Adult Literacy, Functional English, and GCSE Resources

A classic anonymous poem that has the correct spelling but the wrong words.

Read the poem aloud to your students before they have sight of it. Then give them page 1 of the work sheet.

Many of these common spellings used to crop up regularly in the former Level 1 literacy tests. They will also be useful for Level 1 and Level 2 Functional Skills students.

They have been categorised to make learning more manageable for learners, but some spellings will fit into more than one group.

Seven proof reading exercises that can be used as warm ups or as a main teaching focus. Each text includes spelling, grammar and punctuation errors. Two of the exercises also include paragraphing practice.

This is used to practise writing sentences in a format that is similar to those used for E2 Functional Skills writing assessments.
It includes a checklist for sentences and a reminder to use conjuntions. I use it after teaching the basics of sentences and conjunctions in order to give an opportunity to practise for the writing assessment. Three different tasks (note, email, complaint) plus a blank for your own task ideas.

Topical PPT adapted from Chris Farrell’s How many smileys 1-20 (see below).
use as a starter in pre-Entry/ E1 ESOL, Maths or literacy groups.

Clicking reveals the number (as a digit) and a further click reveals the number spelt out as a word. Good used with small individual whiteboards.

Powerpoint for practising numbers to 20, not necessarily all at once.

Used as a starter with all ESOL maths groups to check the spelling of numbers. I created it for E1 / E2 and it could be used for ESOL, Literacy or Numeracy classes.

A selection of smileys are shown on each slide. Clicking reveals the number (as a digit) and a further click reveals the number spelt out as a word. Good used with small individual whiteboards.

A set of cards including birthday, get well, good luck and new baby aimed at E1/ E2 learners. Print them off and fold in half as practise for writing short messages. It may help to elicit suitable phrases from students and discuss suitable layout for their text inside the card.

I also recommend bringing in some sample envelopes to help learners recognise how to lay out a name and address.

Ideal for Entry Functional English writing.

A PPT about imperatives. Students identify imperatives and the language / layout of instructions, then have a go at writing their own.

Editor’s note
For sample instruction texts please to use with this PPT please see Carrie’s “Lasagne instructions” ,“Glass bead steriliser instructions” or “Pancake imperatives” below.

A mingling exercise to get students talking to one another. Great as an induction activity for new classes or for ESOL learners to practise speaking and listening.

A simple activity to get learners to think about using a variety of conjunctions to extend simple sentences and add detail. Designed to revise using conjunctions, which learners can then apply to further writing activities.