Category: Teaching and Learning

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 →

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 →

Comparative Judgement Trial and The Feedback Question

After listening to Daisy Christodoulou speak at the West Midlands Knowledge Hub last month and reading her book ‘ The Future of Assessment for Learning’, I decided to finally take the leap and trial ‘No More Marking’ in our department. As with every other English department (I’m guessing!) marking easily becomes unmanageable and it is … Continue reading Comparative Judgement Trial and The Feedback Question →

Three Ways to Step Up the Challenge at KS3 (NACE Blog)

3 ways to step up the challenge in Key Stage Three English Shortly before the half term break, I asked a number of Year 13 students if they could remember the moment that solidified their decision to study English at A level. The responses were interesting: some of them said it was a particular teacher … Continue reading Three Ways to Step Up the Challenge at KS3 (NACE Blog) →