english

Top 10 ideas for teaching Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

Stevenson himself is an interesting character, admitting that what began as nightmares in childhood eventually became full and extensive images and scenes of horror that could last up to a day. Medical professionals in today’s society would probably would call these episodes paranoid delusions or the results of lack of… Read More

Top 10 ideas for teaching The Sign of Four

Before we start I have to admit something; before writing this blog I’d never read any Sherlock Holmes stories… in fact I’d totally dismissed them assuming they were dry and dull and not understanding the nation’s love for them. I stand wholly corrected. The Sign of Four is a short… Read More

Welcome to Dickens’ Victorian Christmas Market!

This interactive drama lesson has been designed to support your teaching of A Christmas Carol. ‘Roll up, roll up, Ladies and Gentleman! Spend your coppers on my wares, for who wouldn’t want the gift of kindness for Christmas? Not you, Sir? Hang on, hang on, what about the chance for… Read More

How to differentiate to accommodate all learners

A new year more often than not means a completely new set of learners, each with their own individual ways of learning. Add into the mix those who do not have English as a first language, have additional needs or are more able, and it can be tricky to know… Read More

The Benefits of Uninterrupted Reading

Recently, I have been reading up on the benefits of whole class reading. Doug Lemov’s ideas in Reading Reconsidered seem to be (rightly) influencing many primary teachers to eschew small group reading for whole class texts. These ideas seem to align with a trend in my own secondary teaching in… Read More

Hammering it home: how writers use imagery to create effects!

By Peter Morrisson He’d left his laptop open, and still switched on. As her hand had brushed against the screen, it had shamelessly flickered into life, brazenly displaying the profile of a young woman with a shock of red hair, piercing green eyes and heavy pancake makeup who called herself… Read More