ESOL Rw/E3.4a Alphabetical order 1st & 2nd place letters

Use first- and second-place letters to find and sequence words in alphabetical order (i) Be aware of the importance of alphabetical order of letters within a word

Various activities based around the subject of staying safe online, fake news and online scams. Practise and preparation for the reading exams with questions to practise alphabetical order, features of text, purpose, style, reading comprehension and alphabetical order.

Editor's note

Such a useful  and topical resource! Written for Entry 3 ESOL but also ideal for Functional Skills English and Digital Literacy. The reading text on page looks deceptively simple but some of the exam-style questions are challenging and would also be suitable for Level 1.

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
English
FE E2.12 Use illustrations, images & captions to locate information
FE E3.9 Identify, understand & extract main points & ideas in/from texts
FE E3.10 Identify different purposes of straightforward texts
FE E3.11 Use strategies to find meaning of words e.g. dictionary, context, word types
FE E3.12 Understand organisational features & use them to locate relevant information
FE E2.15 Use 1st & 2nd letters to sequence words alphabetically
FE E3.16 Use 1st, 2nd & 3rd letters to sequence words alphabetically
ESOL
ESOL Rt/E3.2a Distinguish between different purposes of texts at this level
ESOL Rt/E3.4a Extract the main points and ideas, and predict words from context.
ESOL Rt/E3.6a Skim read key textual features (title, heading and illustrations) for different purposes
ESOL Rt/E3.7a Scan different parts of texts to locate information
ESOL Rt/E3.8a Read every word to obtain specific information
ESOL Rw/E3.3a Use a dictionary to find the meaning of unfamiliar words
ESOL Rw/E3.4a Alphabetical order 1st & 2nd place letters
ICT
Protecting privacy - Entry Level
Protecting data - Entry Level
Being responsible online - Entry Level
Digital wellbeing - Entry Level
General
Study Skills and General Teaching
Context
Health and safety
Electrical, Electronics & Technology

Based on the exercises in the Functional Skills Entry Level English exams, this is a revision resource that also provides practice in spelling and reading. I use this as a starter activity, whilst the students are settling into the classroom. It is not intended to be completed at one time. The resource is kept in their folders and can also be used in spare time or for homework. 

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
English
FE E3.16 Use 1st, 2nd & 3rd letters to sequence words alphabetically
FE E2.15 Use 1st & 2nd letters to sequence words alphabetically
Alphabetical order
ESOL
ESOL Rw/E2.5a Sequence words using basic alphabetical ordering skills
ESOL Rw/E3.4a Alphabetical order 1st & 2nd place letters

Short sets of words for alphabetic sorting.   These can be used with literacy or ESOL learners.  I found they worked well at the beginning of each session while learners were still arriving into the class.  They work well as individual or pairs exercises.

The first set works best when each list is cut up and laminated as individual words in each group, so learners can sort them kinaesthetically.  

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
English
FE E2.15 Use 1st & 2nd letters to sequence words alphabetically
FE E3.16 Use 1st, 2nd & 3rd letters to sequence words alphabetically
Alphabetical order
ESOL
ESOL Rw/E3.4a Alphabetical order 1st & 2nd place letters

The resources have been designed to complement the alphabetical ordering component of the E2 and E3 adult literacy exams. There are are four printable worksheets suitable for levels E2-E3. Two worksheets have also been adapted as PPT slides which include audio files so that the jobs and instructions can be heard as well as read.

Level
Entry Level 3
Entry Level 2
English
Rw/E3.4
Rw/E2.4
ESOL
ESOL Rw/E3.4a Alphabetical order 1st & 2nd place letters
Context
Employment skills & Public services