SPaG & Comprehension Review

Overview

• Duration: 60 minutes
• Setting: 1:1 online lesson
• Age Group: Year 10 (KS4 - National Curriculum for England)
• Focus: Review and Assessment of SPaG (Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar) proficiency, alongside non-fiction comprehension skills
• Curriculum Alignment:
  • English Programmes of Study KS4 – Reading: Develop critical understanding of complex non-fiction texts.
  • English Programmes of Study KS4 – Writing: Accurate use of SPaG for clarity and effect.
  • Assessment objectives from GCSE English Language: AO1 (Identify & interpret explicit and implicit information), AO2 (Explain, comment on and analyse how writers use language and structure), and AO5 (Demonstrate accurate spelling, punctuation, and grammar).

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, the student will be able to:

1. Identify and correct common SPaG errors typically encountered at the GCSE standard (AO5).
2. Demonstrate understanding of non-fiction texts by accurately answering comprehension questions focused on inference, language, and structure (AO1 and AO2).
3. Apply SPaG rules confidently when editing and reviewing written work.
4. Reflect on strengths and areas for improvement in their SPaG and comprehension skills to inform future learning.

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Resources Needed

• Online sharing platform (Zoom, Teams, etc.) with screen sharing and annotation features
• Prepared SPaG proficiency test (15 minutes, including common errors: apostrophes, commas, homophones, sentence type identification)
• Non-fiction text extract (approx. 350–400 words) linked to relevant GCSE theme (e.g., a speech, article, or leaflet about technology, environment, or society)
• Comprehension question sheet (10 questions targeting AO1 and AO2)
• Digital whiteboard or shared document for live correction and feedback
• Homework handout (digital version)

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Lesson Structure

0-5 minutes: Introduction & Set-Up

• Warm greeting; confirm student’s understanding of the lesson focus.
• Briefly outline the objectives of the session, stressing the importance of SPaG accuracy and comprehension skills for GCSEs and beyond.
• Explain timing and encourage open discussion during activities.

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5-20 minutes: SPaG Proficiency Assessment

• Present a 15-minute SPaG assessment tailored to Year 10 standards.
• Content focus: punctuation (apostrophes, commas, colons, semi-colons), sentence types, homophones, subject-verb agreement.
• Use screen sharing and allow student to annotate answers live or submit after timed writing.
• Encourage thinking aloud to gauge understanding.

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20-25 minutes: Immediate SPaG Review & Discussion

• Review answers together using annotation tools, highlighting key areas of strength and common misconceptions.
• Engage student in discussion about particular rules (e.g., difference between restrictive and non-restrictive clauses).
• Provide model corrections and reasoning linked explicitly to the National Curriculum’s expectations of accurate written communication (AO5).

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25-50 minutes: Non-Fiction Text Comprehension and Analysis

• Share a relevant non-fiction text extract on screen.
• Reading aloud/discussion method: student reads aloud while the teacher monitors pronunciation and intonation (great for online engagement).
• After reading, ask comprehension questions targeting:
  • Explicit and implicit meanings (AO1): Who/What/Where/When questions, plus inferential questions (“Why does the writer suggest…?”).
  • Language Analysis (AO2): What effect does a particular metaphor or sentence structure have? How does the writer’s choice shape meaning and tone?
• Encourage student to explain answers, justifying ideas with reference to the text.
• Use a whiteboard to map answers or highlight key words and phrases.

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50-55 minutes: Reflective Wrap-Up

• Summarise key learning points: SPaG rules most relevant to their development, comprehension strategies that helped understanding the text, and how these skills connect to GCSE success.
• Ask the student to articulate one SPaG rule and one comprehension strategy they will focus on.

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55-60 minutes: Homework Task Explanation

• Explain homework designed to consolidate learning:

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Homework Task

• Task:

  1. Complete an online or printable SPaG worksheet focusing on tricky punctuation marks and common homophone errors highlighted during the session.
  2. Read a short non-fiction article (provided digitally—student’s choice from teacher’s selection, e.g., environmental issue, technology in society, public speech excerpt).
  3. Compose written answers to 5 comprehension questions that require inference and language analysis.
  4. Edit answers using a checklist of SPaG elements (punctuation, spelling, sentence types).

• Purpose: This reinforces accuracy in writing and deepens critical reading skills in preparation for GCSE assessments, aligned with the National Curriculum’s emphasis on precision and text analysis.

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Assessment & Feedback Approach

• Formative assessment through live annotation and discussion.
• Immediate verbal feedback during SPaG review and comprehension analysis.
• Homework to provide additional evidence of independent application.
• Highlight links to GCSE AO5 and AO1/AO2 skills explicitly throughout to inform student of progress against exams.

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Innovative Engagement Tips for Online Delivery

• Use interactive quiz apps during SPaG review to gamify error correction.
• Employ “think-pair-share” adapted for 1:1: student explains reasoning aloud, teacher challenges with probing questions, then student revises.
• Use visual mind-maps on shared screens to breakdown comprehension answers, stimulating multi-sensory learning.
• Include verbal “SPaG challenges” where the student spots errors in real-time dictated sentences for auditory reinforcement.

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This carefully designed session promotes active participation, diagnostic assessment, and personalised feedback, precisely aligned with the KS4 English National Curriculum standards to ensure the student develops crucial literacy skills in a supportive remote setting.