Originally used as a diagnostic tool for Level 2 ESOL at the beginning of term - a short 'quiz' created in Google forms about The Runner poem submitted by Jean Morten (2023) You don't need to log into Google to complete it but if you do you can make a copy and adapt it for your own learners, and your own email address to collect responses, etc.
I like this - it's very well executed - even though I'm not sure exactly how it could be used within a Functional Skills English classroom. I receive many suggested links and mostly ignore them (due to them not being free or not being useful for Functional Skills). However, I always have a soft spot for "Words of the Day" as they can make great warm up activties at almost any level.
Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
FE E2.10 Use effective strategies to find words meanings & check spelling e.g. simple dictionary, spell-checker
FE E3.8 Read correctly words designated for Entry Level 3
FE E3.11 Use strategies to find meaning of words e.g. dictionary, context, word types
FE L1.13 Use reference materials & appropriate strategies for a range of purposes, inc. to find word meanings
FE L1.17 Read & understand a range of specialist words in context
FE L2.15 Use a range of reference materials & resources (e.g. glossaries, legends/keys) for different purposes
The Science of Reading blog is well worth a look - especially the Tuesday Teaching Tips.
For example, the entry for Tuesday April 25th included a useful morpheme chart & a lovely idea of pulling out & deeply analysing specific vocabulary over a period of several days (in this case the word 'siphon'!).
I've been recommending this resource to many learners and potential learners of ESOL and even English Functional Skills.
It allows learners to submit some typed in text for a particular task (for free) and then get feedback. They may need some help understanding the feedback, if they're not sure about grammatical terms, but many of my learners have found this very useful.
I have started to give it out at the beginning of term for students to get extra writing practice outside of the classtime.
English for Swimming is a huge 88 page resource pack created in Australia for CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse) communities. The pack covers almost every aspect of SLC and reading that you could think of, along with links to supplementary materials, including videos. There is a particular emphasis on vocabulary, conversation activities and reading comprehension, with some wonderful texts (see Image of contents page).
This resource from the Comic Relief Red Nose Day website would make a nice quick E1-2 English/ESOL onscreen writing task. The PDF has type-in boxes but could also be printed. Learners think up their own events (perhaps through paired discussion or small group discussion?) and then each completes poster, writing/typing in complete sentences as appropriate for level. (I.e. simple sentences for E1 and a mix of simple and compound sentences for E2).
A fun quiz for St David's Day (or any other day you feel like making Welsh cakes!) made in Edpuzzle. There's slightly more emphasis on maths than English but it's also very useful for improving listening, memory and general observation skills. Inspired by our long-time St David's Day Welsh Cakes ratio resource (Gill Clark, 2008) and, of course, the lovely Welsh Tourist Board video that is used in the quiz).
Really handy and useful punctuation / proof reading resource for E3-L1.
Sentences are displayed with no punctuation or capitalisation. Select the correct version from 4 options. Covers capital letters, commas, apostrophes, full stops and question marks.
