How do I get them to be ‘critical’ and ‘conceptualised’? A few ways to get students thinking about the GCSE Modern Text

As a department, we teach the GCSE Modern Text in this final term. I have taught Animal Farm for some years now but have, at times, found it a challenge to teach students how to be more critical and conceptualised in their responses. With so many excellent revision resources out there, students often prioritise the … Continue reading How do I get them to be ‘critical’ and ‘conceptualised’? A few ways to get students thinking about the GCSE Modern Text →

Teaching interview heebie jeebies? 5 tips to help you prepare for a teaching interview

Photo by Tim Gouw on Pexels.com I've noticed quite a few nervous tweets in the last few weeks regarding teaching interviews and I thought it would be worth lending a hand. During this half term, we are usually in the midst of the main teacher transfer window and it's good to feel prepared for the … Continue reading Teaching interview heebie jeebies? 5 tips to help you prepare for a teaching interview →

Teacher, ‘Try Me’ No.4: 3 Tips for Using a Visualiser in the English classroom

Having your own exercise book is a great way to keep all of your worked examples together (saw this from somebody @team_english1 -- sorry I don't know who, but thanks so much for sharing, whoever you are!) I've seen quite a few questions on Twitter recently about how visualisers can be used effectively in the … Continue reading Teacher, ‘Try Me’ No.4: 3 Tips for Using a Visualiser in the English classroom →

Teacher ‘Try Me’ No. 3: Qwiqr QR Feedback

Save time, produce high quality feedback and the students love it! In the week that the Schools Minister, Nick Gibb called for a ban on mobile phones in schools (not really wishing to open that can of worms, but the full debate is here!) , I discovered a brilliant website that helps teachers to give … Continue reading Teacher ‘Try Me’ No. 3: Qwiqr QR Feedback →

A Level English Teacher, ‘Try Me’ No.2: Introducing research skills for AQA Lit NEA

As a centre, we try really hard to get students used to being able to research effectively and to be discerning when looking at critical views. For our AQA A Level English Literature Non Exam Assessment, we teach all critical viewpoints in the critical anthology (Marxism, Feminism, Post Colonialism etc) and let them loose in … Continue reading A Level English Teacher, ‘Try Me’ No.2: Introducing research skills for AQA Lit NEA →

English Teacher, ‘Try Me’ No.1- Conceptualised responses for GCSE and A level/ challenge activity

Getting students to understand texts as a construct can be difficult, it's a common trope for students to 'get lost' in the characters or language of a text without considering some of the wider concepts covered. They may know particular moments or scenes well, but won't always consider the wider context of these moments or … Continue reading English Teacher, ‘Try Me’ No.1- Conceptualised responses for GCSE and A level/ challenge activity →

A New Year Guide for Middle Leaders (New and Old!)

Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com After the initial first days of feeling quite lost at the end of a term, I finally relax and live a different life for a little while. Holidays give me the much-needed distance away from the day-to-day challenges and school routine (not least being able to go to the toilet … Continue reading A New Year Guide for Middle Leaders (New and Old!) →