I created this activity for my ESOL students but it would also work well for Functional English.
The idea is taken from Laura Jeffrey Kiiza’s text types mind map drag and drop activity (L1) – see link below under See also.
Students first use Laura’s drag and drop activity on the computer (this covers both persuasive and instructive texts).
I then gave them the features of persuasive texts (see page 1 of resource) which they cut up and stick on the text on page 2 (or they could simply annotate the text using coloured pens etc.).
Level
Level 1
Level 2
GCSE L1-5
English
Rt/L2.4 Read an argument and identify the points of view
Rt/L2.2 Identify the purpose of a text and infer meaning which is not explicit
Rt/L1.2
GCSE English Reading AO2 Explain & analyse language & structure
Functional English reading
ESOL
ESOL Rt/L2.4a Understand and identify how written arguments are structured
ESOL Rt/L2.2a Identify the purposes of a wide range of texts, whether inferred or explicitly stated
ESOL Rt/L1.2a Know how language and other textual features are used to achieve different purposes
This is a basic editable word wheel which you can print, cut out and attach together with a brass paper fastener.
Learners can concentrate on one word at a time. Word wheels can be used for building vocabulary, spelling practice and much more. Suitable for all levels of Functional Skills and ESOL.
Instructions and ideas are included within the PPT. For example:
Stretchy:
Write positive or negative words in the table
Look up words that are unfamiliar
Stretchier:
Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
FE READING and understanding words
FE WRITING Spelling
FE WRITING Sentence structure and paragraphs
AL Apply strategies to spell correctly
AL Recognise and understand a range of words
ESOL
ESOL Writing: word focus - spelling and handwriting (Ww)
ESOL: Reading word focus - vocabulary, word recognition, phonics (Rw)
General
Generic resources for literacy, numeracy and beyond
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
A mini-workscheme and accompanying worksheets for use with the Quick Reads book Ghost Dog by Brandon Robshaw.
Develops skills in reading, comprehension, word and text identification, discussion and writing.
Level
Entry Level 3
Entry Level 2
English
Functional English - writing
Functional English - speaking, listening & communicating
A mini-workscheme and accompanying worksheets for use with the Quick Read (Chiller Livewire) book Crazy Jack by Brandon Robshaw.
Develops skills in reading, comprehension, discussion, word and text identification and writing.
Editor’s note
March 2016 minor edit to title – no other changes
Level
Entry Level 3
Entry Level 2
English
Functional English - writing
Functional English - speaking, listening & communicating
Photos and pictures to match with accounts of real emergency situations. All in the present tense. All the accounts are true. Accounts can be cut in to strips and given to pairs of learners who can put them in to a sequence to tell a story. Leads to discussion on how we tell a story, and how we sequence sentences to make sense.
Lots of new, real life vocabulary to provoke discussion.
Some stories shorter and simpler than others to allow for differentiation in group.
Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 1
English
AL Rt/E2.1 Follow main points of short texts
AL Rt/E1.1 Read short familiar texts
Functional English reading
ESOL
ESOL Rt/E2.1a Use a range of strategies to trace & understand main events
A recap exercise where Functional English learners match the correct aspects of formal letter writing together and lay them out in letter format.
This could be printed out and laminated but I usually give my students a printout of the first pages and they cut out the text boxes and arrange them appropriately. I have included some red herrings such as incorrect text alignment and unsuitable salutations and closures.
I have included my suggestion of the correct layout on the third page.
Level
Level 2
Level 1
English
Functional English - writing
Functional English reading
General literacy / English
ICT
Functional Skills ICT: Developing, presenting and communicating information
This is a scheme of work I have used in EBD schools to get the pupils engaged with English. It is a 7 week scheme of work aimed at between E3-L2, as it can be differentiated. I have also included the lesson plans that go with the scheme.
Editor’s note
Although written for a Key Stage 3/4 school setting this would work well as a way of embedding Functional English into a vocational childcare course or a family learning situation.
Level
Level 1
Entry Level 3
English
General literacy / English
Functional Skills English
ICT
Functional Skills ICT: Developing, presenting and communicating information
An outstanding 30 week scheme of work for Level 1 Functional English (one 3hr lesson per week). With Key Skills, adult literacy (Skills for Life) and Functional English mapping. Detailed content fully covers all speaking, listening and communication; reading; and writing criteria. With equality and diversity notes, Every Citizen/Child Matters, differentiation and more.
A substantial set of resources for BTEC Sport students. Based on a Functional English lesson given on Sport Relief day (but suitable for any time of year as it is based on the Back Up charity for spinal cord injuries – not Sport Relief). Includes
