Miss Swarbrick's English Tutoring

The Destruction of Sennacherib is a fantastic poem to practise your Unseen Poetry techniques with!

Question: How does the poet present ideas about religion in The Destruction of Sennacherib?

Step 1: Read the poem twice
Step 2: Top & Tail (annotate the title, the first line and the last line)
Step 2: Think 3-2-1 (3 explicit details, 2 inferences and 1 question)
Step 3: Section (add two lines in the poem to create three sections, these lines should indicate a change in tone, mood or focus, you should then title these sections)
Step 4: Punctuation (highlight all of the punctuation so you get to grips with the structure of the poem, pay close attention to the effect of caesura and enjambment)

If you follow all of these steps in the Unseen Poetry exam you will be guaranteed to form an understanding of the poem and find some golden nuggets of analysis! :)

Quotation Quiz 2 answers! The first AQA & EDUQAS Literature exam is only 18 days away now.

The first Language exam is in 11 days!

Here is the second Quotation Quiz! How many do you know?!

Remember: you should ideally be revising for 2 hours each night! 🧠

However, it is equally important to give yourself breaks, and if you feel the stress is getting overwhelming then take a step back!

Your mental health is important during the exam season. ☀️

Here are the results for yesterday's Quotation Quiz! How many did you get right?

It's extremely important that as a GCSE student you are revising quotations from all of your literature texts as knowing these is a key component in being successful!

This is my first post in a while! I have been a busy bee since September, tutoring three lovely GCSE students to get them prepared for their examinations and a year 6 student with their creative writing!

I am proud of all my students and would like to share a snapshot of the creative writing the year 6 student has been doing.

We've been writing all about the Harry Potter world and described the Forbidden Forest this week with a close focus on including a sophisticated vocabulary, similes and metaphors!

GCSE English examinations start in as little as three weeks! Can any GCSE students complete these literature quotations? The answers will be revealed tomorrow!

I will start to post daily quotation quizzes to help aid with revision!

Chapter 4 for your reading pleasure! (That is a bit of a mouthful!)

https://youtu.be/3vxbNL5FWsg

Two chapters a week are being uploaded 🙂

'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' Chapter 4 Reading In this chapter Alice is causing a lot of havoc once again in Wonderland!

Chapters 1-3 of ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ have now been uploaded. 😊

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4JOzM3OgoM

'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' Chapter 3 Reading Join me to read Chapter 3 'A Caucus Race and a Very Long Tale', in which we meet all sorts of strange creatures!

As we are at the start of another national lockdown I have started reading children’s literature again! This time I am reading ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ by the marvellous Lewis Carroll.

The novel will be on screen for these readings as it has been proven reading along helps with comprehension and retaining the array of wonderful new words the children may learn!

If your child’s school partakes in Accelerated Reader but due to the current circumstances they don’t have access to any reading books, then this novel is on AR and can be taken as a quiz!

I will upload one chapter of this wonderful (don’t mind the pun) book every Tuesday and Friday. 🙂

https://youtu.be/AqU3DRUpHiM

I’ve been working on some creative writing with one of my students and we have based it on Dracula’s vampire sisters!

I had to share her work with you all, as it is fabulous and wonderfully descriptive! For this particular segment we focused on creating atmosphere through the setting and tying it to characters. She has used “show don’t tell” techniques, matched with an upgraded vocabulary and advanced metaphors!

“Withering candles flickered rapidly in the dim room, slowly melting away into the midnight darkness. A shredded velvet rug lined the creaky floor, regally leading up to a mantlepiece with a flaking portrait, hand-painted but with dust framing it.

A flash of scarlet red then burst from the far corner of the room, I was then to notice three women sitting at a small ebony table in a dark unlit spot. They just stared, their almost unearthly eyes glaring straight into my soul, but I was intrigued. They turned to face each other, as if communicating in some way through their facial expressions...”

Hello! I have been working on my Macbeth knowledge in preparation for the new school year this week!

A huge part of why I love teaching and tutoring is because I myself never stop learning.

I’ve been focusing particularly upon the contextual information that surrounds the play, under this comes the Pendle Witch Trials, one of the most famous witch trials in the world!

This is a fabulous documentary that explores the Pendle Witch Trials that is presented by the great poet Simon Armitage - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MATKIhrDZSc&feature=share

I've just completed the first session with my little group of students where we learned about Freytag's Pyramid and gothic conventions.

The homework I have set them is based on vocabulary from The Tell-Tale Heart, a great way to get to grips with new and challenging vocabulary is to complete these four little activities surrounding the main word!

If you would like the plain worksheet for your child to use or for yourself to use as revision then just send me a message and I will send it on over to you. :)

I am getting ready to teach a lovely group of students (who are going into year 7, 8 and 9 in September) creative writing and analysis based on gothic short stories!

Gothic literature is a huge passion of mine, I get so excited when I have the chance to base my teaching around it. 😀

The first story is 'The Tell-Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe, a gem of a short story that is just as effective as longer novels!

Here is the link if you're interested in reading it:https://www.ibiblio.org/ebooks/Poe/Tell-Tale_Heart.pdf

Let’s talk about SLEEP! 🛏 😴

Many people over lockdown have experienced sleeping problems, this is no surprise due to the surge in anxiety and worry that may have been felt!

However, cultivating a healthy sleeping pattern is extremely important to your health as not having one can actually cause physical health problems!

If you’re a student then sleep is extremely important in you being able to concentrate on your work and revision.

Here are some top tips for creating a better sleeping pattern:

🛏 Stick to a regular routine by going to bed at the same time and getting up at the same time.

🛏 Exercising during the day will improve sleep quality, reduce stress and improve your mood.

🛏 Make sure you don’t stay in bed all day, even when you have nothing to do, as you will start to associate your bed with being awake and this will cause sleeping problems.

🛏 Avoid drinking caffeine late in the day.

🛏 Have a news and electronic device blackout before you go to sleep! Not seeing those pesky blue lights or any anxiety ridden news stories will help you have a peaceful slumber.

🛏 Create a comfortable sleep environment, plump up your pillows, get an extra comfy duvet and you’ll be ready to have a lovely night’s sleep! 🌓 ⭐️

📚 SUMMER SCHOOL OFFER 📚

I have 5 places for each school session available!

The lessons will be held over Zoom and will start on the 5th August.

Book in quickly to avoid the spaces filling up, message me if you want any more information!

Well, it is officially the start of the summer holidays!
A time to relax after all the home schooling that has been done over the past 4 months!

Yet this is also the perfect time to get your child a tutor for their English Literature and Language work, to help them hit the ground running in September!

If you want any more details about what I could offer you then please don’t hesitate to message me.

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📚 I’ve attached a link to my Dropbox where you can download resources for your child to revise the topics listed below! 📚

The Language Paper 1 is AQA spec.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/u50r9rj3t5sot7i/AAA7PuFpfV8Iq2u3qIwl59o9a?dl=0

Received the most exciting delivery!

This book is going to be invaluable in refining my Macbeth knowledge and lessons.

I am experienced in teaching Macbeth, if this is a text your child is studying then don’t hesistate to message me enquiring about tutoring!

I can also send resources FREE of charge. ☺️

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Let’s play a game!

In the comments let’s start a synonym snake for the word...
HAPPY

Write a word for each letter of the alphabet that has the same meaning (or very very close) to ‘happy’!

I’ve started it off for you! 😁

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As we come to the last week of the academic year, I think it is a good time to reflect on your child’s education.

They may be close to their final GCSE years at high school and you’re wondering what you can do to give them the extra help and support they need?

The past few months have not been an easy time and your child may be worrying about their future. If you would like some help in making them feel more confident, comfortable, knowledgeable and ready to tackle the new school year head on then don’t hesitate to message me!

I will work directly with you and your child to create a personalised plan that will help them to build up the skills that are needed for English!

Every child already has all the potential there, they just need a little help sometimes to unlock it. ☺️

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Today I am going over my previous Blood Brothers lessons and changing and improving them for the next academic year!

I can’t wait to research even more into this play and hopefully find out some new pieces of information about it to relay onto my students.

What are your plans for today? I hope that you learn something new! ☺️

Is your child studying Macbeth or do you want them to watch something that is worthwhile?

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre has released a free recording of Macbeth onto YouTube!

I would highly recommend watching the production alongside reading the text. It can help greatly with decoding the Shakespearean language and understanding the character's different emotions in the scenes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFwHmgA9nno

Macbeth (2020) for Free | Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank | Shakespeare's Globe Watch Macbeth for free, our Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank production created especially for young people, filmed from Shakespeare’s most famous stag...

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/apr/12/read-my-lips-how-lockdown-tv-could-boost-childrens-literacy

Did you know that just turning the subtitles on for children whilst they watch TV can boost their literacy and reading comprehension?

I have to admit - I love having the subtitles on! I really do believe it helps spelling and now it's being backed by science.

Read my lips: how lockdown TV could boost children’s literacy Campaigners call on broadcasters and streamers to switch on subtitles for kids’ programming

Hello everyone 👋

How are you all doing today?

I understand that this period of lockdown has been extremely difficult for every one involved, especially you parents!

You’ve been expected to work your own jobs and fulfil the role of parent and teacher to your children! That is no easy task to have undertaken, so I think it’s time to give yourselves a pat on the back.

If you have been worrying about your child missing that vital face-to-face and individualised teaching and how it will impact them, then I am here to help you.

I’m passionate about helping young people achieve their goals and believe that one on one time with a teacher, especially now, is more important than ever!

If you would like an introductory free meeting with me (online or in person) to discuss your child’s needs and how we can help them catch up with their work before September then please don’t hesitate to send me a message! I am here to help you.

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Hello 👋

Making all you lovely people aware of my exciting welcoming offer!

Your first 4 sessions (one hour long) will be £20 each! These can be online through Zoom or Microsoft Teams, or in person in the comfort of your own home.

BUT you can save even more money if you block book these 4 sessions, as I am offering £70 for 4 one-on-one lessons!

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Hello all!

To help my students to stay connected to school and literature during lockdown I uploaded some readings of The Hobbit to Youtube, this may give you a better insight into who I am as a teacher and to see if I am the right fit to tutor your child!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyuG9Xa94ks&t=1185s

I absolutely love reading stories to my students and miss it dearly! Here's hoping I can return to reading them classic literature such as Animal Farm and Treasure Island come September.

The Hobbit - Chapter One (Part 1 reading) This is the first reading of The Hobbit! We have read up to page 25! I hope you enjoy it, and stay safe and positive through this strange and difficult time :)

Hello!

I thought I would introduce myself to all you lovely people on my page.

My name is Hannah, or Miss Swarbrick. I am a fully qualified secondary English teacher (BA Hons, PGCE, QTS) teaching in a high school in Lancashire.

I am passionate about helping our young people achieve the very best they can to have the finest opportunities in life. I want to help open every door I can for students, and one way I can do that is by offering one-on-one, tailored and personalised English tutoring for the Lancashire area.

Having a good understanding of English Literature and Language will not only help your child when it comes to their GCSE examinations, but it will also help them become better thinkers and communicators, which is important for every aspect of life!

I have experience with teaching the following topics in detail:

• Macbeth
• A Christmas Carol
• Blood Brothers
• An Inspector Calls
• AQA Power and Conflict Poetry
• Narrative and Descriptive Writing
• Transactional Writing (non-fiction)
• AQA Language Paper 1 & 2
• Language Analysis
• Structure Analysis
• Comparative Analysis


Every session is personalised to the needs of the child I am tutoring, and will be tailored and delivered by myself! I will take into account your child's target grades, and go above and beyond that to get the best results I can.

I can also offer (FREE OF CHARGE) to send any parents resources I have to help their children to succeed in English! As many students’ education has had an impact due to Covid-19, it is paramount that educators and parents support each other so that young people can learn as best they can!