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 →

Project 2019: Home Office Build

This is a little like how I imagine the finished building to look (white windows and doors and up/down lights), but a similar finish. 22nd January 2019: A few months ago, I had an idea- wouldn't it be brilliant to have an office in the garden? Insulated with electric, wifi, all the mod cons? A … Continue reading Project 2019: Home Office Build →

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 →

Is ‘Recorded Verbal Feedback’ the way forward for KS5?

Photo by Magda Ehlers on Pexels.com After some discussions with various colleagues, a couple of members of my department and I have been experimenting with how we give essay feedback to Year 12 and 13 students. We usually like to mix things up by using whole class feedback and 1-2-1 meetings (which are hugely beneficial … Continue reading Is ‘Recorded Verbal Feedback’ the way forward for KS5? →

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!) →

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 →

Year 12 Poetry Escape Room?

The best lessons are often those that originate at interesting and unexpected moments- unsurprisingly not the ones that you agonise over for hours. This idea for a lesson came around 20 minutes before the lesson began(!), but I had some very happy customers at the end of the lesson and a clear sense that students … Continue reading Year 12 Poetry Escape Room? →