Example Units
So many teachers are asking about the ‘Opening Doors’ series as a whole that I thought I would post some full units for you to peruse and use from ‘Opening Doors to Quality Writing’, one example for ages 6-9 and one for 10-13.
Please let me have any resulting pupils’ work for consideration for the site here, kindly run by Crown House. You will see many examples and they are very inspiring.
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins ( from Opening Doors to Quality Writing 10-13) and Slowly by James Reeves (from Opening Doors to Quality Writing, 6-9)
The Woman in White 10 to 13 (1)
Among the White Clouds – Cold Mountain by Han-Shan from Opening Doors to a Richer English Curriculum, 10-13
‘Voices in an Empty Room’ – Green Candles by Humbert Wolfe in Opening Doors to a Richer English Curriculum, 6-9
To find out more about the books and have the chance to purchase them see here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bob-Cox/s?k=Bob+Cox
Readings
These read alouds were designed for an article for The English Association but should be of interest to those using the books or to reflect on the different ways a text can be read. This one is from Frances Browne’s Granny’s Wonderful Chair featured in Opening Doors to a Richer English Curriculum, 6-9
This read aloud is from H.G. Wells The Green Door featured in Opening Doors to a Richer English Curriculum, 10-13
Reading for Pleasure and Growth
Bob, Leah Crawford and Jennifer Webb discuss new approaches to this issue and debate the inclusion of the word ‘growth’ in the need to boost pupils’ independent reading. Thanks are due to The English Association. You will find here a webinar plus all the slides used by the speakers.
Improving Non-Fiction Writing Webinar via The English Association
Angela Jenkins talks with Georgina Allen and Emma Mann from Penn Wood School
https://englishassociation.ac.uk/opening-doors-to-improving-writing/
On Concepts and Access
Hope this short video will help you explore how concepts can be used to deepen learning
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uT11mmx5N3c&t=11s
The Wonder Institute via Melbourne Primary School
You may be interested in the the presentation I made online to launch a hub in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Thanks for inviting me and for making this an open session. The slides give an idea of the principles and strategies inherent in ‘Opening Doors’.
The Education Festival, July 2024
It was a packed room with some terrific response in the ‘Opening Doors to Ambitious English’ session at Wellington College. Here is the PP used and anyone is welcome to download it. Many thanks to all of you who came and the organisers for creating a festival atmosphere!
UKLA International Conference in Brighton
It was a privilege to present internationally and, not only that, the University of the South West talked about some initial findings of research they have been doing into the impact of ‘Opening Doors’. This is very exciting and much more information will follow as they are able to tell me more. Thanks to Leah, Verity and their team. This is just a taster of what some of you have been saying. Thanks to about 40 teachers who have taken part! The UKLA put a huge amount of hard work into this successful conference.
You can all access the PP from my talk here:
The English Association Online Talk with ‘Opening Doors’ Teachers
This recording gives you a chance to be introduced to ‘opening doors’ and to hear how two teachers have adapted approaches to suit their context. Thanks to Uzhama Jabeen from Somerville School, Birmingham, and Matt Shepherd from Our Lady’s Primary in Dartford, Kent.
https://englishassociation.ac.uk/opening-doors-to-ambitious-english/
This recording gives you the chance to hear Elise Brogan from Sedlescombe School and Kirsty McMurdo the TL Lead from The Wonder Institute explain approaches to KS2/3 transition
https://englishassociation.ac.uk/stepping-stones-from-ks2-to-ks3-4/
Opening Doors to Opportunity
This article for HWRK Magazine will walk you through an example to show you some of the routes possible to plan for equity and excellence:
Text Choices for the Open University
Do enjoy my reviews of three superb texts, two quite new and one an old favourite!
https://ourfp.org/top_texts/top-texts-for-may-2/
Teachwire
Here is my article on enriching English for every pupil:
https://www.teachwire.net/news/english-using-challenging-texts/
National Association for the Teaching of English Article
Here is my article for the NATE newsletter on choosing a text and the processes you can go through:
Opening Doors Schools Free Online Session, November 23rd 2023
Thank you so much Sun Hill Infants and Godalming Junior for inspirational talks! My slides are linked here and anyone is welcome to browse some key points and lists of resources:
FREE session online for English Leads:
Thanks for such a huge attendance! Here are the slides. Do contact me!
‘Teach Reading and Writing’ Article
I hope you will find this article useful, published in ‘Teach Reading and Writing’. The link will enable you to read and digest it properly. I’m responding to feedback from schools on how important pupil response is. I use just four lines from a poem to show how knowledge rich texts increase opportunities to participate, explore and go even deeper!
Go to this link and scroll to page 70 or read the article below if you can expand it.
file:///C:/Users/bobco/OneDrive/Documents/Website%20Images/TRW%202021.pdf
Opening Doors to Excellence in English at Rowner Junior School.
This article by Emily Weaver will give you a case study of a journey towards a richer English curriculum which helped to raise standards in exciting ways. It was accepted for the online Chartered College magazine.
This is available here to members of The Chartered College
https://my.chartered.college/impact_article/opening-doors-to-excellence-in-english-at-rowner-junior-school/
A Teacher’s View
Please do read this beautifully written account by Kerrie Hope at Ryefield Primary School, Uxbridge, of her schools’ journey to date with ‘opening doors’ and how it has been adapted to tailor the needs of Ryefield pupils!
You will really enjoy this!
Thanks Kerrie and thanks The National Association for the Teaching of English (NATE) for their brilliant online publication ‘Primary Matters’ from which this article comes with permission.
‘Be inspired by this charming article by Kerrie Hope, KS2 Literacy
Support Teacher at Ryefield Primary School in Hillingdon, London as
she shares her experience of resisting then embracing challenging texts. ‘ (from ‘Primary Matters’)
Resources from the ‘Opening Doors to Richer English for All’ Online Conference.
This was held on March 16th 2021. We were proud to have about 240 people logged on to hear from three of our schools. Their talks were inspirational and showed how each had been influenced by ‘Opening Doors’ texts and approaches in different ways. This comment sums up the feedback:
‘A session which makes you feel excited about teaching texts! Really useful to see how these have been used in schools.’
Please see below resources you can download from the session. There may be more when I secure permissions.
Thanks to Kerrie Hope at Ryefield Primary for these superb case studies and an excellent planning example.
Opening Doors – a KS2 Approach RYEFIELD
This is my introduction to the session
Thanks to Jacob Wahab at Mottingham Primary School for these resources used for his talk on ‘Opening Doors’ and impact!
Mottingham Primary IMPACT slides
Articles from the National Association for the Teaching of English magazine ‘Primary Matters’ edited by Janet Gough
I am delighted to be able to attach these superb articles on a variety of themes from the 2020 and 2021 NATE magazine.
p37-42 Transforming learning across the curriculump34-35
You can never have too much poetryp39-42
During reading visual responsep15-18
p4-8 Reading for meaning part 2
You might want to find out more about NATE primary. If so, follow this link:
https://www.nate.org.uk/join-nate/
Free ghost story written by Bob
‘I’m trying to write my own responses to a chosen concept and text used in ‘Opening Doors’. I’ve also added some typical OD strategies at the foot of my short story so, if you like it, please use it with your classes as a link reader. Let’s all keep writing for pleasure. The chosen concept is ‘atmosphere and anticipation’ from ‘Opening Doors to a Richer English Curriculum, 10-13’ and a unit called ‘A Ghost Mystery for Flaxman Low’. So, here is my ghost story and I hope you enjoy it:
Illustration to complement the ghost story by Victoria Cox!
‘Baelbrow’ featuring Flaxman Low is a unit in the latest 10-13 book found here:
Do let me have any feedback! Keep chilled!
Free 15 minute modules on selected units from ‘Opening Doors’.
We are really excited about our growing suite of free online resources which are independent in themselves but link with units in the ‘Opening Doors’ series. Do take a look and choose one to start with! They can be used for remote learning or as lessons in the classroom! Each one is a commentary with tuition and suggestions for explorations and writing from one of the ‘Opening Doors’ team:
Here is the link for you to choose the lesson you wish to view:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxCgNvQM8mbQK9KZ3P5UtQ5dmy5uQrRAX
You can read more about the resources on the home page:
To find out more about the books and have the chance to purchase them see here:
Video from South Rise Primary showing how the ‘Pinocchio’ unit can be used in different ways for different year groups.
Webinar for Bucks Teacher Learning Day
Please enjoy understanding more about including all learners in a challenging English curriculum:
‘Opening Doors to Challenging Reading for ALL Learners’
Video Blogs and Podcasts
June 2020
Resources for online support and home educators
My webinar for Chiltern Teaching School Alliance
May 2020