A reading comprehension and vocabulary activity suitable for both ESOL and Literacy / Functional Skills. The activities are based on a BBC News article about John Cronin’s online business, John’s Crazy Socks. John, who has Down’s Syndrome, is a co-founder of the business, along with his father, Mark.
Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
English
Adult Literacy: Engage in Discussion
Use reading strategies
Rw/L1.2
Identify main points and detail
Plan, compose and draft
Follow and understand
Functional Skills English
ESOL
ESOL: Reading word focus - vocabulary, word recognition, phonics (Rw)
A list of simple sentences, some of which are common sayings. They all contain a word which has more than one meaning. The list can be used to improve vocabulary, and also to show students the importance of context in understanding the meaning of a word. Could be used as a warm-up for a reading lesson.
Level
Entry Level 3
Entry Level 2
English
Adult Literacy: Reading at word level (phonics & vocabulary)
Rw/E3.5
Functional English reading
Homophones, homographs & confusables
ESOL
ESOL: Reading word focus - vocabulary, word recognition, phonics (Rw)
ESOL Rw/E3.5a Use variety of reading strategies to read/understand unfamiliar words
10/10/17 Several minor and one major correction made
These tasks assume no previous knowledge of compound sentences and/or conjunctions. They do assume the learner is familiar with simple sentences (i.e. one clause, one verb).
Aimed at E2-E3 students but could be useful at Level 1.
Tasks include joining pairs of Halloween sentences with a suitable conjunction; extending simple sentence with a suitable ‘ending’, and rewriting texts that are initially written using only simple sentence (in order to improve their organisation and readability).
This resource is useful for lessons relating to sports and diversity. It includes reading comprehension, alphabetical ordering, reading simple instructions, using a map/key, and a short writing task.
Editor’s note
Written for E1-E2 ESOL students but also suitable for E1-2 Functional English.
Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
English
Functional English - writing
Rw/E3.4
Rw/E2.4
Functional English reading
ESOL
ESOL Ww/E1.2a Form the letters of the alphabet using upper and lower case
ESOL Rw/E2.5a Sequence words using basic alphabetical ordering skills
The first page of this resource will help students to identify consonants and vowels, which then leads onto CVC word building and reading skills.
Pages 2 & 3 have two short texts that my students enjoyed very much. These help students practise reading and identifying the structure of CVC words. They will then be able to answer simple comprehension questions.
You may want to cut up the passages and set up a jigsaw reading activity. Can be used with lower level students.
Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
English
Functional English - writing
Wt/E2.1
Wt/E1.1
AL Rw/E1.2 Decode simple, regular words
AL Rt/E1.1 Read short familiar texts
Functional English reading
ESOL
ESOL Reading (R)
ESOL Rw/E1.2a Use basic sound-letter correspondence to sound out words
Using this resource, learners at E1-2 level learn to recognise vowels and consonants, spell the days of the week and identify these spellings with everyday activities and calendar usage. At E2-3 level learners can use the resource to develop their ideas into sentences that incorporate days of the week.
I have been covering how to make an appointment with the GP and taking part in a role play with the GP with my ESOL group, so I have prepared these materials.
My courses are not accredited, so I don’t know how this fits into the ESOLSFL criteria and my classes are, inevitably, a mix of Pre-Entry and E1 learners. Hope it might be useful.
Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 1
English
Adult Literacy: Engage in Discussion
ESOL
ESOL: Reading word focus - vocabulary, word recognition, phonics (Rw)
Students are to plan and advertise a Christmas fete.
The resource covers writing lists and sentences, proof reading and using basic adjectives.
Students could use the Internet to find some ideas for Christmas stalls.
Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 1
English
Functional English - writing
Wt/E2.1
Wt/E1.1
ICT
Functional Skills ICT: Finding and selecting information
A simplified adjectives resource that I created to use with E1/E2 learners to introduce them to writing a description of something. Students should be encouraged to provide one describing word each that can be displayed on the whiteboard before discussing the term adjective.
This resource covers what an adjective is with underlining and cloze writing exercises to build knowledge before students attempt to write a description of two pictures. The descriptions of the pictures can be basic but students should be encouraged to use full sentences.
Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
English
FS English E2.20 Use adjectives and simple linking words
Aimed at E1-E3 learners, this resource can be used to introduce the spellings of days and months at E1 or E2, or as a revision tool at E2 or E3. After finding the names of all 7 days and 12 months in the Wordsearch, where they are presented in upper-case letters, the learner uses the next sheet to write the names in the chart using the correct combination of upper and lower case letters.