Adult Literacy, Functional English, and GCSE Resources

This is targeted towards learners preparing for the Entry 2 Functional Skills Writing exam.  It uses the Entry 1 Cat Care text created by Emma Gentili (go to "See also"), and can be used in mixed ability classes together with the E1 resource. 

Editor's note

Love it when skillsworkshop users recycle resources! A great adaptation of the original E1 version :) 

I put this together when I found so many of my learners trying to hone their employability skills did not know what a lot of the words on job descriptions meant. 

Resource 1 (Definition matching cards: job skills and attributes): I laminated these and cut them up and they worked in pairs or threes to match them up.

There are two other linked resources, as below, to help students with getting to grips with the keywords used in Job Descriptions and Person Specifications. 

A resource for Entry level 1 learners which includes a variety of activities such as reading comprehension and a writing task. 

Editor's note

A really engaging Entry 1 resource. Includes punctuation,  general comprehension questions, alphabetical order and an excellent writing composition task. An answer / mark sheet with detailed curriculum mapping will be available shortly (for resource contributors only).

Reading, writing and discussion activities based on one of  the Edexcel exam contexts ('Learning to Drive').  PowerPoint includes chunked texts, key vocabulary tables, a video resource, and discussion and writing prompts. Resource lends itself well for additional reading comprehension prompts and explorative discussions. 

Editor's note

The reading focus is purpose, tone and organisational / formatting features. The final task is to write an online forum entry. 

A reading comprehension exercise looking at organisational features and why they have been used, specialist language, purpose of text, picking out information.  There are also tasks to get the students looking at words they are not sure of and using a dictionary.  

There is an accompanying written task to create a leaflet using the information in the text.  I have also included a basic 'how to create a leaflet' guide.

Editor's notes

Reading comprehension based on a blog which explains what "carbon" is in a very upbeat, informal way (the blog comes from the website of Who Gives a Crap, an online loo paper seller who give 50% of profits to improve sanitation in  developing countries).  Mostly aimed at L1 with extension questions for L2, all based on the Reformed Functional Skills style questions.

Editor's note

These three simple resources are aimed for teaching the layout features and conventions of informal and formal letter writing.  There are three templates: 

This is the resource for L1 learners submitted by Hannah Yates on 2 June 2017, but updated with 2020 figures for JSA (job seekers allowance) and Tax allowance.

Now in SMART notebook format to use whilst screen sharing in a virtual teaching session.  Answers are included on the slide following each question (and under the shades on the table on slide 3).

Developed after a training session with Geoff Petty, I use this self-assessment checklist for mixed level groups. 

Although colour-coded to various levels, the idea is that any learner, regardless of level, can use the checklist to assess their own writing, and map their strengths and weaknesses.  It also helps  teachers to see how effectively learners are able to self-evaluate.   I have found it to be a really good tool to foster independent learning.

Editor's note

A challenging set of reading and writing (spelling and sentence structure only) tasks based on a WHO (World Health Organisation) report about sleep, screen and activity time for children under five.  This resource is not intended to emulate formal L1-2 summative assessment papers as it includes underpinning spelling and sentence structure tasks. In addition, some questions are deliberately challenging and beyond the Level 2 Functional English curriculum and, unlike formal assessment papers, questions are arranged by topic.