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.
A rigorous and fully mapped reading assessment with mark sheet. Can also of course be used for normal classwork , revision, homework or private study. Ideal for Pancake day but could be used any time of year.
Based on an article on Pancake Day events in a recent edition of the Evening Standard. Includes restaurants, pancake races, charity events and competitions.
An E3-L1 Functional Skills reading resource modelled on C&G assessments. The activities are based around two documents, one from the BBC news website and the other a leaflet advertising a private police service. May prompt discussion on the nature of crime, punishment and the role of the police force in society.
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.
My Christmas covers planning, drafting and proof reading a letter or a short story about activities over Christmas. This version is aimed at Entry 3 but can also be used for other levels (includes a mark sheet for E3 assessment).
Adapted from Marion Crocker’s E2-L2 Lapland writing resource (see below).
Covers planning, drafting and proof reading a recount. This is an adapted version of the popular Entry Level Christmas in Lapland assignment (see below). This version is aimed at Entry 3 – Level 2 and gives the writer a choice of format: letter, diary entry or story. This version also removes the Christmas references and can thus be used at any time during the winter months. With a mark sheet for E3, L1 or L2 to allow for differentiated assessment.
