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.
This is a fun activity which encourages learners to use IT vocabulary to identify common devices, emojis and icons. It includes a link to an on-screen Wordwall activity where they can test what they already know about devices and common computing icons.
Editor's note
Level
M8
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
English
FE E2.12 Use illustrations, images & captions to locate information
Pre-entry
pre-Entry Rw/M8.3 Recognise & read a growing no. of words signs symbols
ESOL
ESOL Rw/E1.1a Recognise a limited number of words, signs and symbols
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.
Level
M8
Entry Level 1
English
SLlr/E1.3
Maths
AN N1/E1.1 Count reliably up to 10 items
Functional Maths - numbers and the number system
Pre-entry
pre-Entry SLlr/M8.3 Listen to and answer simple single step instructions / requests
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.
Level
M8
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
English
Poetry
SLlr/E1.2
AL Rw/E2.2 Recognise high frequency words & words with common spelling patterns
AL Rw/E1.2 Decode simple, regular words
Functional English reading
Pre-entry
pre-Entry Rw/M8.2 Associate sounds with patterns in letters, syllables, words,
How ‘flash’ presentation of social sight vocabulary proved to be motivating. The technique is described and some thoughts about why it seems to have such positive effects on several different levels are offered, and feedback sought.
Level
M8
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
English
Rw/E2.1
AL Rw/E1.1 Have limited, meaningful sight vocabulary of words, signs, symbols
Pre-entry
pre-Entry Rw/M8.3 Recognise & read a growing no. of words signs symbols
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.
Level
M8
Entry Level 1
English
AL Rw/E1.3
AL Rw/E1.2 Decode simple, regular words
Pre-entry
pre-Entry Rw/M8.2 Associate sounds with patterns in letters, syllables, words,
ESOL
ESOL Rw/E1.3a Identify letters of alphabet in both upper & lower case
ESOL Rw/E1.2a Use basic sound-letter correspondence to sound out words
A set of two resources – PPT and PDF file. Updated in 2008. Please ensure you download the PDF file as this includes full teaching instructions for the PPT.
Level
M8
Entry Level 1
English
Ww/E1.1
Pre-entry
pre-Entry Ww/M8.1 Write with appropriate grip making many controlled letter shapes & using a conventional sequence of letters
