Adult Literacy, Functional English, and GCSE Resources

A hangman style game created in Google Jamboard (a free animated whiteboard app). Based on a game I used to play on a traditional whiteboard with a cut-out crocodile and person (held in place with blu-tac!) and river created with a blue whiteboard marker. When Covid-19 and remote teaching came along, I needed something else.

You can access the jamboard here. 

Entry Level 1 phonics cleverly disguised as a board game for 2-4 players. Based on Annie Hammersley's Dolch Words board game (still available, refer to ' See Also' for link) of 2009.

Choice of 5 boards that cover Dolch words, - aw- words and  -i-e (long 'I' silent e words).  Fully mapped to the revised Functional English content (2019) - with a complete list of E1 reading and spelling expectations. Extension activities also include spelling.

Editor's note

A counting game along similar lines to Snakes and Ladders. Learners will learn turn-taking, following instruction & basic counting skills. In addition, they will pick up social and communication skills along the way.

(Print onto A3 – a dice and counters needed)

Editor’s note
A PPT version is also included to enable the game to be played on a smartboard.

This resource helps learners hear rhymes and recognise corresponding letters/digraphs, rimes and onsets etc. Take simple limericks and poems and get your learners to put them together.

I created my own limericks to match work we had been doing on long vowel sounds (it is not that difficult to do once you get started). Well-known poems and nursery rhymes also proved particularly popular as many knew them already by heart from childhood and some were doing them now with their children.

Students need to work in pairs and throw a coin (heads, move 1; tails move 2). Each time they land on a blend they need to write down a word with that blend in it. Great when laminated.

Carrie was inspired to create this game after she saw a similar idea created by Mo Hammond, Liverpool.

Ideal for E1-E2 ESOL (and even as quick revision for Entry Level 3). Also suitable for E1 Literacy reading.

Fun, multi-purpose speaking / reading / listening / writing / maths warm-up activity that can be used at any level and for any subject – particularly effective at Entry Level. Learners shake two dice to locate a word on a number matrix (good for maths:co-ordinates too!).
Five sample grids are provided – covering descriptions, homophones (2 grids), spellings and clothes – plus a blank grid so you can make your own. Includes full instructions and can also be used for numeracy.

Great card game that encourages E1 learners to look more deeply into the content of words. For learners who spell phonetically, the game can also be used to develop an awareness of short vowel sounds.
Best laminated. With detailed instructions and extension ideas.

Big letters reading game is a board game that provides practice reading individual letter sounds and common phonemes such as ch, sh, & th. Best laminated – you will need a die and counters.

Verb charades makes a great introduction to verbs at any level. Useful as a prompt for discussion and for building confidence and group collaboration.