Works in the UK and the US. This version uses US school terms (kindergarten, Grade 3, high school); the UK version uses Reception, Year 4 and secondary school. · UK version of this page
Reading, writing, speaking and listening – English language arts from first letter sounds in kindergarten to university essays, for learners at school, at home and in adult life.
This department is planned and ready to build – it needs funding
We have planned what the English Department will teach and how it will work. Building it takes funding, so for now you can read our plan below and use the Classfern pages for English that are already live.
Practice tests you can use today
While the English Department waits to be built, learners can already practice reading, spelling and grammar here for free. Just pick a quiz – no account, a mark at once and a reason why each answer is right. We don't collect anything personal, and you will find no ads inside a quiz. Once the English lessons exist, every quiz will lead on to the matching lesson.
- Adult reading and writingAmerican spelling, grammar, punctuation, business letters and everyday texts.
- Verbal reasoning (US spelling option)Synonyms, antonyms, odd one out, hidden words and letter codes.
- Reading comprehension, ages 5–14 (UK)Passages with questions for UK Years 1 to 9.
- Spelling practice (UK word lists)Listen-and-spell questions with instant marks.
- Grammar and punctuation, ages 6–11 (UK)Grammar, punctuation and vocabulary practice.
- Phonics practice, age 6 (UK)Real and made-up words to sound out.
A motto that laughs at itself
Polonius delivers his famous line in the middle of a rambling speech, and that is the joke. We liked it for exactly that reason. The English Department wants learners to say things clearly and well – and to enjoy spotting when someone doesn't.
Reading first
Reading sits at the center of our plan. For kindergarten and first grade, that means phonics with every sound spoken aloud, blending games and decodable sentences. Older children will get short texts with questions on meaning, vocabulary and inference, growing from third-grade stories to high school essays, poems and speeches. The reading, spelling, phonics and grammar practice tests already live on Classfern will be gathered here.
Poetry out loud
We also plan a small poetry corner: out-of-copyright poems with a read-aloud voice, a rhythm tapper that shows the beat of each line, and gentle prompts for learners to try verse of their own.
Writing with a coach at your shoulder
Writing is harder to mark, and we won't pretend otherwise. We plan sentence-building games and punctuation drills that are Marked by Classfern, plus longer pieces with a checklist the learner works through (Self-assessed) and a rubric for an adult to use (Judged by a teacher or parent (rubric)). A word counter, a “show me my longest sentence” button and read-aloud will help writers hear their own work.
Words, words, words
That is Hamlet's own reply when Polonius asks what he is reading. Vocabulary will get its own corner: word roots, spelling patterns, synonyms and confusing pairs such as affect and effect. Our existing word games – word searches, hangman, the syllable counter and word ladders – will link in for quick practice.
For university students and adults
The plan does not stop at school. Essay structure, referencing, summarizing a source and writing a clear email are skills plenty of grown-ups still want help with. Lessons for people learning English as a new language will be planned hand in hand with our Languages Department.
What Mr Shakespeare would say
Shakespeare is credited with hundreds of words and phrases that are the earliest recorded uses we know of. Our Mr Shakespeare will be generous with praise, merciless about apostrophes and fond of the odd Elizabethan insult for learners to decode – all perfectly clean, we promise.
Reading music, reading words
Our flagship Music Department already teaches reading of a different kind: its Learn to Read and Write Music course takes learners from their first note on the staff all the way to composing their own tunes. It is the best preview we can offer of the patient, encouraging English lessons we have in mind.
Help us write the next chapter
The English Department has a finished plan and needs funding to begin. Teachers, librarians and writers with ideas are very welcome to get in touch.
Already on Classfern for English
Support the Classfern appeal
Every Classfern department is ready on paper, but each one needs funding before we can build it. A gift of any amount helps build Classfern – including new departments like this one – and keeps the free tools free for teachers, families and learners.
Support the Classfern appeal →
Classfern is a small business, not a charity. The support page explains how gifts are used.
Can you help? Teachers and subject experts – tell us
If you teach English or know it well, we would love your ideas, examples and corrections for this department.
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