Grammar and vocabulary

Introducing more pronunciation doesn’t need a radically new way of teaching modern foreign languages. Here are some tips and resources to help you increase your focus on pronunciation.

25% of children left primary school last year without being able to read properly. Without this essential skill, children's life chances are severely hampered, but fostering a reading for pleasure habit in children is the greatest way of improving their literacy skills. 

According to a survey by the Teacher Wellbeing Index, in 2021 an alarming 72% of education staff reported experiencing symptoms of poor mental health due to their work, and 54% had considered leaving the sector in the past two years.

These statistics are sobering and sad. Teacher wellbeing needs investment at the highest level in order to affect significant and lasting change. Until then, it is down to us to look after ourselves in order to look after others, however hard or self-indulgent it may seem. The resources below are designed to support you in finding ways to make your wellbeing a priority and, as the saying goes, 'Put your own oxygen mask on first'. 

In the words of David Waugh, '... punctuation can be a very powerful tool when we write, enabling us to express ideas in different ways and often substituting for the tone, volume and expression we are able to use in speech.' (David Waugh, Practical approaches to teaching punctuation in the primary school, 2022)

Whether you're a punctuation pedant or a grudging grammarian, GPS is a major part of the curriculum. So love it or loathe it, here I'm featuring brand new punctuation and grammar resources for every year group. 

Pre-1900 literary texts can be challenging for KS3-4 English students. Here are some ideas and classroom resources to engage students and build important comprehension and GCSE exam skills. 

Reading has never been more important for young people's wellbeing, personal growth and attainment. You'll find inspiring World Book Day resources to download as well as fun ideas for lessons, displays and activities to celebrate the day in style in your English class.  

The draft French specifications for the new curriculum are now published, and here at Teachit we already have resources to support you in your teaching of the 2024 curriculum content.

Head of EAL Anna Czebiolko shares tips on providing help with English as an additional language in the mainstream classroom.

Experienced SENDCo, consultant and author Abigail Hawkins offers advice on helping students with dysgraphia or handwriting difficulties at secondary school.

Dr Helen Ross, SEND expert and educational research consultant, offers quick wins for supporting dyslexic students in mainstream lessons.

Those of us in education do not need to be reminded of the wonder of books and the benefits of reading for pleasure.

Sadly, not all children embrace the joy of reading and so World Book Day (which, this year, takes place on 2 March) can be a great opportunity to increase their engagement and get them sharing books.

Emma Granton and Simon Briggs, Lead English Experts for AQA, share their ideas about how to enrich students' cultural capital in preparation for teaching literature texts at GCSE.

Rebecca Nobes is Head of Spanish and a Chartered Teacher. Here she shares her reflections on MFL teaching for new teachers starting out...

Rebecca Nobes shares her ideas about the benefits of becoming a Chartered Teacher.

Aly Spencer is Head of ITT for the Fylde Coast SCITT and teaching schools. Here she shares her ideas for how to engage with disengaged students during your training year.