A crossword that tests learners’ awareness of the following terms: foot quatrain enjambment blank verse tercet refrain sonnet personification iamb trochee stanza sestet A teacher copy with the answers is also provided. Could be used as a starter into an unseen poetry task. This document was last saved in Word 2016.

A starter activity that tests learners’ recognition of simple, compound and complex sentences. There are 5 different boards and one teacher sheet. Board 1 is the winning board. All being well, this resource will soon be incorporated into a wider lesson on developing complex sentences, but in the meantime, you may wish to purchase it separately. It is aimed at a lower-middle ability Year 8.

A double-sided, detailed context sheet for ‘A Christmas Carol’. As this doesn’t seem to show on the preview, the reverse side of the sheet contains a section on working conditions in the Victorian age and the ideas of Thomas Malthus. There is an accompanying worksheet on which students can write their notes. If preferred, these resources can be purchased as part of a larger unit of work on Stave One: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-christmas-carol-stave-one-11996048

A knowledge organiser for AQA Paper 1, Question 4 aimed at students on the borderline between grades 3 and 4. The WAGOLLs are based on a short extract from Frankenstein. Full colour and black and white copies included.

A knowledge organiser for AQA Paper 1, Question 4 aimed at students working towards Grade 3. Full colour and black and white copies included.

A worksheet that encourages students to plan their short stories. Suitable for KS3 and KS4 groups, NB A newer version of this worksheet should be available here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/short-story-planning-flow-chart-2-12001454

This learning mat summarises key descriptive writing techniques using the acronym MRS VAN SOAP.

Learners should cut up and match the descriptive techniques to the correct examples, focusing in on the emboldened words and phrases.

A sample essay in response to an AQA 8700, Paper 2, Question 5-style task. There is a teacher copy and a student copy. The latter is littered with deliberate errors for learners to identify and correct. It is aimed at middle-upper ability groups and the question could be adapted to be relevant to other boards. It could be used as a homework activity or a lesson starter to draw attention to the need for checking for spelling, punctuation and grammar.

An introduction to simple, compound and complex sentences with activities at the end. Suitable for KS2 or lower KS3 groups. Update: I have created an alternative to this lesson, found here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/lower-ability-ks3-sentence-types-12057647

An introduction to the use of similes, metaphors and personfication, suitable for upper KS2 and lower KS3 groups. **UPDATE: If you would prefer more up-to-date lessons on these descriptive techniques, please consider these alternatives: ** https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/similes-and-metaphors-for-la-ks3-12065155 https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/personification-for-la-ks3-12069267

A highly simplifed re-writing of Act One of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ in modern English. There are just over 6 pages at font size 14. Written for a Year 9 nurture group.

A highly simplifed re-writing of Act Five of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ in modern English. There are just over 5 pages at font size 14. Written for a Year 9 nurture group

A handy flow chart that can be used a learning mat or a display. Its aim is to remind students how to use basic sentence punctuation.

A highly simplifed re-writing of Act Three of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ in modern English. There are 8 pages at font size 14. Written for a Year 9 nurture group.

A highly simplifed re-writing of Act Four of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ in modern English. There are just over 4 pages at font size 14. Written for a Year 9 nurture group.

A highly simplifed re-writing of Act Two of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ in modern English. There are 5 pages at font size 14. Written for a Year 9 nurture group.

This worksheet can be used at either KS3 or KS4 to enable students to plan a short story according to Freytag’s Pyramid. NB. I have used the term ‘initial situation’ instead of exposition. An alternative, older version of this worksheet should be available here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/short-story-planning-flow-chart-11747165

A handy learning mat/display that reminds students how to use a colon and semi-colon.

A powerpoint that explores in some depth the socio-historical context of ‘Romeo and Juliet’. Use with middle ability groups.