A reading comprehension exercise differentiated Entry Level 2 and Entry Level 3 Functional Skills English.
Based on an article from Spring 2020 about finding wild plants in towns. Designed for a mixed ability class so that everyone could be working on the same theme. [An E1 version is also available]. Questions cover almost all E2 and E3 FS Reading criteria and allow for practice in sentence writing as well as comprehension.
Level
E2
E3
English
FE E2.7 Read correctly words designated for Entry Level 2
FE E2.8 Understand the main points in texts
E2.10 Use effective strategies to find the meaning of words and check their spelling (e.g. a simple dictionary, spell-checker)
E2.11 Read and understand sentences with more than one clause
FE E2.12 Use illustrations, images and captions to locate information
FE E3.8 Read correctly words designated for Entry Level 3
FE E3.9 Identify, understand and extract the main points and ideas in and from texts
E3.10 Identify different purposes of straightforward texts
FE E3.11 Use effective strategies to find the meaning of words (e.g. a dictionary, working out meaning from context; using knowledge of different word types)
FE E3.12 Understand organisational features and use them to locate relevant information (e.g. contents, index, menus, tabs and links)
Fourteen questions related to Remembrance Day (topics include WW1, WW2 ration books, Korean War, war poetry, etc.). Use as a traditional paper-based quiz or an IT based investigation. Learners could work individually or in teams / small groups.One way of approaching the quiz would be to see what the class as a whole can answer from their general knowledge before moving on to internet research.
Level
E2
E3
L1
L2
English
General literacy / English
ICT
Finding and selecting information
General
Generic resources for literacy, numeracy and beyond
I have used this organisational features matching exercise in two ways, either to test learners initial knowledge of the features or as a revision tool.
Editor's note
Two versions - one, with images, for Entry Level and another for higher levels. Fully mapped to the reformed Functional English content which comes into effect in September 2019.
Level
E2
E3
L1
English
FE E3.12 Understand organisational features and use them to locate relevant information (e.g. contents, index, menus, tabs and links)
FE L1.14 Understand organisational and structural features and use them to locate relevant information (e.g. index, menus, subheadings, paragraphs) in a range of straightforward texts
FE WRITING Use format, structure & language (to meet purpose & audience)
I have had feedback from people using the Big Brother PDF discussion worksheet (see link below – under see also) but without any pictures! The fun part of the session (and for it to really work) is to show the students the people they have chosen: this generates plenty of discussion about prejudice and stereotyping. So, here are the 20 pictures to match to each description given in the earlier resource. (You should feel free to edit and adapt according to the demographics / prejudices / preconceptions of own students).
This resource has a range of activities to help students learn useful expressions/ language to make a complaint.
It is useful in building confidence in making complaints in person and on the telephone.
Editor’s note
Includes sample dialogue with questions (can also be used as a reading comprehension), matching cards, sammple scenarios, curriculum mapping and teaching notes.
Level
E2
E3
English
Functional English - speaking, listening & communicating
Functional English reading
Speaking & Listening
ESOL
ESOL Sc/E3.4d Give an explanation
ESOL Sc/E3.4a Express clearly statements of fact
ESOL Sc/E2.3d Give an explanation
ESOL Sc/E2.2a make requests: ask for things or action
ESOL Lr/E3.2b Listen for detail face to face or on the phone
A set of writing activity cards that are easily differentiated for groups of learners working at a range of levels. Main focus is purpose of text.
Editor’s note
Please share your ideas on suitable objects to use for this really creative task. If you are a registered contributor you can log in and leave a comment – otherwise email me using the Contact us link at the bottom of any page.
A huge and extremely comprehensive pack of resources. Written for ESOL learners but many parts are also suitable for Functional English and/or Job Skills groups. Includes:
Three sets of dominoes to use in warm-up and for letter and word recognition activities. The first set, for pre-Entry ESOL and Literacy learners with very low levels of letter and word recognition, matches lower case to capital letter versions, the second set is a set of “doubles”, which can be used alongside the first. The third set, for pre-Entry / Entry 1 ESOL learners, matches a category to an example. Each set has 17 dominoes, so 4 each for a group of 4 learners, plus one to start.