Teaching and learning

Reading comprehension – understanding the meaning of a text – is key to developing the reading skills of all students, and particularly struggling readers at secondary school. Here's a selection of our favourite lesson ideas, comprehension worksheets and classroom resources. 

Placing oracy at the heart of English teaching and learning will not only enable your learners to express their ideas with confidence, but also help to close the disadvantage gap.  

As we learn more about the benefits of developing students' oracy skills, Sue Cowley shares her practical tips and teaching strategies for managing group work effectively to develop their speaking, listening and communication skills. 

With experts reporting a learning loss in reading of between 2-7 months for all students following school disruptions, closing the reading gap has never been more important. We share some of our favourite reading for pleasure resources for English teachers and students.  

Teaching poetry can be wonderful, but some students struggle to engage with the challenges of poetic language, structure and form. With a range of playful approaches to try, you'll find ideas to inspire KS3-5 students to read and analyse poetry with more confidence and enjoyment, and even start writing their own poetry too.   

Will Bailey-Watson is a PGCE History leader. Here he discusses how vital it is for students to see why their homework is important.