Francis Gilbert

"Clearly Francis Gilbert is a gifted and charismatic teacher." Philip Pullman, former teacher and author of 'Northern Lights'. Why did William Blake call his book of poetry 'Songs of Innocence and Experience'? Why do some critics say his poem 'The Tyger' is about the French revolution? Why did he illustrate his poems with pictures? Why is Blake's rose "sick"? What is the "youthful harlot's curse" in the famous poem 'London'? This is the ultimate study guide to William Blake's classic poetry collection 'Songs of Innocence and Experience'. Written by an experienced teacher and author, it not only contains all of the relevant verse, but also includes substantive comprehension questions and thorough analysis of every poem. Furthermore, there are sections which discuss Blake's life and the context of his work in depth, the poetic techniques he deployed, and how students can gain a good grade when writing essays on him. Above all, this guide is "Blakean" in spirit; it provides links to the author's video explanations and performed versions of the poems. While it is highly informative -- offering all the analysis required to gain a top mark in an exam or coursework -- it also aims to provoke a genuinely personal response to the poems.

Written primarily for 16-19 year old students, this primer aims to extend students' knowledge and inspire them to take their school-level learning further. It explores topics that aren't studied in depth as part of the A level curriculum (or equivalent), giving students a first taste of the study of biology beyond school-level and demonstrating how concepts frequently encountered at school are relevant to and applied in current research. This is the ideal text to support students who are considering making the transition from studying biology at school to university. This primer provides an introduction to the ideas of modern conservation biology, and the issues that constrain us from achieving sustainability. Opening with a consideration of ecology and conservation as a science, and the notion of different processes happening at different scales, the primer goes on to discuss the importance of populations and life histories. It also emphasises interactions between different species, a key area of understanding for getting to grips with ecology. With a step up in scale, it then introduces the idea of ecosystem services, and the dependence of human life and well-being on these services. The long history of the impact of humans on the landscape leads to a discussion of myths such as the 'balance of nature' and 'pristine environments'. These concepts are crucial to understanding modern ideas of the right way to conserve our world. Using the South Sinai in Egypt as a case study throughout, the primer explores explore the issues of how indigenous people can maintain their traditions in the modern world, and the relationship between their traditions and biodiversity. These form the key to understanding how humans can live sustainably with the natural world.

'This clever generic hybrid is an addictive blend, reminiscent of the TV series Teachers mixed with detective noir.' The Independent. Truant. Drunk. Sexually deviant. And that's just the English teacher. It's the last day of term at the Gilda Ball Academy and time is running out: a teacher faces the sack following an anonymous allegation of child abuse... Told within a single day, The Last Day of Term interweaves the gritty realities of teenage life in an inner-city school with a touching and comic story of a man in crisis. Teacher Martin Hick is about to get the promotion he s wanted for years, and has vowed to rescue his failing marriage. Cut to a grim council estate in east London, where Bela, an internet-addicted teenager, lives with his chain-smoking mother and aristocratic great-uncle both Hungarian emigres. Bela's life has been ruined since Martin had him expelled from Gilda Ball a few weeks previously, and he is trying to plot his way back into the school. So when, on the last day of term, Martin is confronted with an anonymous note accusing him of abuse, he naturally assumes Bela to be the source. The truth, as he will discover, is never quite that simple.

Mindfulness isn't mystical-and it isn't just for monks. Like regular exercise, it's a simple, powerful practice that helps us work with calm, clarity, and compassion-even in the busy, demanding life of a teacher. The Mindful English Teacher offers a fresh, practical approach to English teaching that centres presence, purpose and play. Whether you're deep in Shakespeare, tackling pre-1900 literature, guiding students through exam stress, or trying to make grammar meaningful, this book will support you to teach with greater confidence and less anxiety. Drawing on classroom stories, educational research, and years of lived experience, the book is packed with usable ideas, mindful prompts, and rich case studies. At its heart is a compelling contrast between the Mindful English Teacher and the Unmindful one-two vivid teaching personas that show how small shifts in awareness can radically change the learning experience. This is not a book about sitting silently on cushions. It's a toolkit for making the teaching of English more human, inclusive, and joyful. With strategies for decolonising the curriculum, supporting neurodiverse learners, and reigniting your passion for literature, The Mindful English Teacher is an essential companion for early-career and experienced teachers alike. Because mindful teaching isn't about being perfect. It's about being present-and building a classroom culture where everyone can thrive.

Asking and answering questions is the cornerstone of science, yet formal training in understanding this key process is often overlooked. Asking Questions in Biology unpacks this crucial process of enquiry, from a biological perspective, at its various stages.

'The author of several books including the bestselling memoir I'm a Teacher, Get Me Out of Here, Gilbert draws from a deeper emotional well for this painfully honest novel about mid-life crisis and young love. Flicking between the present day -- in which Nick is a recently fired journalist, reeling from the news of a former girlfriend's death --and the past (university in the 1980s, full of drugs, passion & experimental theatre), Who Do You Love is a sharp take on the complexity of the human heart.' The New Statesman. 'I enjoyed Who Do You Love a lot. It's beautifully-written, very funny about sex and the excruciating confusion of being young and single then middle aged and trapped. I think you've captured something about a generation in a way that will touch a lot of readers.... Really, a terrific novel." Amanda Craig, literary journalist, and author of A Vicious Circle and Hearts and Minds. Nick is cracking up. In his mid-forties, he has just been sacked as an arts journalist, with little prospect of getting such a well-paid, prestigious job again. Even more worrying for him is his suspicion that his wife, a Deputy Head at a school, is having an affair with a much more successful person: does she want to trade in Nick for a better model? But most devastating of all is the fact that he learns that a former lover, Ellida, has died. Unable to find a new job, Nick miserably fails, despite his best attempts, to be pro-active and positive, and retreats into memories of the past. By turns comic, tragic and romantic, Who Do You Love is a stirring novel which explores the big issues of passion, death and grief; a fast-paced contemporary love story but also moving exploration of what it means to be alive today, which should appeal to fans of writers like David Nichols, Ann Tyler and Nick Hornby.

This script is the answer to Key Stage 3 students and teachers' prayers It is specifically aimed at developing independent reading and writing skills in Year 7-9 students. It contains a "teaching script" which shows pupils how to work in a group in a sensible and productive fashion by modelling effective collaborative learning. Working in groups of six, students take on different roles and have lots of fun activities to do so that they can improve their reading and writing skills. It addresses the main concerns of teachers at Key Stage 3 and can be used immediately in the classroom with no significant teacher preparation; simply put the scripts in front of your students and get them reading in groups; every activity is explained within the script. It contains stretch and challenge for the most able students and is aimed at helping students who are struggling with their reading as well. It has been tried and tested in inner city classrooms and has been proven to work. Embedded within the teaching script is a lively play 'Dreaming of a Better World' about a Year 8 pupil who is bullied at school. Students have loved reading the script and have plenty of chances to formulate their own creative responses as well: it offers an ideal mix of structured learning and "free thinking".. Written by an experienced teacher and teacher-educator, it is the fruit of twenty-five years of teaching reading and writing within challenging London schools.

Why could this book be seen as one of the first feminist novels? Is Hardy's story really all about sex? How did the pastoral genre influence the writing of the book? If you're wondering what the answers to these questions are, then maybe you should read this guide. It is ideal for students who are wanting to achieve top marks, and could clarify some basic points about literary theory for English Literature undergraduate students if they're struggling to understand key ideas about contexts, structure and theme, and analysing quotation. This guide really encourages students to think for themselves with searching, open-ended questions which will help them develop personal responses, which are vital if they going to attain higher grades. The study guide is useful in the following ways because it is: A great resource for students aiming for top grades; A fantastic stimulus for encouraging students to develop personal responses to the text, which are vital if they are going to achieve at a high level; A great classroom resource for teachers too; the important sections of the novel are quoted in full here, together with useful discussion points/comprehension questions; Written by an experienced teacher who has taught the text in real classroom situations and knows what students need to learn. Please note: this Study Guide contains the same textual commentaries/questions/tasks as the Study Guide Edition (SGE) but not the complete text, which the SGE does.

Do you know the answer to these questions? What dream led to the writing of this novel? Why is the novel also called "The Modern Prometheus"? Why has the story become the most famous horror story ever written? What famous philosophers influenced the writing of it? Why is the Monster such a tragic figure? This study guide will help both teachers and pupils. It contains a lively series of essays on the different contexts of the novel, its structure and themes, and also offers a great deal of analysis of the text itself. While it is authoritative, it encourages students to think for themselves - which is vital if they are going to attain at a high level. When you buy this paperback, you will be able to have the e-book for free and gain easy access to the wealth of internet links in the guide. To sum up, this study guide is useful in the following ways: It is a great resource for students aiming for top grades; It offers a fantastic stimulus for encouraging students to develop personal responses to the text, which are vital if they are going to achieve at a high level; It could prove to be a great classroom resource for teachers too; the important sections of the novel are quoted in full here, together with useful discussion points/comprehension questions; It is written by an experienced teacher who has taught the text in "real" classroom situations and knows what students need to learn.

What ghost story inspired James' novella? Are the ghosts in the novel real or figments of a neurotic imagination? How does James use an unreliable narrator to create suspense? This is a detailed study guide for anybody either studying or teaching Henry James's classic ghost story. The guide is tailored to help students write an excellent piece of coursework on the book, or assist them with studying for an exam - but it will be of interest to the general reader too. For the teacher, it quotes important passages in the book and offers literary analysis of them. There are questions on every chapter, together with answers at the back. The guide is distinctive because it is a) modern in its approach b) encourages a personal response to the text - vital if a candidate is going to get a higher mark in an assessment. There is a detailed discussion of the context in which James's work arose and an exploration of how different readers might interpret the text now. Lively and engaging, it is written by an experienced teacher who understands what needs to be covered in a study guide. An excellent resource for GCSE and A Level students, or anyone studying the book at school or university. To sum up, this study guide is useful in the following ways: It is a great resource for students aiming for top grades; It offers a fantastic stimulus for encouraging students to develop personal responses to the text, which are vital if they are going to achieve at a high level; It could prove to be a great classroom resource for teachers too: the important sections of the novel are quoted in full here, together with useful discussion points/comprehension questions; It is written by an experienced teacher who has taught the text in "real" classroom situations and knows what students need to learn. Please note: this Study Guide contains the same textual commentaries/questions/tasks as the Study Guide Edition (SGE) but not the complete text, which the SGE does.

Why did Jane Austen never marry? Who shows pride and who shows prejudice? How and why does Austen create comedy in the novel? This is an up-to-date study guide to Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice , aimed at 15-19 year olds and the general reader. The guide is modern in its approach and provides all the necessary information to get a top grade in an exam and/or coursework. It is particularly useful because it not only provides the key details about Austen's life and the social and literary influences upon the text, but also offers a detailed textual analysis of key passages in the book. If students read the last section of the book carefully, they will not only learn about the vital sections of the text quickly, but also see how top-grade analysis can be conducted. Discussion points are provided so that students can think about the key issues related to the text. The second section of the guide would make a great classroom resource for a teacher wanting to cover the text quickly and thoroughly because students could read the extracts highlighted in the guide and answer the discussion points in their exercise books or in group discussions. This would give them invaluable practice for an exam or coursework. The study guide is essential reading because: It's a great resource for students aiming for top grades; It encourages students to develop personal responses to the text, which is vital if they are going to achieve at a high level; It's a great classroom resource for teachers too: the important sections of the novel are quoted in full here, together with useful discussion points/comprehension questions. Please note: this Study Guide contains the same textual commentaries/questions/tasks as the Study Guide Edition (SGE) but not the complete text, which the SGE does.

Why did Conan Doyle feel so ambivalent about the famous detective he created? Why do many critics regard this text as the first modern detective story? This is a detailed, lively study guide on Sherlock Holmes's most notorious case. It contains a detailed explanation of the contexts of the novella: how and why it came to be written, and the ways in which it invented the concept of the modern detective. In contrast to many other study guides, it encourages the reader to develop his or her own personal response. It does this by including detailed analysis of key passages from the book, together with important discussion points. It is written by an experienced English teacher who understands the concepts, facts and literary techniques that students need to learn about. It could be useful for teachers as well, particularly the second section which focuses upon textual analysis and generating a personal response from students. To sum up, this study guide is useful in the following ways: It is a great resource for students aiming for top grades; It offers a fantastic stimulus for encouraging students to develop personal responses to the text, which are vital if they are going to achieve at a high level; It could prove to be a great classroom resource for teachers too; the important sections of the novel are quoted in full here, together with useful discussion points/comprehension questions; It is written by an experienced teacher who has taught the text in "real" classroom situations and knows what students need to learn. Please note: this Study Guide contains the same textual commentaries/questions/tasks as the Study Guide Edition (SGE) but not the complete text, which the SGE does.

Can you answer these questions? How and why does Bronte present sex as a dangerous activity in 'Jane Eyre'? Why are the elements of earth, fire, water and air important in the novel? Is 'Jane Eyre' a subversive novel? Is Rochester a hero or villain? If you're stuck for answers, then maybe you should read this study guide. It is ideal for students studying the text for A Level, but should be helpful for GCSE students aiming for high marks too. For English undergraduates, it clarifies some basic points about literary theory and will be useful regarding key ideas about context, structure and theme, and in analysing quotations. This guide really encourages students to think for themselves with searching, open-ended questions: this helps to develop personal responses which are vital to attaining higher grades. The study guide is useful in the following ways because it is: A great resource for students aiming for top grades; A great classroom resource for teachers too: the important sections of the novel are quoted in full, together with useful discussion points/comprehension questions; Written by an experienced teacher who has taught the text in real classroom situations and knows what students need to learn. Please note: this Study Guide contains the same textual commentaries/questions/tasks as the Study Guide Edition (SGE) but not the complete text, which the SGE does.

"A great teacher," Jeremy Paxman, BBC's Newsnight. "Clearly Francis Gilbert is a gifted and charismatic teacher," Philip Pullman, author of Northern Lights. "Gilbert writes so well that you half-suspect he could give up the day job," The Independent. Are you a student struggling to understand Emily Bront 's classic novel Wuthering Heights? Or are you an educator wanting ready-made exercises and guidance to help you teach this difficult text? Do your students need support to understand the language properly and work independently on the book? This edition of Emily Bront 's classic romance contains a comprehensive study guide to the work as well as extensive questions for students to work on in order to help their understanding. Aimed specifically at pupils reading the book as an exam text, there is a detailed introduction which outlines how to understand the difficult language, how to write top grade essays, and how to discuss the contexts of the novel. The complete text is punctuated by useful comments and engaging tasks on every chapter with answers provided at the back. When you buy the paperback on Amazon.com, you will be able to access the e-book for free and use many of the web links which are embedded throughout the text. Please note: this Study Guide Edition contains the complete text and an integrated study guide as well.

"A great teacher," Jeremy Paxman, BBC's Newsnight. "Clearly Francis Gilbert is a gifted and charismatic teacher," Philip Pullman, author of Northern Lights. "Gilbert writes so well that you half-suspect he could give up the day job," The Independent. Are you a student struggling to understand Bront 's classic novel Jane Eyre? Or are you an educator wanting ready-made exercises and guidance to help you teach this difficult text? Do your students need support to understand the language properly and work independently on the book? This edition of Bront 's classic novel contains a comprehensive study guide to the work as well as extensive questions for students to work on in order to help their understanding. Aimed specifically at students and teachers reading the book as an exam text, there is a detailed introduction which outlines how to understand the difficult language, how to write top grade essays, and to appreciate the historical context of the novel. The complete text is punctuated by useful comments and engaging tasks on every chapter. When you buy the paperback on Amazon.com, you will be able to access the e-book for free and use many of the web links which are embedded throughout the text. "What's really great about this edition is that my students can work through it and there are interesting and useful questions waiting for them at the end of every chapter," a secondary English teacher. "This was a good book to work through on my own. Buying the paperback meant I got the e-book free and I was able to use all the nifty links embedded in the text as well," an A Level student. Please note: this Study Guide Edition contains the complete text and an integrated study guide as well.