Ideas for Teaching English

The first time a parent takes on a role as 'official' teacher of their child can be daunting. This article describes lots of different ways to approach the teaching of English, in various locations and methods, plus includes information on how to find other teaching ideas.
Reading English Literature
Note that there is another page of this website which focuses on teaching English to children in the younger years. Once children are confident readers, it is a good idea to get them used to reading classic and 'literary' books, if only to establish the idea early in their mind that classic literature can be really enjoyable to read. You might want to start them off reading a book like Alice in Wonderland or The Adventures of Tom Sawyer together; obviously the particular book chosen should depend on a child's personal interests and ability. Any 'reading list' might also include popular contemporary books like the Horrible Histories series, or perhaps a Harry Potter book. Anything that will encourage children to read, both with a parent and independently, might help to establish a love for reading that will aid their education throughout their life.When reading a new book with a child, at any stage of their education, it's a good idea to ask them to summarise the events of every chapter, to check their understanding, and remind them to think about what words mean and to ask if there is any confusion. If they do ask for a definition, it can be a good idea to have a child's dictionary nearby to look up words together.
Follow-up activities after a book is finished might include writing an extra chapter about 'what might happen next', writing a character's diary entry about how they feel, or making an alternative book cover that might emphasise a different element of the book's content. Other creative writing tasks might include writing a poem about the story, re-writing the story with a new ending, or making a book into a play, or vice versa.
Re: How Can I Help My Son to Pass His GCSEs?
Hi, After giving it much thought and understanding the level and ability of my daughters (twins aged 13), We've…
Re: Employing a Private Tutor as Part of Home Schooling
Hi I am looking to find a teacher for my daughter she 11and I would like home school her for year 7…
Re: Home Schooling and GCSEs
take your kid out, what the hell. Is there really need to think about? Jesus its only school wtf
Re: Home School Education and the National Curriculum
Hey thinking of homeschooling my 6 & 8 year old, would I have access to the national curriculum for free?
Re: Where Can my Home Schooled Child Take Examinations?
I took my year 10 twins out of school in september due to covid and now their is a chancr school…
Re: Employing a Private Tutor as Part of Home Schooling
Hi there, We are looking for a home schooling tutor for our 2 children (nursery and Year 2) from…
Re: Home Schooling and GCSEs
I took my oldest out of school from yr 1. My son has never been to school. My wife and I home educate them. There are clubs like London…
Re: How do I Tell a School I Want to Home School my Child?
I am removing my children from school because the gov cant get its act together. Groups arent…
Re: Employing a Private Tutor as Part of Home Schooling
i would like to find a home tutor for my 11 year old cousin
Re: Where Can my Home Schooled Child Take Examinations?
Hi, my son is in year 11 and the school are refusing him a reduced timetable. It was agreed by…