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Primary English - How We Teach

The blog that's packed with advice, tips and inspiration for improving literacy across the curriculum (tell your colleagues!)

Main image for Year 1 and Year 2 Common exception words – How to make them stick
Year 1 and Year 2 Common exception words – How to make them stick

Tricky words are often the most useful for children's reading and writing – so here's how to make them memorable

Main image for Imperative verb – 10 ways to teach bossy verbs
Imperative verb – 10 ways to teach bossy verbs

To help children learn about sentence types, here are some top tips for identifying and using commands...

Main image for Inverted commas – Getting speech punctuation right at KS2
Inverted commas – Getting speech punctuation right at KS2

Perfectly punctuating dialogue is something that can trip up even experienced editors – but this quick guide should help pupils get it...

Main image for How to teach coordinating conjunctions in Key Stage 2: FANBOYS
How to teach coordinating conjunctions in Key Stage 2: FANBOYS

Understanding what makes a good compound sentence is an essential skill to help young writers make progress

Main image for Emotive language – Teaching tips for KS2 vocabulary
Emotive language – Teaching tips for KS2 vocabulary

Support children towards greater depth writing by teaching the responsible use of powerful language

Main image for How to be a Word Archaeologist
How to be a Word Archaeologist

Building a brilliant vocabulary can be an exciting process of exploration and discovery - so let's present it that way to our pupils...

Main image for How to build a language-rich school
How to build a language-rich school

When it comes to growing children's vocabularies, exposure to challenging texts is only part of the picture...

Main image for 2021 guide to home learning – Primary school resources, advice and ideas for teachers and parents
2021 guide to home learning – Primary school resources, advice and ideas for teachers and parents

Help every Key Stage 2 student learn when away from school with these tips, activity ideas and more...

Main image for Books for topics – Teaching ideas and resources for KS1 and KS2
Books for topics – Teaching ideas and resources for KS1 and KS2

With around 10,000 new children's titles published every year, how can teachers choose the best for their classroom?

Main image for Connectives – How to teach them in KS2 SPaG
Connectives – How to teach them in KS2 SPaG

Ensure children's writing holds firm by building a deep understanding of how ideas can be joined together

Main image for Storyboard templates – Planning techniques for KS1/KS2 writing
Storyboard templates – Planning techniques for KS1/KS2 writing

Discover how this simple planning technique can help children with inspiration, sequencing and more...

Main image for Year 5 and 6 spelling words – Teacher resources and tips for KS2 SPaG
Year 5 and 6 spelling words – Teacher resources and tips for KS2 SPaG

Try these smart spelling strategies to boost children's skills and confidence, every time they write

Main image for Non-chronological reports – Teaching ideas for KS1/2 writing
Non-chronological reports – Teaching ideas for KS1/2 writing

Support children as they get their facts straight, with this guide to presenting information clearly and accurately

Main image for Creative writing ideas for teaching KS2 English
Creative writing ideas for teaching KS2 English

Inspire sophisticated stories with these cross-curricular creative writing tips to get children's imaginations active...

Main image for The Ofsted Deep Dive – Writing
The Ofsted Deep Dive – Writing

Make sure you are fully prepared to show your best side, should the inspectors decide to investigate writing in your school...

Main image for Oracy – Improving KS2 students’ speaking and listening skills
Oracy – Improving KS2 students’ speaking and listening skills

The ability to use speech clearly and with confidence is crucial for successful literacy outcomes

Main image for The Ofsted Deep Dive – Reading
The Ofsted Deep Dive – Reading

Waiting for 'the call'? Make sure you're ready to demonstrate intent, implementation and impact for your school's reading curriculum...

Main image for KS2 Poems – Teaching tips for poetry writing and poetic techniques
KS2 Poems – Teaching tips for poetry writing and poetic techniques

From limericks to sonnets and everything in between - poetry has so much to offer for primary school...

Main image for Diary writing – Teaching how to write a diary entry in KS1 and KS2
Diary writing – Teaching how to write a diary entry in KS1 and KS2

Revisit the features required for an effective first person recount

Main image for Word classes – Vocabulary teaching ideas for primary
Word classes – Vocabulary teaching ideas for primary

Brush up your subject knowledge with this comprehensive guide to vocabulary categories

Main image for Five Effective Strategies to Close the Word Gap
Five Effective Strategies to Close the Word Gap

A rich vocabulary is a key marker of successful academic outcomes - so how can teachers help every child develop one?

Main image for Setting descriptions – KS2 creative writing
Setting descriptions – KS2 creative writing

Use these strategies to give children the tools they need to create powerful settings for their descriptive writing

Main image for Explanation Texts – Teaching tips for KS2 writing
Explanation Texts – Teaching tips for KS2 writing

Teach children the key features and conventions of an important - but potentially tricky - writing genre

Main image for Story Sacks – Teaching great storytelling in KS1/2 creative writing
Story Sacks – Teaching great storytelling in KS1/2 creative writing

Try this simple and effective strategy for helping young children write more powerful stories

Main image for Teaching phonics – Improve reading skills for KS1 children
Teaching phonics – Improve reading skills for KS1 children

Suddenly found yourself in Year 1? This back-to-basics 'how to teach phonics' teacher guide will help you support pupils in their first...

Main image for Poetic Techniques – How to teach them at KS1 and KS2
Poetic Techniques – How to teach them at KS1 and KS2

Try these tips for teaching children to spot rhetorical devices in others' poetry – and use them in their poems

Main image for Story Mountain – Teaching this story structure in KS2 creative writing
Story Mountain – Teaching this story structure in KS2 creative writing

Careful story planning doesn't mean children have to squash their creativity – quite the opposite, in fact...

Main image for Handwriting Resources
Handwriting Resources

Well-formed, clear handwriting doesn't just look good - it's an indicator of improved outcomes, well beyond the end of KS2...

Main image for World Book Day ideas and activities for KS1 and KS2
World Book Day ideas and activities for KS1 and KS2

Celebrate World Book Day, the annual event championing reading for pleasure, with these easy, no-stress activity ideas and resources...

Main image for Greater Depth Writing – Teaching ideas for KS2
Greater Depth Writing – Teaching ideas for KS2

Follow this advice to make sure you are encouraging every pupil to produce their very best written work possible

Main image for Teacher Assessment Framework KS1
Teacher Assessment Framework KS1

Sound advice to make sure the KS1 Teacher Assessment Framework is working for you and your pupils – as well as those pesky Powers That...

Main image for Conjunctions KS2 – Grammar teaching ideas for Year 3-6
Conjunctions KS2 – Grammar teaching ideas for Year 3-6

Using a sophisticated range of sentence structures is an important element of greater depth writing

Main image for 7 ways to get children reading in KS1 and KS2
7 ways to get children reading in KS1 and KS2

Few things have a more positive impact on children's outcomes than how often they read for pleasure - so here's how to encourage it...

Main image for Formal letter writing – Teaching ideas for KS2 English
Formal letter writing – Teaching ideas for KS2 English

Pupils may be more used to pinging a DM than penning a missive – but they still need the skills required for the latter...

Main image for Tricky words – Teaching tips for KS2 spelling
Tricky words – Teaching tips for KS2 spelling

Nine simple strategies to support pupils in mastering CEWs, SSWs and other non-standard spelling challenges!

Main image for Lesson plan templates for primary teachers
Lesson plan templates for primary teachers

Take the stress out of planning with tips and resources to make life easier...

Main image for Tarsia puzzles – Literacy games for KS1/2
Tarsia puzzles – Literacy games for KS1/2

Explore how a simple game can help children make leaps of literacy progress...

Main image for Shakespeare KS2 – How to teach William Shakespeare’s plays in primary school
Shakespeare KS2 – How to teach William Shakespeare’s plays in primary school

Can primary school children really make sense of the Bard? Absolutely...

Main image for Spelling strategies KS2 – Teaching spelling in Year 3-6
Spelling strategies KS2 – Teaching spelling in Year 3-6

Give every student the skills they need to become a master speller, from day one!

Main image for KS2 reading comprehension – Teaching ideas for primary school English
KS2 reading comprehension – Teaching ideas for primary school English

Give your Key Stage 2 students the key skills they need to get the most out of any text...

Main image for Working walls – How to make the most of your primary learning environment
Working walls – How to make the most of your primary learning environment

With a little time and a healthy dash of creativity, your classroom walls can become invaluable learning tools...

Main image for Spelling games for Key Stage 2 SPaG teaching
Spelling games for Key Stage 2 SPaG teaching

Just follow these tips and 'Bingo!' – learning is fun once again...

Main image for KS2 imagery – Improve students’ poetry and creative writing
KS2 imagery – Improve students’ poetry and creative writing

Draw on your pupils' imaginations to help them paint a picture with their words

Main image for Persuasive writing – Teaching techniques for KS2
Persuasive writing – Teaching techniques for KS2

Can you afford to miss out? Read on to discover the best persuasive writing technique tips ever, absolutely free!

Main image for Adverbial phrases – Top tips for teaching with confidence and creativity
Adverbial phrases – Top tips for teaching with confidence and creativity

Help children move towards greater depth, with this guide to understanding and teaching the key cohesive device that is the adverbial phrase

Main image for Grammar games – SPaG activities for KS2
Grammar games – SPaG activities for KS2

Every student learns best when they're really enjoying what they're doing - and that includes learning about irregular verbs, the past...

Main image for Prepositions KS2 – Grammar teaching tips for Year 3 SPaG
Prepositions KS2 – Grammar teaching tips for Year 3 SPaG

Take pupils FROM confusion TO confidence in nine easy steps

Main image for Year 6 reading comprehension – Building confidence for SATs and beyond
Year 6 reading comprehension – Building confidence for SATs and beyond

Ensure success in those end of KS2 assessments, with resources and strategies for better text analysis

Main image for Determiners KS2 – definitions, teaching advice and essential resources
Determiners KS2 – definitions, teaching advice and essential resources

Help pupils in Year 4 and onwards to identify, use and understand the different ways we can modify a noun...

Main image for Character description – Creative writing tips and resources for bringing characters to life
Character description – Creative writing tips and resources for bringing characters to life

Successful writers know how to create convincing and memorable characters - and here's how they do it...

Main image for Word families – Advice and worksheets for teaching root words in KS2
Word families – Advice and worksheets for teaching root words in KS2

Improve reading comprehension skills and develop more sophisticated writing by exploring etymology with your pupils...

Main image for The past tense – KS1 verbs to revisit now and then
The past tense – KS1 verbs to revisit now and then

A secure understanding of how to use different tenses is essential if children are to make good progress in writing

Main image for Personification – Making KS2 writing come to life
Personification – Making KS2 writing come to life

Help children write at greater depth, with language choices that really grab readers' attention

Main image for Writing newspaper reports KS2 – read all about it!
Writing newspaper reports KS2 – read all about it!

As non-fiction text types go, news articles provide opportunities to develop a whole range of key writing skills...

Main image for Teaching onomatopoeia – Make your English language lessons go with a bang
Teaching onomatopoeia – Make your English language lessons go with a bang

It's a tough word to spell – but a hugely useful rhetorical device for the greater depth writing toolkit in KS1 and KS2

Main image for The subjunctive form – Year 6 worksheets and resources to make it clear
The subjunctive form – Year 6 worksheets and resources to make it clear

If you were hoping to improve your teaching, understanding this often perplexing verb mood would be a great place to start...

Main image for Subordinating conjunctions – Making complex sentences simple
Subordinating conjunctions – Making complex sentences simple

It’s a term children first meet in Year 2 – and understanding it will take their writing to the next level...

Main image for Introducing apostrophes in Year 2 – Tips to help children remember
Introducing apostrophes in Year 2 – Tips to help children remember

Teach possession and contraction well from the start, and you could prevent a lifetime of punctuation mark confusion for your pupils...

Main image for Ambitious vocabulary – The pros and cons of ‘wow’ words
Ambitious vocabulary – The pros and cons of ‘wow’ words

Encourage children to add sophisticated shimmer to their writing, with truly thoughtful and creative vocabulary choices

Main image for Homophones – Top tips for improving your/you’re teaching
Homophones – Top tips for improving your/you’re teaching

End children’s confusion over words that sound the same but have a different meaning, with these clever strategies for Years 2-6

Main image for Letter writing in KS1 and KS2 – 9 tips for delivering great lessons
Letter writing in KS1 and KS2 – 9 tips for delivering great lessons

No matter how convenient it is to tap out a text, the epistolary art is still a valuable skill for children to learn to improve writing...

Main image for Teaching alliteration – Top tips and pitiful pitfalls
Teaching alliteration – Top tips and pitiful pitfalls

Adding rhetorical flourishes will help children achieve greater depth writing – but only if they know why they’re doing it...

Main image for Year 5 relative clauses – 9 useful tips that promote confident teaching
Year 5 relative clauses – 9 useful tips that promote confident teaching

Use these smart strategies to turn a challenging grammar topic into something that’s, well, relatively simple!

Main image for KS2 similes and metaphors – 9 ways to teach with confidence
KS2 similes and metaphors – 9 ways to teach with confidence

The effective use of descriptive language is key for greater depth writing – so here's how to help pupils bring their ideas to life with...

Main image for Year 4 fronted adverbials – 8 teaching tips to make it easy
Year 4 fronted adverbials – 8 teaching tips to make it easy

It’s a notoriously (and perhaps surprisingly) challenging topic – but it's time to take the fear out of teaching fronted adverbials...

Main image for KS2 modal verbs – 9 teaching tips you may/might/will want to follow
KS2 modal verbs – 9 teaching tips you may/might/will want to follow

By the end of Year 5, children need to be able to identify and use modal verbs - but can you?

Main image for 5 tips for stress-free homeschooling
5 tips for stress-free homeschooling

Just a few small changes to the daily home education routine can really help keep children engaged whilst learning away from the...

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