Teaching idea

Interesting, and often quite general, teaching ideas.

Step by step method for working out any percentage using easy mental maths methods such as dividing by 10 or 100; doubling and adding up. An example is included and a blank “bubble template “ to users to use with their own percentage problems. A smart notebook version of the template is also included.
Please note you must have the Smart Notebook software installed on your computer in order to open, view and use the Notebook resource http://smarttech.com/

Level
Level 2
Level 1
Maths
AN N2/L2.8 Find percentage parts of quantities and measurements
Functional Maths - numbers and the number system
AN N2/L1.9 Find simple percentage parts of quantities and measurements

This activity is designed to follow on from previous discussion about formal language and letter writing. It can be adapted to suit all levels but is best for Entry 3 – Level 2.
Learners will consider the importance of the purpose, content, style and tone of letters; and write a suitable letter of complaint from a given scenario.

Level
Level 2
Level 1
Entry Level 3
English
Functional English - writing
Wt/L2.6
Adult Lit Wt/L1.4 Use language suitable for purpose and audience
Wt/E3.3
Wt/E3.2
Context
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism

This is an activity that’s evolved over time and I’ve used it with learners ranging from E3 to L2. It’s always fun and can get the group talking and sharing thoughts. It’s a good way to reinforce the importance of choosing the correct tone for a letter.

It also has the advantage that it needs little preparation and no resources (except pen, paper and students!).

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
Functional English - writing
Adult Lit Wt/L1.4 Use language suitable for purpose and audience
Wt/L2.6

Sparkling sentences for bonfire night is a lovely seasonal literacy starter activity that covers adjectives, adverbs, sentence structure and punctuation. The focus is on extending simple sentences to compound or complex setences. You will need a packet of sparklers.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
Adult Literacy: writing - punctuation & grammar (Ws)

Lists 30 pairs of common homophones (not to all be used at once!) with plenty of ideas on using them in spelling, sentence and discussion work.

Level
Level 1
English
Homophones, homographs & confusables
AL Ww/L1.1 Spell & use spelling strategies

A great warm-up activity. Students work in pairs to find information in holiday brochures. Easily adapted for your own brochures. Covers scanning, organisational features, detailed reading, etc. at E3-L2.

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
Rt/E3.4
Rt/L1.3
Rt/L2.3 Identify the main points and specific detail
Rt/E3.5
Rt/L1.4
Rt/L2.6 Use organisational features and systems to locate texts and information
Rt/E3.6
Rt/E3.7
Rt/E3.8
Rt/L1.5
Rt/L2.7 Use different reading strategies to find and obtain information, e.g. skimming, scanning, detailed reading
Context
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism

Two great activities (one long and detailed – suitable for 2-3 sessions; one shorter and quicker, for a single session) ideal for E3-L1 literacy and ESOL students of all ages. Includes step by step detailed session plans which cover speaking and listening (interviewing), reading and writing skills.
The overall idea is to interview people and then plan their perfect holiday – showing the results as a poster or display. An interview sheet is included.

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
English
General literacy / English
Context
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism

A transcript and video link to a performance of Benjamin Zephaniah’s great poem. Great for discussion of language, dialect and oral performance and for Level 2 reading – inferring meaning, etc.

Level
Level 2
English
Rt/L2.2 Identify the purpose of a text and infer meaning which is not explicit
Adult Literacy: Engage in Discussion
Speak clearly and appropriately

Useful help sheet for those of you that are ‘getting into’ Tarsia Formulator and want to know how to use the centre of each of your puzzles as a simplified version or starting point. Also gives ideas for making puzzles more challenging.
See our Good Software – Tarsia Formulator entry for more information.

Lots of ideas for using our Word Root and Letter String Maps (see below) in creative and multi-sensory ways!

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
Rw/E3.5
Rw/L1.3
Rw/L2.1
AL Ww/E3.2 Use phonic knowledge to help spelling
AL Ww/L1.1 Spell & use spelling strategies
AL Ww/L2.1 Spell technical words