Teaching idea
Literacy: Homophones, homographs & confusables
General: Study Skills and General Teaching, Staff development
Level: L2
Resource type: Teaching idea
This study considers the emerging issue of consciousness in pedagogy both theoretically and practically. It examines why this issue is of fundamental significance for teaching and learning. Basic assumptions are clarified and the psychological and philosophical fundamentals of consciousness theory explored.
Some surprising and counter-intuitive conclusions are reached. It is shown that in the partnership between consciousness and unconsciousness the latter is likely to be senior.
Literacy: Decode, Apply strategies to spell correctly
General: Study Skills and General Teaching, Staff development
Level: E1, E2, E3
Resource type: Listening and/or speaking activity, Teaching idea
The need for deliberate teaching of phonemic awareness, and a means of doing this.
A research paper followed by a useful step by step method.
Literacy: Writing, Functional English - writing
General: Autistic spectrum support
Free tags: New Year
Resource type: Discussion points, Teaching idea, Writing frame
Level: E2, E3
A set of resources created for a group 16-19 year olds with high functioning ASD (autistic spectrum disorder) but suitable for any E2-E3 literacy /Functional English student.
Involves discussion of year’s highlights, and a written reflection and prediction exercise. Finally, the students record their hopes and wishes which are then kept in sealed envelopes until l the end of the academic year (or other agreed date).
General: Generic resources for literacy, numeracy and beyond, Aims & objectives, ILPs, reflections
Resource type: Teaching idea
Level: E1, E2, E3, L1, L2
A list of buzz words I sometimes use with learners when doing reviews – helps them to come up with ideas about how they are progressing and how their learning is making a difference in their lives.
Numeracy: Functional Maths, General numeracy / maths
Resource type: Discussion points, Teaching idea, Warm-up
Level: E1, E2, E3, L1
I have found that many numeracy students get scared when you mention terms like percentages or fractions. I therefore developed this introductory activity for my new level 1 numeracy students. They are mostly young parents who were disengaged at school and have no mathematics qualifications.
Numeracy: Functional Maths, General numeracy / maths
Literacy: Functional Skills English, General literacy / English
General: Generic resources for literacy, numeracy and beyond, Aims & objectives, ILPs, reflections
Resource type: Assessment material, Discussion points, Poster, Teaching idea
Level: E1, E2, E3, L1, L2
A set of posters / cards / checklists designed to prompt discussion, check learning and keep a record of student progression. Designed for Entry Level Functional Maths and English learners in an FE setting but suitable for all levels and subjects.
Numeracy: Functional Maths, Measures shape and space, General numeracy / maths
Free tags: Recipe
Context: Catering Food Nutrition
Level: E2, E3
Resource type: Hands-on / practical activity, Investigation or project, Revision material, Teaching idea, Worksheet or assignment
Ideas for a revision class on the theme of making a cake. I have included a cake recipe by Delia Smith and some prices of cake ingredients and items for cake decorating.
I first used this activity with a mixed group of young adult learners with a range of learning difficulties. I found it worked better to give them a list of prices rather than asking them to find their own, because then they could focus on the main tasks.
Literacy: Functional Skills English
Context: Business & Money management, Employment skills & Public services
Level: E2, E3, L1, L2
Resource type: Hands-on / practical activity, Reading comprehension, Teaching idea, Warm-up, Worksheet or assignment, Writing prompts
Fabulous set of resources – aimed at E2-L1 Functional English but some activities are also suitable for E1 and/or L2.
10 different sets of resources encompassing a range of teaching strategies and covering many aspects of reading, writing, and discussion.
Numeracy: N1/E3.5, N1/L1.5
Resource type: Hands-on / practical activity, Interactive whiteboard, Teaching idea
Level: E3, L1
Step by step method for using this very clever, little-known method of working out those tricky times tables from 6 to 9. (The method relies on the user knowing his or her “easier times tables” well so is not suitable for the complete times-tables novice. Very clear slides with lots of illustrated examples.
Please note you must have the Smart Notebook software installed on your computer in order to open, view and use the Notebook resource http://smarttech.com/
Pre-entry: Rw/M8.3
Literacy: Rw/E1.1, Rw/E2.1
Level: M8, E1, E2
Resource type: Teaching idea
How ‘flash’ presentation of social sight vocabulary proved to be motivating. The technique is described and some thoughts about why it seems to have such positive effects on several different levels are offered, and feedback sought.
