Reading with understanding and writing in a clear, organised and sometimes creative style are the basic components of literacy. They are the skills that will carry your child through English classes and all other areas of the curriculum. It is important to encourage your child to develop these literacy skills by supporting the work done in school and at home. Pupils cover a wide range of literary work from years 7 to 9 - novels, poetry, imaginative writing, drama, descriptive writing, and oral work. The SATs tests are only a 'snapshot' of what pupils learn during this time in school. Many of the questions that are set in the SATs, test your child's ability to think and express opinions as well as their ability to write legibly and accurately.

Key Points

1. English at this age, is often done as part of time-tabled homework. Make sure your son or daughter has somewhere to work that is reasonably quiet, where they are comfortable and where there aren't too many distractions!
2. Check homework diaries, if the school provides them, so that you know how much has to be done and when it has to be done.
3. It can become harder to help your child with their work as they move through secondary school - partly because they prefer to work independently and often don't like to ask for help, even if they might need it; and partly because they are working in areas where it is hard for a parent to give specific help. Your attitude should always be positive and patient. Encourage your child to think through what they are writing and offer to read though their work when it is finished.
4. Always make time to talk through problems as they arise.
5. Encourage your child to read other materials in addition to what they read at school. Don't just stick to books - magazines, newspapers, CDROMs are all sources of written information.
6. Try to avoid taking your child out of school during term time. If your son/ daughter misses one or two lessons at the start of a new topic, it can cause problems later. Absence because of illness is unavoidable but you should encourage your son/ daughter to ask the class teacher what they have missed and use friends' books to catch up.
7. If you feel your son/ daughter is experiencing any difficulties and it is causing distress, then contact the school. They may be aware of the problems and may be dealing with them, but they will also advise you what you can do at home.
8. Encourage your child to write for various purposes - to complete written homework, letters to pen pals, lists of things to do, puzzles, quizzes, crosswords etc. Use pen and paper as well as the computer!
9. Help your child with spellings. In year 7, children may still let you read through their work, but as they move through school, they may be more reluctant to do this. Leave a dictionary where they might see it and use it - but be tactful!
10. Keep up their membership at the local library. They may find it useful to research homework topics.

The Exercises

In year 9, pupils are introduced to a Shakespeare play and are tested on their knowledge of this play in the SATs.

The exercises on this site include a sample of a reading activity; a poem to read and write about; and some examples of the types of questions asked about the plays of Shakespeare. There are no specific answers but each written activity has suggestions to help your child think about what they should write.

Print out the exercises to use away from the computer.

Go to the Exercises

Resources

Longmans Test Practice Kits For KS3 English - Pub. Longmans
ISBN 0-582-31573-5

Longmans Homework Handbook
For KS3 English - Pub. Longmans
ISBN 0-582-29330-8

Suppliers and Publishers

LONGMANS
http://www.awl-he.com/studyguides/
Check out the Parents Page for advice and info about Test Kits.

Web Links

The BBC Learning Station
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/schools/
This is a service for children, teachers and parents at school and at home.

You will find other Web Links on English Learning Exchange at BT Home Campus