The Carter English Curriculum

Read – Analyse – Write – Think

The Carter English Curriculum is a complete, standards-aligned English Language Arts curriculum designed for international secondary classrooms, integrating explicit instruction, authentic literacy, and purposeful writing across Cambridge IGCSE, IB MYP, AERO, and related frameworks.

The Carter English Curriculum™

The Carter English Curriculum™ is a comprehensive English Language Arts curriculum designed for international secondary classrooms. Built through years of classroom practice rather than theory alone, it combines explicit instruction, authentic literacy, purposeful writing, and carefully scaffolded learning experiences to help students become confident readers, skilled writers, and thoughtful critical thinkers.

Although originally developed for Cambridge IGCSE English Language (0500), the curriculum was intentionally designed around transferable literacy principles rather than the requirements of a single examination board. Every instructional sequence emphasizes authentic reading, analytical thinking, structured writing, formative assessment, and purposeful revision—skills that remain valuable regardless of the curriculum framework in which they are taught.

Rather than presenting lessons as isolated activities, each unit follows a deliberate progression from foundational knowledge to independent mastery. Student workbooks, multimedia presentations, instructional videos, formative and summative assessments, teacher implementation guides, curriculum architecture documents, and standards-alignment guides work together to create complete instructional sequences that are ready for classroom implementation while remaining flexible enough to adapt to a wide variety of educational settings.

My goal has always been simple: teach students not merely what to think, but how to read critically, write intentionally, communicate effectively, and think independently. Every unit published within The Carter English Curriculum™ has been designed around that philosophy.

Built Through International Experience

The Carter English Curriculum™ reflects more than a decade of experience teaching English Language Arts across multiple internationally recognized educational systems. Its instructional philosophy has been shaped through classroom experience with Cambridge IGCSE English, AERO Standards, and the New South Wales curriculum, as well as graduate study completed through the University of the People Master of Education program, whose curriculum was developed in collaboration with the International Baccalaureate (IB).

Rather than adapting completed lessons to different standards after they were written, the curriculum has been built upon instructional practices that have consistently proven effective across diverse international classrooms. The result is a flexible, globally portable curriculum emphasizing transferable literacy skills, explicit instruction, authentic assessment, and meaningful student learning.

Narrative Writing: The Storyteller’s Toolbox

Narrative Writing: The Storyteller’s Toolbox is the flagship narrative writing resource within The Carter English Curriculum. Designed for secondary English Language Arts classrooms, this comprehensive workbook teaches students to write by studying the techniques of master storytellers. Rather than relying on isolated prompts or formulaic writing exercises, students learn how accomplished authors construct compelling plots, develop memorable characters, build atmosphere, and shape meaning through deliberate authorial choices.

Built around classic and public-domain mentor texts, each lesson guides students through the writing process by moving from close reading and literary analysis to practical application. Through carefully scaffolded instruction, writer’s craft lessons, guided practice, and authentic writing tasks, students learn not only what skilled authors do, but how and why their techniques create powerful, engaging narratives. This literature-to-writing approach develops both analytical reading skills and confident, purposeful writers.

Whether used as a complete classroom curriculum, a homeschool resource, or a supplemental writing program, Narrative Craftsmanship: The Storyteller’s Toolbox equips students with the tools to transform ideas into compelling stories and to approach writing as both an art and a craft.

Features:

25 scaffolded lessons progressing from planning and plot construction to complete, polished narrative compositions.
Literature-to-writing instruction that teaches narrative craft through the study of classic mentor texts rather than disconnected writing prompts.
Explicit instruction in writer’s craft, including plot development, characterization, dialogue, setting, atmosphere, theme, symbolism, and authorial choices.
Classic public-domain mentor texts carefully sequenced to model specific storytelling techniques before students apply them in their own writing.
Consistent lesson architecture, including Writer’s Principles, Writer’s Toolbox strategies, Literary Device Extensions, Guided Practice, and authentic writing tasks.
Cambridge IGCSE (0500) and IB English alignment, emphasizing the close relationship between literary analysis, authorial craft, and effective narrative writing.
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles embedded throughout to support diverse learners while maintaining rigorous academic expectations.
Guided drafting, revision workshops, and cumulative performance tasks that develop confident, reflective writers capable of crafting engaging and purposeful narratives.
Suitable for international schools, homeschool programs, Christian schools, and independent learners seeking a comprehensive secondary narrative writing curriculum.

Availability

Availability: Distributed directly to educators and schools.

The IB Edition is not currently available for public download. During this stage of development, resources are shared directly with educators, department heads, and schools who are interested in reviewing or implementing the curriculum. This approach allows me to provide the latest edition, offer implementation support, and continue refining the series through authentic classroom feedback.

If you would like to learn more about the curriculum or request review copies for your school or department, please contact me through the website.

Available in Cambridge IGCSE and IB English A editions. Additional editions aligned to AERO and AP English standards are currently in development.

Grammar for Writers: The Toolbox

Grammar is not about memorizing rules—it is about making choices.

Grammar is not about memorizing rules—it is about making choices.

The Writer’s Toolbox is the cornerstone of the Grammar for Writers series and the flagship grammar resource within The Carter English Curriculum. Designed for secondary English Language Arts classrooms, this comprehensive workbook moves beyond traditional grammar drills to teach grammar as a practical tool for effective writing.

Rather than memorizing isolated rules, students learn how experienced writers make deliberate choices to improve clarity, precision, style, and voice. Through carefully scaffolded lessons, authentic writing tasks, guided revision, and Cambridge-aligned applications, students develop the habits of skilled writers and independent editors. The workbook emphasizes grammar in context, helping learners understand not only what good writers do, but why they do it. Its craft-based approach and consistent lesson architecture distinguish it from traditional grammar texts.

Whether used as a complete classroom curriculum, a homeschool resource, or a supplemental writing program, The Writer’s Toolbox equips students with the skills they need to write with confidence, accuracy, and purpose.

Features

20 scaffolded lessons progressing from sentence foundations to sophisticated stylistic control and independent editing.
Craft-based instruction that teaches grammar as a tool for effective writing rather than isolated rule memorization.
Authentic writing workshops that emphasize revision, reflection, and purposeful composition.
Cambridge IGCSE (0500) alignment, with explicit connections to assessment objectives and examination skills throughout.
Consistent lesson architecture, including Essential Questions, Bellringers, Guided Practice, Writer’s Workshops, Cambridge Connections, and Self-Editing Reflections.
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles embedded throughout to support diverse learners while maintaining rigorous academic expectations.
Formative assessments, editing protocols, and cumulative performance tasks that build independent writers and self-editors rather than passive rule memorizers.
Suitable for international schools, homeschool programs, Christian schools, and independent learners seeking a comprehensive secondary grammar curriculum.

Availability

Download Availability: Available by request only.
Click the IB Edition image to Download a sample lesson.

The Writer’s Toolbox is currently distributed directly to educators, schools, and homeschool families upon request. This allows me to provide the most current edition, answer implementation questions, gather feedback from teachers, and better understand how the resource is being used in different educational settings. If you are interested in reviewing or implementing the workbook, please contact me through the website. As with all resources in The Carter English Curriculum, my goal is not simply to distribute materials, but to build relationships with educators and support successful classroom implementation.

Currently available in Cambridge IGCSE and IB MYP/DP English A editions. Future editions are planned with comprehensive AERO and AP standards integration.