Adult Literacy, Functional English, and GCSE Resources

A set of differentiated Functional Skills tasks aimed at E3-L2 maths and L1-2 English reading. Based on a well designed, unbiased infographic published on the eve of the EU referendum by the I newspaper.
With answers and detailed FS mapping.

Here is a resource I have successfully embedded into our early years training. It is a bit over the top with errors but even more able students enjoy doing it.

Editor’s note
Could be used by anyone – not just Early Years!
With answer key and Functional Skills mapping

Using a diary and a timeline to consolidate the use of past and future tense.
Answering and forming questions. What did she do yesterday? She went…
What is she going to do tomorrow? She’s going to ….
Good for practising the day before / after.
Includes answer sheet, other suggested activities and a ‘make your own’ blank diary.
Editor’s note
Page 1 of the resource should be printed in colour if at all possible (or display on a large screen) as colour is cleverly used to distinguish between past, present and future.

A text based around Ramadan to practise E3 -L1 English reading in detail / skimming & scanning for information.
There is also a related form filling exercise (E2-E3), dictionary work, and a discussion prompt (all levels)

The letter-writing task focuses on charity, so it could also tie in to employability qualifications if you are teaching community project modules or similar.

Editor’s note
With answers and curriculum mapping

A mini-workscheme and accompanying worksheets for use with the Quick Reads book Ghost Dog by Brandon Robshaw.
Develops skills in reading, comprehension, word and text identification, discussion and writing.

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.

A resource designed to be used with Abigail Illife’s excellent Plural Spelling rules resource [ see ‘See also’ below].

Learners can practise their proofreading skills and apply the spelling rules. Give learners the first sheet and ask them to highlight the mistakes. As well as spelling mistakes there are capital letters and the US spelling of centre.

Based on two recent articles / surveys on Black Friday shopping, the main focus of this resource is Functional Mathematics but there is also an introductory page of English questions that check vocabulary, purpose of text and the ability to extract meaning from graphical material and captions.

This is followed by three pages of challenging differentiated questions for E3-L2 Functional Maths – all are based on the infographics within the text. Topics include large numbers, percentages, fractions and the four operations.

Rugby themed task on reading (use of quotations and dialogue, facts versus opinions), researching and writing a short article. Topic links to ICT, suitable for use during e.g. Rugby World Cup, Six Nations Tournament or with any group keen on sport![img_assist|nid=5708|title=|desc=|link=popup|align=left|width=100|height=71]

A simplified reading about cyclones with reference to the two cyclones in Australia in February 2015 followed by some exercises. The exercises are at different levels to meet the very different abilities of students in my class.

Editor’s note
Lovely selection of reading materials and exercises – includes fill-in tables, questions, word searches (two levels), and a blank map to add cyclone paths. E1-E3.

Update (28/2/15)
Small error in wind speed chart now corrected.