Discussion points

Slides based on the theme of mental health, wellbeing, the importance of praise, self recognition and brag folders and SMART targets.

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Black History Month slides for English Functional Skills. Covers a broad range of skills such as discussion points, comprehension, working out vocabulary from context and/or with a dictionary, language features, organisational features, fact and opinion, and punctuation. 

Editor's note

Texts, video and image stimuli to develop and promote speaking and listening discussion to address the question 'Is it good to listen to music while studying or working?'

Activity to be tutor led and therefore delivery can be adapted to suit learner audience to include more analytical discussions about purpose, tone, language and textual features and similarities between sources.  

Reading, writing and discussion activities based on one of  the Edexcel exam contexts ('Learning to Drive').  PowerPoint includes chunked texts, key vocabulary tables, a video resource, and discussion and writing prompts. Resource lends itself well for additional reading comprehension prompts and explorative discussions. 

Editor's note

The reading focus is purpose, tone and organisational / formatting features. The final task is to write an online forum entry. 

Updated May 26 (new images & formatting): A PPT session that introduces learners to the Level 1 and 2 Functional Skills SL&C assessments and provides some small group tasks and brainstorms. Aimed at adult learners and linked to employability.

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Easily adapted for any Awarding Organisation and any discussion topic.

Get your learners thinking outside the box with this unusual warm up quiz that works well at all levels

Also provides discussion prompts and makes a great introduction to spelling compound words.

Speaking and listening, reading and writing  activities focusing on one of the possible Edexcel FS English exam contexts.  

Editor's note

With useful key vocabulary tables. The reading focus is purpose, tone and language features. The final task is to write an article about buying a new car. 

Resource focusing on the question 'Is the internet an addictive drug?'  The PowerPoint consists a video link and written stimulus to evoke thought and discussion.  Looking at the relationship we have with our phones versus people; our use of internet enabled devices, 'every minute of every day' and Social Media depression. 

Editor's note

I created this L2 Functional Skills resource a couple of years ago for a  young adult group that used particularly 'salty' language. As well as a reading comprehension task, it led to some fruitful discussion about swearing in general, appropriate use of language with different audiences, and facilitated the setting of some mutually agreed ground rules.

Updated 11 Mar 21

Related 'Garden Birds' word search now added. This extra activity is based on the "Guide to the top 10 garden birds" poster that appears on page 2  of the Entry Level 1 resource.

Two reading comprehension exercises differentiated for EL1 and EL2/3 Functional Skills English. The Entry Level 1 version also includes speaking and listening activities.