Shared text

An amazing series of 16 worksheets that focus on the 100 most frequent words as used in the school-based Letters & Sounds reading scheme (available free – for details see teaching notes within the resource or visit http://nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/ and type Letters and Sounds in the search box).

A fun text to discuss in class. Use as focus on humour in writing, vocabulary and borrowed words, etc. Optional picture clues are provided to help students discover the meaning of eight Japanese words.

An excellent and refreshingly different circular writing activity that encourages students to explore a range of styles and write for different purposes. Ideal for consolidating work on purpose of text. The sample texts (you will never think of making a cup of tea in the same way again!) make a super resource in their own right.

An L1-2 investigation that covers direct proportion (best buy), and rounding / calculating with money /decimals. Two options are included: students can either research Easter egg and chocolate prices on internet shopping sites or use those given. In both cases they must investigate the cost per 100g chocolate and work out the best buy. Final extension work includes consideration of ‘buy one get one free’ and ‘two for £…’ offers.

Editor’s note. New update for 2016 – based on supermarket prices in February 2016

A brilliant resource – especially for younger, teenage students. Includes an original poem, discussion of slang, background info on Valentine’s Day, writing and speaking ideas.

Written specially for a non-reader who would not visit the doctor because of the touch screen booking system. Makes good reading practice (also following instructions) even for those who don’t need to use such a system.

A wonderful, illustrated story written by Tracy Richardson, when she was a Level 1 Literacy learner at Henley College, Coventry.

Submitted by her tutor, Robert Holt, who suggests using this story with Entry 2-3 learners for reading comprehension / reading in detail, recognising high frequency words, adjectives, phonics & decoding (especially consonant clusters).

A trip to the cinema is an interactive narrative that follows family as they select a film to see (skimming and scanning), catch the bus (buying a ticket), ask for directions to the cinema, buy cinema tickets and snacks!
Provides prompts, dialogue scripts, maps and other ideas for speaking and listening work. Ideal for revision or recapping after student have covered buying things, giving directions, asking for information, etc.
Please read the notes area on slide 1 of this PPT for teaching ideas, curriculum links, etc.

Buying a ticket provides prompts, dialogue scripts and other ideas for speaking and listening work, along with reading practice (obtaining information from texts). Covers football, cinema, bus and train tickets.
Originally used with the DfES ESOL E1 Skills for Life materials (Unit 4 – Local Transport, page 11 – Buying a ticket) but can be used alone. http://rwp.excellencegateway.org.uk/readwriteplus/Learning_Materials_ES…

Problems in the home PPT provides group spelling and vocabulary practice along with ideas for speaking practice. Look at the pictures, discuss what the people do (electricians, gas engineers, plumbers, etc.) and the problems they fix. Then type the correct spelling into the box (ideal with a cordless keyboard) before checking the correct spelling with a mouse click. Finish with some skimming and scanning practice using related information from the Yellow Pages.