Adult Literacy, Functional English, and GCSE Resources

Fun, multi-purpose speaking / reading / listening / writing / maths warm-up activity that can be used at any level and for any subject – particularly effective at Entry Level. Learners shake two dice to locate a word on a number matrix (good for maths:co-ordinates too!).
Five sample grids are provided – covering descriptions, homophones (2 grids), spellings and clothes – plus a blank grid so you can make your own. Includes full instructions and can also be used for numeracy.

Fun, hands-on activity that provides practice in both reading and listening to / following instructions. You should end up with a paper hat!
Fully mapped to Entry 2 Functional English (reading; speaking, listening and communication) and the adult literacy curriculum. Page 1 is for reading practice (or for the tutor to read aloud to the students), page 2 can be chopped up and used as a re-ordering exercise.

This is a resource I developed, prior to the May 2011 referendum, to use as part of ‘language for expressing opinions’ at E3 Level. It’s quite basic but can be developed in different ways for classes of different levels. It is based the Victor the Vote Counter video available on YouTube or www.aboutmyvote.co.uk

I created these hand-outs for my Entry 1 to Level 1 learners and used them to accompany Saul Pope’s E3-L2 Problem Page resource (see below for a link to Saul’s resource).

I found the resources very useful for both motivational purposes (all students enjoyed the discussion aspect) and also to inform future planning (all students found it difficult putting pen to paper when writing their response).

I was prompted to create this set of tasks after seeing a lovely Red Nose event poster in my staff email. Although it focuses on Comic Relief 2011, this resource could easily be adapted for other charity events. Please read the resource to find out how you can obtain an editable Word version.
Functional English covers reading, spelling, writing, listening, speaking and discussion skills. Functional Maths covers time, money, doubling and halving, and 2D shapes.
Fully mapped to E1-E2 Functional Skills criteria.

A super selection of functional English tasks. Based on a Red Nose Day / Comic Relief poster and story but can be used successfully at any time of year. Reading, writing and discussion tasks – with extra teaching ideas. Fully mapped to E1-2 Functional English.
Poster updated Feb 11 2011.

A great set of functional English tasks based on an ‘agony aunt’ letter from someone who wants to lose weight (tutors should therefore use their discretion before using this resource).
Reading comprehension, discussion and a scaffolded writing task (with writing frame). Ideal for (and fully mapped to) E1-2 Functional English.

Stop FE/HE Education Cuts is a set of 6 photographs (taken in Hackney, March 2010). Each accompanied by questions to get learners thinking about the effects of proposed education cuts (spring 2010). Designed to accompany any of the 4 related resources on this topic (see below) and ideal for prompting discussion about the importance of education for all.
Contributed by Rebecca Galbraith, Rose Veitch and Rachel Emmett.

The first set of Step 2 stories in the wonderful Readwell Road reading scheme for adults. All stories are written for adults and reflect real-life situations. These three Entry Level 1-2 texts continue the stories introduced in Step 1 books A-C (see below). Ron and Pam’s Post Office may be closed; the continuing saga of Peg at the pub and her man Sam; and poor old Jim, who lives in the bungalow at No. 1, and his bad back.
Also includes teaching ideas, discussion points and activities for one story.

A very useful listening exercise and the first one we have to specifically cover this curriculum element (listen for and identify the main points of short explanations or presentations).
Transcriptt to read out (or record), questions to ask, and extension ideas. The script is about travelling to a staff conference, making it ideal for work skills students.