English literature

Top 10 ideas for teaching Pride and Prejudice

Use these 5 discussion points and 5 extension tasks to help your students understand the context of this classic novel. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice is a novel that is so embedded in our society that you could describe a man as ‘a Mr Darcy’ and… Read More

Top 10 ideas for teaching Jane Eyre

Use these 5 discussion points and 5 extension tasks to help your students understand the context of this classic novel by Charlotte Brontë. Jane Eyre is a transcendent novel. I’ve read it as an 11-year-old and through my teens then into adulthood, and it gets richer and more relevant with… Read More

Using Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde to teach Descriptive writing

Teaching descriptive writing is one of those things I always look forwards to – what English teacher doesn’t love to use language devices with flourish? – Only to often regret when it comes to marking. In my first couple of years of teaching I was always dumbfounded by the results… 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 use character mapping to promote familiarity of AO in An Inspector Calls

Starting a new text with your class is always a joy, reading collectively and hearing their opinions and reflections never fails to brighten my day. But how do you teach the text in a way that is creative and animated whilst also letting the crucial exam requirements take centre stage?… Read More

Building on students’ knowledge: teaching tips for approaching The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Unlike many 19th century novels, students are likely to already have some idea of the central premise of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde before they read the novel – the concept of duality and the sinful double life. However, they are less likely… Read More

A message for us all from Dickens

Dickens – and the message of A Christmas Carol is everywhere – even though the season of goodwill is over four months away. He was on the lips of Labour MP David Lammy in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster, repurposing the title of A Tale of Two Cities… Read More

A Manifesto for the teaching of Great Literature!

A great book can help children to see themselves not just as they are, but as they might be. Read More

Revisiting the text: Teaching the 19th Century Novel

Naomi Hursthouse offers advice on teaching the 19th century novel for the new English Literature GCSE. Read More

Collins GCSE English Festival – Stories Inside Out

What can be done in Year 9 to ease students into the new demands they will face? The Collins GCSE Core book includes a suggested scheme of work for the year which highlights three different phases over the school year. The Teacher’s Guide spells out a range of ideas, but I want to deal with elaborating on one from the first term in the scheme - ‘Building skills and sharing stories’ Read More