Touchstones uses cutting-edge, classroom-tested methods to build up students' knowledge of texts and skills in a carefully integrated way. Students are led on an innovative and exciting journey through the specification. Student Textbook: All 22 First Year Learning Outcomes are covered with emphasis on the three strands of the Junior Cycle English specification: oral language, reading and writing The clear, simple design helps to focus students and prevent cognitive overload Fresh, exciting and engaging text extracts, both traditional and contemporary, are used throughout from novels, plays, films, digital texts and multi-modal texts Units are carefully structured around the recommended genre-based approach and cover the following genres: fiction, poetry, film, drama, Shakespeare and non-fiction These sequenced units of learning begin by building a strong knowledge base for each genre, develop oral communication, reading and writing skills, and end with a project They are designed to be either covered in sequence or to be dipped into and out, for ease of use A stand-alone Shakespeare unit, a first with this programme, introduces students to the world of Shakespeare and builds knowledge and understanding of the grammar and punctuation of a Shakespearean text Each unit begins with a knowledge organiser of genre-based critical vocabulary and ends with a Test Your Knowledge quiz Highly scaffolded tasks effectively support mixed-ability teaching in the English classroom Retrieval practice opportunities that build on prior learning appear throughout Oral language supports include a strong focus on using structured and meaningful group discussion Student Activity Book Touchstones 1 Student Activity Book provides additional material, questions and activities to complement textbook content, including: Meaningful scaffolding to approach written tasks Carefully designed graphic organisers to support thinking and writing A range of retrieval practice templates to support students using effective learning techniquesred and meaningful group discussion