Teaching idea

Interesting, and often quite general, teaching ideas.

A resource adapted to include Audience, Purpose, Format and Features (PAFF) from a Skillsworkshop resource titled Audience and Purpose (Emma Shaw, 2007 - listed under "See Also").

This has been useful to review and consolidate PAFF for reading and then later for writing.

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
FE E3.10 Identify different purposes of straightforward texts
FE L1.12 Recognise that language & other textual features can be varied to suit different audiences & purposes
FE L1.16 Recognise vocabulary typically associated with specific types and purposes of texts (e.g. formal, informal, instructional, descriptive, explanatory and persuasive)
FE L2.14 Understand how textual features/devices can shape meaning for different audiences/purposes

An updated version of 'Numeracy during the Summer' by Judith White (2006). 

Numeracy during the summer. Keep your students’ skills going during the summer break with these ideas. One page for Entry Level learners, one for Levels 1/2.
Covers number, measures, shape and space, and data.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
Maths
FM Contextualised underpinning
General numeracy / maths
Adult numeracy curriculum
General
Generic resources for literacy, numeracy and beyond

Suits ESOL students at Entry 3+.  It creates plenty of scope for  further work e.g.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
ESOL
ESOL Sc/E2.3f Give a short description
ESOL Sc/E3.4f Give a short description and make comparisons
ESOL Sc/L1.3e Describe and compare
ESOL Ws/E2.2a Use adjectives
General ESOL
General
Generic resources for literacy, numeracy and beyond
Context
Art Film Media Music Radio TV

Reformed Functional English assessments include group discussion at all levels beyond Entry 1.  This useful, 3 page planner can be used (with varying amounts of teacher support) from E2 to L2. Covers everything from choosing a topic, jotting down initial ideas, and making extended contributions. Also describes the different roles withing a discussion and useful phrases for each role.

With detailed Functional English mapping.   

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
FE E2.6 Make appropriate contributions to simple group discussions with others about a straightforward topic
FE E3.6 Make relevant contributions to group discussions about straightforward topics
FE E3.7 Listen to & respond appropriately to other points of view, respecting conventions of turn-taking
FE L1.7 Use appropriate phrases / registers & adapt contributions to take account of audience / purpose / medium
FE L1.8 Respect turn-taking rights of others during discussions, using appropriate language for interjection
FE L2.8 Make relevant and constructive contributions to move discussion forward
FE L2.10 Interject & redirect discussion using appropriate language & register
ESOL
ESOL Engage in discussion (Sd)

This is a resource I've designed to be a homework/classwork support for L1 Functional Skills maths (reform).

Editor's notes

A wonderful 104-page compilation of resources covering almost every aspect of Level 1 Reformed Functional Maths. With curriculum mapping and links to further resources. Note this project includes resources from many excellent free web sites - please read the notes on the front cover sheet and page 104 for further information. 

Level
Level 1
Maths
FM Context free underpinning
FM Contextualised underpinning
Functional Maths - problem solving
Functional Maths - numbers and the number system
Functional Maths - measures, shape & space
Functional Maths - handling information and data
Context
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism

This is a project based on Benford's law. I had this idea after watching the Numberphile series on YouTube. This is a project based activity that involves many skills including working with large numbers, using percentages, representing data and probability.

Level
Level 1
Level 2
Maths
FM Complex multi-step problem(s)
FM L1.1 Read, write, order & compare large numbers (up to one million)
FM L1.14 Calculate percentages of quantities, inc. simple percentage increase / decrease by 5% & multiples of
FM L1.15 Estimate answers to calculations using fractions and decimals
FM L1.27 Represent discrete data in tables, diagrams & charts inc. pie charts, bar charts, line graphs
FM L1.28 Group discrete data & represent grouped data graphically
FM L1.30 Understand probabilities on a scale from 0 to 1; use to compare the likelihood of events
FM L1.31 Use equally likely outcomes to find probabilities of simple events & express as fractions
Context
Business & Money management

An ESOL lesson embedding numeracy, diversity and British values, centred on the Spring Equinox and three festivals which happen around / on this day - Purim, Holi and Shunbun No Hi. Learners collect unfamiliar words on a vocabulary sheet and ask and answer questions to elicit meaning / explanation. There is a powerpoint to introduce the topic, using acronyms eg 7DIAW  - Seven Days In A Week to elicit key words, and lead to an explanation of what the Vernal Equinox is and when it is.

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Maths
FM E1.7 Know the number of days in a week, months, & seasons in a year. Name & sequence them.
FM E2.7 Know the number of hours in a day and weeks in a year.
FM E3.4 Multiply 2-digit numbers by 1- & 2-digit numbers
ESOL
General ESOL
General
Generic resources for literacy, numeracy and beyond
Context
Faith & Religion

Simple yet very useful and effective templates for depicting and/or visualising fractions, decimals, percentages and ratios.

Level
Level 2
Level 1
Maths
Adult Numeracy N2/L2.2
Adult Numeracy N2/L1.3
N2/E3.2
Functional Maths - numbers and the number system

This is a basic editable word wheel which you can print, cut out and attach together with a brass paper fastener.
Learners can concentrate on one word at a time. Word wheels can be used for building vocabulary, spelling practice and much more. Suitable for all levels of Functional Skills and ESOL.
Instructions and ideas are included within the PPT. For example:
Stretchy:

  • Write positive or negative words in the table
  • Look up words that are unfamiliar

Stretchier:

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
FE READING and understanding words
FE WRITING Spelling
FE WRITING Sentence structure and paragraphs
AL Apply strategies to spell correctly
AL Recognise and understand a range of words
ESOL
ESOL Writing: word focus - spelling and handwriting (Ww)
ESOL: Reading word focus - vocabulary, word recognition, phonics (Rw)
General
Generic resources for literacy, numeracy and beyond

This is a set of worksheets in a MS Excel workbook that deals with fractions.
- Sheet one: a set of pictures (pie charts) that shows fractions from halves to tenths
- Sheet two: equivalent fractions with two pie charts, learners can input fractions and see if they are equivalent by looking at the shape of the pie charts
- Sheet three: starting to look at fractions being equivalent to decimals with two pie charts one for fractions and one for decimals

Level
GCSE L1-5
Level 2
Level 1
Maths
N2/L2.3
N2/L2.1
Adult Numeracy N2/L2.2
Adult Numeracy N2/L1.3
GCSE N10 (Work interchangeably with terminating decimals & their corresponding fractions)
Functional Maths - numbers and the number system
ICT
Functional Skills ICT: Using ICT