RAF3 and support for pupils to develop their skills in exploring different levels of meaning and embedding brief quotes into their answers. I got pupils to set their own target for the lesson and then self assess at the end of the lesson to check progress had been made. My school still uses APP levels, but this resource could easily be adapted for flightpaths. This lesson is part of a SOW I created for a set 2 Year 9 class.

An eight slide resource covering key aspects/quotes of Macbeth Act 3, Scenes 2-4. The lesson includes a variety of tasks including whole class reading, pair/small group reading, watching and discussing a clip of Act 3, Scene 4 and answering written questions to check understanding. The learning focus is RAF3 (interpretations supported by relevant, brief evidence and to encourage students to link ideas/quotes from different scenes). Extension tasks are included to challenge more able pupils. This is a lesson from the SOW I created for a Year 9 set 2 class.

Eight resources covering three lessons: two preparing students for a timed GCSE Lit exam style essay and one where students write the essay. Resources: three PowerPoints (one for each lesson: 16 slides, 7 slides and 1 slide); two example extracts with essay question (based on format from the new AQA GCSE English Literature specimen Paper 1 exam paper); example essay response to one of the example questions; the same example essay response to one of the example questions with key aspects of AOs high-lighted; sheet with the relevant AOs and level descriptors. The lessons go over key success criteria from the AOs including some useful details on what could gain marks for AO3 (context). Also included is a checklist of success criteria, for example: WLA (word level analysis); subject terminology; effect on the reader. I displayed this on the board whilst my pupils wrote their timed essay. Extension tasks included in purple for differentiation. Link to new AQA GCSE English Literature Paper 1 specimen mark scheme also included. Lessons and resources specifically created as a pre-mock activity for my Year 10 class once we had finished studying the novel.

Two PowerPoints to help pupils understand Act 1, Scenes 3 and 4. The worksheet for Act 1, Scene 3 is not included due to copyright. It is available to download for free from Teachit (1364) - details on PowerPoint. Extension tasks included to challenge the more able. Homework task included with extension activity. I used a DVD of the Judi Dench/Ian McKellan Macbeth as a recap for pupils after the first three scenes. This worked really well to consolidate their knowledge and understanding before moving onto Scene 4. These lessons were created for a set 2 Year 9 class, but could easily be adapted for different abilities or for a KS4 class.

Three resources, including a 15 slide PowerPoint, for a lesson exploring Lady Macbeth's language in Act 1, Scene 5 and the use of dramatic irony in Act 1, Scene 6. The lesson was created for a Year 9 set 2 class, but could easily be adapted for different abilities or a KS4 class. Extension tasks are included and pupils peer assess their PEA work for RAF5 (explain and comment on a writer's use of language). A research homework - with extension task - is also included. The lesson proved to be hugely successful with my current and previous Year 9 classes.

Three resources covering two lessons of my Great Expectations SOW for the new AQA English Literature GCSE spec (Paper 1 - Section B: the 19th century novel). Lesson 19 covers key aspects of Chapters 33 and 34 (Volume Three) with a specific focus on developing pupils' understanding of how Miss Havisham manipulates Pip and Estella and how Estella in turn manipulates Pip. Pupils explore relevant quotes (on a pupil handout included) and then produce a written analysis of how Dickens uses language to show Pip and Estella are being manipulated. That work is then marked for AO2. The checklist I introduced pupils to in an earlier lesson is included on the PowerPoint along with extension tasks for differentiation. Lesson 20 covers Chapters 35-38. Whereas pupils were given the key quotes in the previous lesson, this lesson encourages them to find their own evidence from the novel to use in their analyses. The lesson involves a number of different activities with extension tasks for the more able for every task. These lessons worked very well with my current Year 10 class.

A ten slide PowerPoint from my Year 10 Great Expectations SOW for the new AQA GCSE English Literature spec (the 19th century novel - Paper 1, Section B). This lesson explores how Dickens uses character pairs, the importance of Herbert and Joe in the narrative and how Dickens presents Joe's character. Extension tasks are included to challenge the more able and enable them to access the top levels in the mark scheme. A related homework task is also included with differentiation by task and an optional extension task. The development of all relevant AOs are covered in this lesson, although the focus is exploring writer's methods (AO2 - language). All the tasks worked well with my Year 10 class.

A 21 slide resource covering Macbeth Act 5, Scenes 2, 3 and 4. After reading Scene 2, pupils discuss questions (extension task included). After reading Scenes 3 and 4, test pupil knowledge and understanding through a quiz based on 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire?' When I used this with my Year 9 set 2 class, I paused the quiz at the end of the Scene 3 questions to read Scene 4. You could, however, read both scenes before starting the quiz. I also used named lolly sticks to ensure random pupils were chosen to answer questions. For the final question I had the answers stuck round the classroom and asked pupils to stand next to the one they agreed with. I then chose more able pupils to explain their choices. It is an active learning lesson which worked very well with my class.

Four resources (15 slide PowerPoint, modelling examples, AQA style extract essay question - with additional tips to support less able students, and two short extracts for focused close analysis) for one lesson and a homework preparing Year 11 students for their ‘Great Expectations’ essay question in Paper 1 of the new AQA English Literature GCSE exam. A range of activities are included in which students complete tasks (discussions, notes, annotations, PEEL paragraphs, peer and self-assessment, DIRT) in pairs/individually which focus on the need for detailed, close analysis of the exam extract. Two activities also encourage students to include relevant contextual detail in their answers. The lesson builds on my previous revision lesson (available separately on TES Resources) which helps students revise key aspects of the novel as a whole, and builds towards the homework task: timed essay for teacher marking and feedback. Most tasks offer differentiation by choice and students work on their individual targets after peer assessment. Moreover, most slides have additional information or ideas in the notes sections. The lesson was created for a mixed ability Year 11 class. All the activities were well received. My students especially liked the modelling examples and revision of how to analyse structure as well as language. As a teacher, I was extremely pleased with the resulting essays.

Three resources covering two lessons on the opening scenes of the play and exploring why Shakespeare opened his play with the witches. Pupils produce a piece of written work at the end of the first lesson which they assess for RAF6. They complete DIRT on this piece at the start of the second lesson before moving onto reading and exploring scene 2 and their first impressions of Macbeth before the audience has even met him. These lessons were created for a set 2 Year 9 class, but could easily be adapted for different abilities or for a KS4 class.

8 resources for 3 lessons (lessons 9-11 of my Year 10 SOW) focusing on Chapters 8-11 and developing key skills for AO1 and AO2. Resources include detailed PowerPoints for each lesson (lesson 9 = 10 slides; lesson 10 = 9 slides; lesson 11 = 10 slides); 2 sheets of extracts; a homework task sheet encouraging students to re-read an earlier chapter and analyse minor characters; a starter task sheet of an opinion article from The Telegraph and comprehensive lesson plans. Lesson plans include homework tasks building on class tasks and/or practising key analysis skills, extension tasks for the more able and suggestions for possible activity adaptations to suit different teaching groups. The lessons also encourage students to complete DIRT after teacher, peer or self assessment. All these tasks worked extremely well with my current Year 10 class and build on from lessons 1-8 which I have also uploaded in TES Resources.

Four resources covering two lessons - one lesson analysing Scene 3 with an AO1, AO2 and AO5 focus and leading to students writing an analytical essay on the scene; one lesson on essay feedback and DIRT. Resources include PowerPoints for each lesson, comprehensive lesson plans and an essay cover sheet I created using the mark scheme for the AS exam. These lessons form lesson 8 and lesson 11 of the SOW I created for the new Edexcel English Literature AS Level. However, both are equally valid for the new AQA spec. The lesson plan also explains how essays will be worded in the Edexcel AS Level drama exam. There are also ideas for other essay titles to help students develop their understanding of the play and prepare them for exam essays.

Seven resources on prose extracts which can be used as extension/challenge or homework or starters with KS3 classes. They include a range of tasks (often through differentiation/adaptive learning by choice) to help pupils explore the effects of a range of language and structural techniques plus start to develop evaluative skills. These tasks also help pupils respond to more challenging ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions. Pupils have found these short extracts and guidance questions extremely helpful in preparing them for analysis of longer texts in end of unit and end of year assessments. I have these resources (along with my poetry extension/challenge reading tasks and extension/challenge writing tasks) laminated on coloured paper (green for reading and yellow for writing) in a folder my pupils can access if they have completed all my main lesson tasks. I have also used some for cover lessons and as adaptive learning group tasks. Now my school is moving towards pupils using laptops in lessons, I have uploaded these into my KS3 class Teams rooms to encourage pupils to access stretch and challenge activities as part of their independent learning. I have uploaded my reading extension/challange poetry tasks and writing extension/challenge tasks in separate resources on TES. You can also purchase them all in a money saving bundle.

Eleven tried and tested resources which can be used as extension/challenge, homework or starter activities to help pupils improve their creative writing. They include a range of guided tasks (one offers differentiation by choice) including persuasive writing, writing from the point of view of a specific character and descriptive writing based round a picture ready for the GCSE English Language writing tasks. I have these resources (along with my poetry challenge reading tasks and prose challenge reading tasks) laminated on coloured paper (green for reading and yellow for writing) in a folder my pupils can access if they have completed all my main lesson tasks. I have also used these writing tasks for cover lessons, as adapted learning group tasks and with my KS3 creative writing club. Now my school is moving towards pupils using laptops in lessons, I have uploaded these into my KS3 class Teams rooms to encourage pupils to access stretch and challenge activities as part of their independent learning. I have uploaded my reading extension/challenge poetry tasks and reading extension/challenge prose tasks in separate TES resources. Alternatively, you can purchase all the resources in a bundle.

A full lesson including an A* exemplar accents (language diversity) essay produced for my Year 12 AQA English Language students as a modelling example in the Autumn term and 22 slide PowerPoint. This lesson guides Year 12 students through potential content for an AQA Paper 1 Section A evaluative essay (after I had taught the accents part of my accent and dialect SoW). This is followed by use of the exemplar essay to guide students through the AQA mark scheme and exemplify level 4 and some level 5 AO1 and AO2 success criteria. Initially, I cut up the essay and asked students to organise it into an argument (AO1 level 4), then we discussed whether it guided the reader (AO1 level 5). We then explored the use of precise AO1 terminology and academic register before exploring evidence of detailed knowledge and comments on different views and approaches (AO2 level 4) and how some of these views were challenged and evaluated (AO2 level 5). The PowerPoint also helps students understand what the mark scheme wording means. I then gave my students two new accents essay titles to choose from for their first A Level essay - details on PowerPoint. All lesson details are on the PowerPoint with some additional tips/ideas/links in the notes sections. This lesson proved a great success with high quality A Level essays produced by my students. The AQA Paper 2 Section A mark scheme can be found on the AQA website.