This set of steps (taken from Coady & Nation (1988)) with a worked example shows students one process for doing a ‘best guess’ of what to do when they come across a new word. Followed by a set of 10 exercises with some lovely, unusual words.
Editor's note
Fully mapped to GCSE and the new 2018 Functional English content
Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
GCSE L1-5
English
FE E3.11 Use strategies to find meaning of words e.g. dictionary, context, word types
FE L1.17 Read & understand a range of specialist words in context
FE L1.16 Recognise vocabulary typically associated with specific types and purposes of texts (e.g. formal, informal, instructional, descriptive, explanatory and persuasive)
FE L2.17 Analyse texts, of different levels of complexity, recognising their use of vocabulary and identifying levels of formality and bias
GCSE English Reading AO2 Explain & analyse language & structure
UPDATED 19/4/23 - two errors fixed on page 12 no 4 (two occurrences of the word 'you' replaced with 'your').
This booklet has many different tools to improve spelling that have been collected from various sources (a list of these resources can be found in the back of the book).
For E3 upwards it could be used as a self-study booklet. For levels before E3 it may be useful to 'cherry pick', be used as a tutor manual and/or an in-class group activitiy.
Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
GCSE L1-5
English
FE E1.15 Spell correctly words designated for Entry Level 1
FE E2.14 Form regular plurals
FE E2.16 Spell correctly words designated for Entry Level 2
FE E3.17 Spell correctly words designated for Entry Level 3
FE L1.21 Spell words used most often in work, study and daily life, including specialist words
FE L2.22 Spell words used in work, study & daily life, including a range of specialist words
This is a spelling/phonetics resource that could be used as a starter, differentiated activity or filler. Learners colour in the squares where the words have an /f/ sound, these words are hidden with words that are ‘gh’ but aren’t pronounced /f/. When completed the grid shows a smiley face. There are a few trap words in here which can be used for dictionary or internet search practice.
A worksheet which aims at getting pre-entry /E1 ESOL learners to practice different responses to greetings; both positive and negative responses. It also includes a picture matching task which helps learners to understand feelings and moods.
Editor’s note
Also suitable for pre-Entry literacy.
Level
M8
Entry Level 1
English
AL SLc/E1.3
AL Rw/E1.1 Have limited, meaningful sight vocabulary of words, signs, symbols
Pre-entry
pre-Entry Rw/M8.3 Recognise & read a growing no. of words signs symbols
pre-Entry SLc/M8.3 Use growing vocabulary to convey meaning to the listener (beyond that of purely personal significance)
A set of two exercises (one vocabulary exercise, then a directed writing exercise) plus an extension (fun exercise where learners use the ‘wrong’ register to write a text) to learn about formal and informal language in English.
Editor’s note
No answers
Love the final exercise :) The examples (which involve David Beckham and a broken washing machine) are hilarious.
Level
Level 1
Level 2
GCSE L1-5
English
Functional English - writing
Wt/L2.6
Adult Lit Wt/L2.5 Use formal & informal language appropriate to purpose & audience
Adult Lit Wt/L1.4 Use language suitable for purpose and audience
GCSE Writing AO5(a) Use tone, style and register for different forms, purposes & audiences
This is a short explanation with examples of eight sorts of conjunctive adverb arranged by type. There is an activity to complete, as well as some stretch/research activities for differentiation.
Editor’s note
Fully mapped to L2 Functional English and GCSE English
Level
Level 2
GCSE L1-5
English
FE L2.20 Punctuate writing correctly using a wide range of punctuation markers e.g. colons, commas, inverted commas, apostrophes, quotation marks
FE L2.28 Construct complex sentences consistently & accurately, using paragraphs where appropriate
I’m using this activity to give learners a writing frame for a piece of creative writing. I want them to really think about purpose of text when they are creating it, so they have to pick the format, style and tone of their work and plan it out.
Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
GCSE L1-5
English
Functional English - writing
Wt/L2.7
Adult Lit Wt/L2.5 Use formal & informal language appropriate to purpose & audience
Wt/L2.1
Wt/L1.6
Adult Lit Wt/L1.4 Use language suitable for purpose and audience
Adult Lit Wt/L1.1 Plan and draft writing
Wt/E3.4
AL Wt/E3.1 Plan & draft writing
GCSE Writing AO5(a) Use tone, style and register for different forms, purposes & audiences
A resource suitable for GCSE or Functional Skills English (L2) that uses an image of an old lady as the basis of a series of activities for students to learn/embed the following:
To understand how to quickly plan a piece of writing,
To consider genre, audience, purpose, tone and use language devices
To improve the impact of the writing.
Use A FOREST to remember language features.
The power point presentation (18 screens) includes:
Level
Level 2
GCSE L1-5
English
GCSE Writing AO5(a) Use tone, style and register for different forms, purposes & audiences
GCSE Writing AO5(b) Organise information using structural and grammatical features
FE L2.25 Organise writing for different purposes using appropriate format & structure e.g. standard templates, paragraphs, bullet points, tables
FE L2.27 Use language & register (e.g. persuasive techniques, supporting evidence, specialist words) to suit audience & purpose
This resource will help learners recognise words related to personal information. Learners will read, match, fill in the gaps and identify the number of syllables.
Level
Entry Level 1
M8
English
Syllables
ESOL
ESOL Ww/E1.2a Form the letters of the alphabet using upper and lower case
ESOL Ww/E1.1b Use basic sound-letter correspondence & letter patterns to aid spelling
ESOL Rw/E1.3b Recognise digits
ESOL Rw/E1.3a Identify letters of alphabet in both upper & lower case
ESOL Rw/E1.2a Use basic sound-letter correspondence to sound out words
ESOL Rw/E1.1a Recognise a limited number of words, signs and symbols
8 pictures and words to teach the vocabulary of things in a living room. Can be cut up and used as a picture / word match activity for groups or as a whole class activity. Can also be used to practise alphabetical ordering. There is also
a worksheet, a labelling exercise and short simple writing activity to practise the structure ‘there is / there are’.
