Secondary English teachers please help!

[prettypurpledaisy]

I am a cover supervisor at a small Secondary school and usually take a small group of year 9's (11) for four lessons of English a week. Next week I have a whole group due to a school trip. What can I do with them for three one hour lessons.
They are low ability and I thought of a film review but am not sure which film.
All advise gratefully received.

I'd ask the teachers at the school you work in to see what they have been doing in class. Shouldn't the work be set by the teacher(s)??
I am a bit though at a cover supervisor being used that regularly teaching the same group. Is that commonplace?

I'm really surprised that you're having to actually plan the lessons - surely that should be up to the teacher, or the Head of Department?

If you have a look at the Standards Site, there is an Assessing Pupil Progress in English writing unit (one lesson to teach, one to assess) about writing a film review. It uses School Of Rock as an example, so maybe you could watch it (or some of it) in the 3rd lesson, if they've worked well.

Otherwise, you could try having a look at Teachit.co.uk for English resources.

This is one of the reasons I will not be staying at the school. This poor year 9 are low ability with behavioural issues and have had a succession of different supply teachers for the year. I feel very sorry for them but am trying to encourage and make them value themselves. I want to start my PGCE in secondary English next year and I was a cheap alternative to a supply teacher I think!
Really not fair on them or me. Thanks Janeite I will try that website and think the film sounds great.

Would you like me to try and find you the link to the Standards site lesson/assessment? It may be a bit difficult though - it went down well with my lot but they are all at least Level 4.

That would be great thanks. I think my lot are between 3 and 4. Thanks so much for your help it is a bit daunting, my lot are ok but I don't really know the others all that well.

I've written a scheme of work for very low ability Year 10s but your lot are only one term behind them so it won't make much difference. It's based on the film Gladiator and the way Maximus is portrayed. It's very simple in structure and also allows them to watch the whole film in sections which always goes well with groups like this - the carrot and stick approach. If you want me to email the worksheet to you let me have your email (you can always ask for that post to be deleted afterwards).

Teacher resources here:
www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/secondary/keystage3/downloads/enapp178905cy_oaty8r_film.pdf
Pupil resources here
www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/secondary/keystage3/downloads/enapp178905cb_oapy8r_film.pdf

Ignore the fact that it says Year 8. It's designed for Levels 3 to 5.

teachit here

Moomin & janeite's suggestions sound great.

Alternatively, you could try a piece of work on the teachit site called 'The Assassin' - it's commonly used for GCSE original writing CW, so (provided school don't already use it in year 10) it might provide a useful back up piece for those who fail to complete CW in KS4. Worth suggesting to HOD.

Oh & you definitely, definitely should not be expected to plan work in this way. on your behalf.

Good luck with your PGSE.

Not only am I planning I have now been told that I have to write their reports no idea how to do it or what to say! Love the group and feel sorry for them as they have had an unsettled year but feel a little out of my depth.
Thank you all so much for the lesson suggestions and support. Very much appreciated.

The BBC bitesize section is very good if you have use of computers.

No way should you be writing their reports! Who says?

I think you need to discuss this with your line manager. I mean, I'm sure you'd be absolutely capable (I can give you a template if you like!), but it's way above & beyond.

Is the Head of English approachable/supportive? I think the school are asking too much of you and that perhaps if you can try and get the HoD "on-side" he/she could reduce the burden somewhat. I have never heard of a cover supervisor having to write reports before - the most that we would expect them to do at our place is to discuss a sort of "general statement" for all of the class, which an admin person would then enter into the ststem for all of them: if they are setted it should be easy enough to write a generic statement that will sort all of them - eg: "Now that X has reached L3, he/she should continue to organise texts into paragraphs, linked by a range of suitable connectives. He/she should also aim to use speech marks and question marks correctly and to use a thesaurus to begin to develop his use of "Wow words"' - or whatever!