Resources added or updated July 2010

(for the very latest resources visit What's New and see pictures on home page).

TOPICAL MATHS and ENGLISH

Note Matt's 2009-10 version of this resource is still available here as many of its activities are still relevant (covers formulating an argument, discussion, recognising points of view - facts & opinions, writing sentences & paragraphs, averages, ratios, and  addition & subtraction)

Resources added or updated June 2010

NUMERACY and FUNCTIONAL MATHEMATICS

PDF The Budget is a fabulous, very clear lesson plan ideal for money-management / personal finance classes. The mathematical focus is on percentages (VAT) but it also covers rounding  and extracting data and can be used in mixed ability classes from E2 -L2. The plan also includes links to online Budget videos, a "chop or not" game, VAT calculators and more! Also suitable for underpinning L1 Functional Maths, and linked to Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship (ESDGC).  Contributed by Leia Fee, Swansea ITeC leia.fee@swansea-itec.co.uk  2 pages. 25K N1/E2.6 N1/E3.7 N1/L1.8 N2/E3.2 N2/L1.8 N2/L1.9 N2/L1.10 Topical resources  Employment - Finance skills

PDF Quick Read resources is a varied set of tasks based on two popular Quick Read titles: Chickenfeed by Minette Walters and Murder in Catcher's Wood by Paul Horsman (in the Sun Book of Short Stories).  Includes comprehension questions, paragraphing, punctuation and writing ideas. Wonderful for encouraging reading of fiction. Contributed by Ruth Read ruth.read@slowdog.vispa.com WEA(Workers’ Educational Association) East Midlands. 4 pages. 40K General E3 reading General L1 reading General L2 reading

ESOL (also suitable for Literacy)

PDF 'ch' words is a very useful set of flashcards (with teaching ideas) and accompanying worksheet to help learners decode words with the three different 'ch' phonemes (e.g. as in stomach, pinch and chef).  For E3 Literacy/ESOL. From Sonia Carroll, City and Islington College sonia.carroll@candi.ac.uk  50K. 11 pages. Covers ESOL Rw/E3.5 (a) but filed under Literacy Rw/E3.5 (as ESOL is only covered separately on this site at Entry Level 1 and 2)

Resources added or updated May 2010

ESOL (also suitable for Literacy)

PDF Housework is a set of three related resources: My Busy Day is a reading and writing exercise, Pedro and the Housework is a reading exercise, and thee is also a set of snap cards. An accompanying PPT and video are available. From Laurence Fletcher, Wolverhampton City College / Adult Education Service. laurencebrc@yahoo.com 5 pages. 100K Lit: General E1 Lit. General E2 Lit. ESOL: General E1 ESOL. General E2 ESOL

ZIP Housework is a very funny video (with a rather predictable ending!) accompanied by words and jolly music and designed to introduce, complement or summarise the two related resources below. Although aimed at M8-E2, ESOL/Literacy groups of all levels will enjoy this video and it is bound to prompt discussion. From Laurence (and Janet) Fletcher, Wolverhampton City College / Adult Education Service. laurencebrc@yahoo.com Zipped WMV files (Windows Media Video) 6.8 MB Literacy: Rw/M8.3 Rw/E1.1 ESOL: Rw/E1.1a

ZIP (Do the) Housework is a PPT with audio, so you can leave students pressing the audio button and repeating the words, while you attend to others. 16 types of housework are covered. A related set of snap cards, reading exercises and video are also available. From Laurence Fletcher, Wolverhampton City College / Adult Education Service. laurencebrc@yahoo.com Zipped PowerPoint file. 20 screens. 1.3MB Literacy: Rw/M8.3 Rw/E1.1 ESOL: Rw/E1.1a

NUMERACY and FUNCTIONAL MATHEMATICS

PDF Would you rather...? is a super poster/mnemonic to help  learners remember the difference between kilo- and milli- . It uses a very small and an extremely large cake as examples! Contributed by Leia Fee and other staff at Swansea ITeC leia.fee@swansea-itec.co.uk  1 pages. 50K. MSS1/E3.8

PDF Functional Maths L1-L2 Fitting a Bathroom is a set of tasks covering using plans/scale drawings, calculating area/volume, finding the best bargains and much more. Fully mapped to FM criteria. Contributed by Elizabeth Adeyemi, South Thames College. 4 pages. 50K. Filed under L1 Functional Maths (number) Functional Maths (measures) Functional L2 Maths (number) Contextualised - plumbing

PDF Estimating practice is a very clear, step by step worksheet that makes a great introduction to this important topic. It's also ideal for underpinning Functional Maths. Contributed by Anne Carlill, Park Lane College. AECarlill@aol.com 3 pages. 80K. MSS1/E3.2 N1/E3.8 N1/L1.9

PDF Converting metres to kilometres is a very useful practice sheet for metric conversions. It's also ideal for underpinning Functional Maths. Contributed by Joy Barrand, joy.barrand@furness.ac.uk Furness College, Cumbria. 3 pages. 50K. MSS1/L1.7 MSS1/L2.5

PDF L1-2 Eurovision Functional Maths / numeracy assignment is a great set of topical questions covering whole numbers, rounding, ratios, fractions, %s, volume, converting currency and data handling. There is a particular emphasis on working with large numbers. Provides useful revision at any time of year. 40 questions but these are not multiple choice. There is plenty of space for showing working-out and it is fully mapped to L1-2 Functional Maths. Contributed by Carrie Bray, Northampton College. 9 pages. 120K. Filed under  L1 Functional Maths (number) Functional L2 Maths (number) Functional Maths (measures)  seasonal data handling, contextualised - media and topical resources  

PDF Working with equations is a challenging set of exercises (in real life contexts) for L1-2 algebra. Also ideal for underpinning L2 Functional Maths. Contributed by Paul Hanby paulhanby@hotmail.com  Mid Kent College. 4 pages. 50K. N1/L1.11 N1/L2.4

PDF Remembrance Day is a series of comprehension/research/dictionary tasks based 3 separate short texts about Remembrance Day, the Menin Gate, and the Holocaust. The final task gives a choice of creative writing ideas. Contributed by James Woods, Working Links, Darlington James.Woods@workinglinks.co.uk  8 pages. 250K. General Level 2 Literacy

ZIP NCFE Literacy test simulator is a very clever PPT that simulates the format of the NCFE online Adult Literacy tests (which are quite different to the Move On practice tests) in order to familiarise learners with the screens and experience the zoom function. It also provides useful exam practice for all L1 and L2  Literacy students – no matter which awarding body is being used: there are five sample texts accompanied by 10 multiple choice questions. Contributed by Ruth North rnorth@northern.ac.uk from Northern College, South Yorkshire.  23 screens. 2.2MB zipped PPT file. Level 1 Literacy - exam practice  Level 2 Literacy - exam practice  Topical - exam revision

PDF 55 Homophone worksheets is a mammoth collection of worksheets covering a huge range of homophones - some common, some not-so-common. There is extra coverage of familiar sets such as they're, their, there; who's, whose; to. too. two; etc. Some sheets also cover parts of speech. Sheets vary: in some the incorrect word must be deleted, others are cloze exercises. Contributed by Amanda Burgess, WEA (Workers’ Educational Association), Southern Region. 55 pages. 40K Ww/L1.1 Ww/L2.1 (some sheets may also be suitable for Entry 3).

PDF Thomas and Toby is an E2 short text with comprehension questions suitable for literacy and ESOL. It continues the theme started in the Mark, Chloe, Paul and Alice series  of 4 texts (still available here). The emphasis in all texts is on family members and occupations which makes theme ideal for building vocabulary in ESOL students (as well as providing useful reading practice for E2 Literacy). Contributed by Amanda Burgess, WEA (Workers’ Educational Association), Southern Region. 1 page. 40K Lit Rt/E2.1 ESOL Rt/E2.1a

PDF Stop Smoking is a series of very useful Functional English / Literacy reading tasks based on two short topical texts. Covers comprehension, spelling (suffixes), and grammar (parts of speech). Contributed by Jill Dainton, Jill.Dainton@furness.ac.uk, Furness College, Cumbria. 6 pages. 60K General E3 Functional English  General L1 Functional English 

PDF Eurovision (Song Contest) Functional English & literacy tasks is a fabulous series of reading; writing; and speaking, listening and communication tasks aimed at L1-2.  Includes 10 reading questions, summarising, dictionary work, further ideas for extra Functional English (FE) work, and much more! Fully mapped to FE. Although topical this resource provides useful practice at any time of year. Contributed by Carrie Bray, Northampton College. Thank you Carrie. 8 pages. 60K. Filed under General L1 Functional English General L2 Functional English and topical resources

Resources added or updated April 2010

(for the very latest resources visit What's New and see pictures on home page).

NUMERACY and FUNCTIONAL MATHEMATICS

PDF Driving times investigation is a great way to explore the different meanings and uses of mean, mode and median. Contributed by Leia Fee and other staff at Swansea ITeC leia.fee@swansea-itec.co.uk 1 page. 20K. HD1/L2.3

XLS Loop card generator is a clever spreadsheet that creates  a set of 15 loop or "follow me" cards.  Comes with a prewritten set of cards based on multiplying and dividing by 10, 100 and 100 but can you can easily add your own questions and answers. Contributed by Leia Fee and other staff at Swansea ITeC leia.fee@swansea-itec.co.uk 2 sheets. 17K. Filed under Study Skills and General teaching resources - generic resources. N1/L1.4

XLS Interactive Excel area - volume worksheet has three interactive sheets: Paint calculator and carpet costs (area) and storage space (volume). Contributed by Leia Fee and other staff at Swansea ITeC leia.fee@swansea-itec.co.uk  3 sheets. 150K. MSS1/L1.9 MSS1/L1.10

PDF Selecting an air conditioner L2 Functional Maths tasks is great way to practice L2 measure and volume skills in a practical problem solving scenario. Ideal (and fully mapped to) L2 Functional Maths. Contributed by Leia Fee and other staff at Swansea ITeC leia.fee@swansea-itec.co.uk 2 pages. 30K. Functional L2 Measures  MSS1/L2.3 MSS1/L2.5 MSS1/L2.9  Contextualised resources - electrical and heating.

PDF Redecorating L1 Functional Maths (FM) tasks is a great way to practice L1 measure, area and estimating skills in a practical problem solving scenario. Scaffolding is provided for individual tasks to help build the skills required for functionality. Ideal (and fully mapped to) L1 FM. Contributed by Leia Fee and other staff at Swansea ITeC leia.fee@swansea-itec.co.uk 2 pages. 120K. MSS1/L1.1 MSS1/L1.4 MSS1/L1.9 L1 Functional Maths (number) Functional L1 Measures  Contextualised resources - painting and decorating.

Resources added or updated March 2010

(for the very latest resources visit What's New and see pictures on home page).

NUMERACY and FUNCTIONAL MATHEMATICS

PDF Metric bubble revision chart is a colourful mind map hat can help with remembering metric prefixes, rough metric-Imperial conversions and more. Would also make a good classroom poster. Plus a separate matching game. Contributed by Leia Fee and other staff at Swansea ITeC leia.fee@swansea-itec.co.uk  2 page. 120K. MSS1/L1.4 MSS1/L1.7 MSS1/L2.6

ESOL (also suitable for Literacy)

PDF Adding -ing to verbs is a straightforward but very useful 1 page spelling sheet written for E2 ESOL (also great for Literacy). Contributed by Vicky Goutis v.goutis@btinternet.com  Ww/E2.2 (Lit), Ww/E2.1b (ESOL)

PDF Stop FE/HE Education Cuts! is a fabulous set of scaffolded reading/writing tasks - written for E2-E3 ESOL but absolutely ideal for Entry 2-3 (and higher) Functional English. The reading is based on three different topical texts on this emotive subject. The writing involves writing a letter to your MP  - a frame is  provided for E2 writers. Get your college/students involved in this now! With full details of relevant Functional English criteria.  Contributed by Rachel Emmett remmett@tcch.ac.uk Hackney Community College. 6 pages. 200K. General E2 ESOL. Functional E2 English. Functional E3 English Note: further resources on this theme (for higher levels) will be appearing soon!

PDF Readwell Road, Step 2 stories A-C. Readwell Road is magnificent set of reading books for adults. This Step 2 set is made up of three Entry Level 1-2 texts and continues the stories of the people introduced in Step 1 (Entry 1) stories A-C. Ron and Pam's Post Office may be closed; the continuing saga of Peg at the pub and her man Sam; and poor old Jim, who lives in the bungalow at No. 1, and his bad back. Also includes teaching ideas and activities for one story. Please also download the separate overview document. Further titles will be appearing soon. Contributed by Linda Hoole, Havant, Hampshire linda.hoole@ntlworld.com 9 pages. 80K Rt/E1.1 Rt/E2.1

PDF Stop FE/HE Education Cuts is a super, and very topical (Spring 2010), practice Level 1 Literacy test based on a letter of protest written to the Prime Minister. 12 multiple choice questions cover spelling, comprehension, grammar, punctuation, paragraphing and purpose of text. Contributed by Rachel Emmett remmett@tcch.ac.uk Hackney Community College. 2 pages. 70K. General Level 1 Reading

PDF Education - a sorry story is a super, and very topical (Spring 2010), practice Level 2 Literacy test based on a student union magazine article. 12 multiple choice questions cover spelling, comprehension, grammar, tone, punctuation, etc. These are followed by 5 non-multiple choice questions which include a writing task, persuasive writing techniques, and summarising. Contributed by Rachel Emmett remmett@tcch.ac.uk Hackney Community College. 4 pages. 100K.  General L2 reading.  General Level 2 resources.

PDF A sorry story - looking at persuasive / emotive language was written for a GCSE English class but is equally suitable for Level 2 Literacy / Functional English. Various tasks based on a transcript of a speech about education cuts (in 2010).  Contributed by Rebecca Galbraith, Rachel Emmett remmett@tcch.ac.uk and Roise Veitch rveitch@hackney.ac.uk Hackney Community College.  5 pages. 80K.  General L2 reading. 

ZIP Stop FE/HE Education Cuts is a set of photographs (taken in Hackney, March 2010), each accompanied by questions to get learners thinking about the effects of proposed education cuts. Designed to accompany any of the  4 related resources on this topic and ideal for prompting discussion about the importance of education for all.  7 screens. 260K zipped PPT file. General Level 1 Reading General L2 reading. General E2 ESOL. Functional E2 English. Functional E3 English

PDF E3 Easter literacy assignment is a lovely topical set of reading and writing tasks covering comprehension, alphabetical order and dictionary work, form filling and letter planning/writing. Makes a great end of term activity. Contributed by Carrie Bray, Northampton College. 5 pages. 40K. Filed under seasonal E3 literacy and topical resources

PDF Cards and notes is a lovely set of writing tasks (each is accompanied by an example which also provides reading/purpose of text practice). 9 pages cover get well notes, party invitations, birthday notes,  good luck cards, addressing envelopes and more. Most are accompanied by simple writing frames for a scaffolded approach. Ideal for (and fully mapped to) E1-2 Functional English. Contributed by Janice Thorn, HMP Camp Hill Education, Isle of Wight.  9 pages. 220K. Functional E2 English. Functional E1 English General E1 Writing.

PDF Tackle unfamiliar/technical words and jargon is a really useful handout with an example text that clearly demonstrates how readers can use  both context and knowledge of word roots/prefixes/etc to tackle unfamiliar vocabulary without using a dictionary or glossary. Contributed by Leia Fee and other staff at Swansea ITeC leia.fee@swansea-itec.co.uk 3 pages. 30K. Rw/L2.1

Resources added or updated February 2010

PDF Readwell Road, Step 1 stories D-F. This second set is made up of three Entry Level 1 stories and introduces the people who live at No. 3. (Wil & Lal, second marriage, 3 kids between them), No. 5 (Helen & Adam, big house, one son who's not allowed any pets) and No. 7 (Mick & Lin, both work as cooks but their jobs are in danger). Also includes teaching ideas and activities for one story. Please also download the separate overview document (see above). Contributed by Linda Hoole, Havant, Hampshire linda.hoole@ntlworld.com  6 pages. 100K. General Entry 1 literacy Rt/E1.1

ESOL (also suitable for Literacy)

PDF Cat prepositions is a lovely set of worksheets, flashcards and word cards (to make sentences) on prepositions of place - based on an interactive exercise at http://inglesalagon.iespana.es/ejercicios/prepositions_of_place_1.htm Contributed by Sarah Horsley, Croydon College sarah.horsley@croydon.ac.uk 6 pages. 300K ESOL Rw/E1.1a Rs/E1.1a Lit Rs/E1.1 Rw/E1.1 Rw/E1.2

NUMERACY and FUNCTIONAL MATHEMATICS