I am absolutely fascinated by this blog written by Lauren Piovesan, the founder of ESL Reads. Despite spending two decades simplifying texts - a task that I enjoy and sometimes find a challenge - I've never really analysed what I'm doing.
Although written for EAL (English as an Additional Language) teachers this is a useful guide for both experienced and new teachers of ESOL, adult literacy (Functional Skills English) and indeed vocational subjects.
Since the demise of the Excellence Gateway (EG) on September 30 2023, there is no official Government backed website where the old Skills for Life core curricula are available. The EG has (partially) migrated to the Education & Training Foundation (ETF) at https://www.et-foundation.co.uk/ but there is no sign of these classic documents.
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.
A worksheet that lists all of the most common word types and has space for the learners to enter their own description and their own examples.
To be completed over a number of weeks as each word type is covered and understood. The completed sheets can then be used as a revision tool / personal glossary.
Level
Level 2
Level 1
Entry Level 3
Entry Level 2
English
Rs/L2.1 Use implicit and explicit grammatical knowledge
Adult Literacy Rs/L1.1 Use implicit and explicit grammatical knowledge
Adult Literacy Rs/E3.2 Use implicit & explicit knowledge of word types/order to help with decoding/predicting meaning
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Three differentiated writing tasks / practice papers on the same theme. First, you apply to appear in a Christmas Concert at the village hall. Later, you hear you have got a place in the concert and write an email inviting your friends to come and watch.
I wrote these tasks as an informal summative assessment end-of-term activity for a mixed level E1-E3 group of 16-19 year-olds, but they are suitable for any age group.
Excellent practice for Edexcel style Functional Skills English reading test. 20 questions based on two simplified texts: a job advert and a formal letter inviting the reader to a job interview. Fully mapped to all the E2 reading coverage and range statements.
In the style of City and Guilds Entry Level assignments – covers planning, drafting and proof reading a letter from Lapland. With a mark sheet for E1, E2 and E3 to allow for differentiated assessment.
Quick diagnostic test to assess students’ knowledge of ‘parts of speech’. Very useful and also makes a good launching point for work on sentence structure.
Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
English
Adult Literacy Rs/E3.2 Use implicit & explicit knowledge of word types/order to help with decoding/predicting meaning
Adult Literacy Rs/L1.1 Use implicit and explicit grammatical knowledge