Adult Literacy, Functional English, and GCSE Resources

These sheets make great starter activities – especially when used in pairs or small groups. One for qu- words, one for -all words and a blank ‘wall’ to add your own spelling challenge.

Lots of ideas here for themed Word Level starters. Give your lessons a longitudinal structure and improve students’ dictionary, speaking, spelling and vocabulary skills in small steps across the academic year. Originally used in a series of 30 lessons in a mixed ability classes (E3-L2). With suggestions for further resources and shared texts, related words, revision, spelling tips, speaking activities and more.

Hired or Fired is a lesson plan for E3- L2 based loosely on ‘The Apprentice’ TV show. Timed differentiated plan covering purpose of text, writing a persuasive advertisement and planning a newspaper article using a graphic organiser (using Maureen Prowse’s graphic organiser – see below).
Includes plan, task sheet and images. Now with blank spaces to allow you to fill in the name of your own local shopping centre etc rather than use Mocha Parade in Salford.

Fabulous multi-sensory resource for introducing mind mapping to learners at all levels. Includes teaching instructions, keys words and images (best laminated), sample mind map, sample report writing exercise based on mind map, and a very useful handout: ‘How to Mind Map’.

Interesting and topical practice with skimming and scanning. Step by step activities to follow, fill in chart and extension work. All you need is a selection of holiday brochures.

A unique and refreshing way to introduce or reinforce previous work on capital letters. Jo came up with this idea after using Margaret Lagoyianni’s ‘We need capital letters’. You will need a shopping bag and other miscellaneous items!

A speaking and listening card game / warm-up activity for Entry 2-3 Literacy. Linked to Entry level descriptive writing and work on adjectives. Best printed in colour and laminated. 10 animal cards plus adjective wheels for planning your written or spoken description. With differentiation ideas for preEntry and Levels 1-2.

Used in E1 Literacy as preparation for playing a fun ‘Cat and Mouse’ http://www.tcet.com/eaonline/FlashedESL/CatsMX.swf preposition game. Print on acetate, cut up and use with an OHP to focus on spelling & reading key prepositions (or display on interactive whiteboard). Print on paper for students to refer to whilst playing game. All clipart from UVics Language Clip art Library at http://hcmc.uvic.ca/clipart/

A set of two resources – PPT and PDF file. Updated in 2008. Please ensure you download the PDF file as this includes full teaching instructions for the PPT.

One of our most popular resources has now been given a facelift. Includes ‘Follow Me’ warm-up activity cards on ordering days, months and seasons – for group numeracy sessions (EL1-EL3), also suitable for Literacy (Reading levels E1-E3). Small cards for matching months/days to abbreviations or order. Larger cards for playing matching / sorting games /alphabetical ordering and spelling. Useful key word reference sheets connected to time and numbers. Cheque writing help. Match upper and lower case key words. With dozens of teaching ideas. Best printed on card or laminated.