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Wonderful high L1 – Level 2 resource which looks at the purposes and sources of a range of texts. Includes: useful handout with example of the four main types of text; discussion and examples of texts with more than one purpose; examples of badly written texts with mixed and confusing purposes; inferred and hidden meanings; writing practice (for four different purposes); re-ordering a long instructional text; and a set of final multiple choice questions to check skills.
Fully mapped to the Functional English criteria.

A L1/L2 Functional English card match resource. Serves as a tactile supplement/plenary for the recognition of text and layout features assessed at Level 1/2. Colour coded to aid learners in organising the columns, this resource allows learners to place the layout feature next to its descriptor and layout effect.

Cards which can be used as a plenary or warm up to match definitions and features to types of text.
Editor’s note
With Functional English mapping

A worksheet designed to draw together all the features which identify different types of documents or texts such as emails, webpages, letters and leaflets.

I designed this a recap and to create a revision document for my learners doing Functional Skills English at Levels 1 & 2.

Whilst I designed this resource for Adult Numeracy learners, it has found much use over the years across the maths cohorts I've worked with from pre-GCSE to ESOL, and with GCSE learners.

It is in Excel format - 3 tabs for different activities and the second Excel file is the solution sheet.

The sheets are formatted to print off as A4 landscape to allow learners to have their own copies to work on.

This has always worked well as a starter activity with learners in small groups (or teams) and having a competitive edge.

A set of 2 posters for the classroom – also useful as handouts.
Metric measures (L1 upwards) – clarifies metric prefixes
Imperial measures (L1-2) – I’m not expecting students to know or learn these facts but this poster makes a useful discussion prompt (about the difficulties of working with Imperial measures and how much easier it is to use metric units) and also includes interesting facts about the history of Imperial units.

Illustrated handouts on metric measures with conversion factors and everyday examples of weight, capacity and length. Margaret suggests that it makes a good warm up for Dave Walkden’s Christmas Pudding Activity (see below).

Provides practice converting between metric and Imperial units of capacity, length\distance and weight. 1 page plus answer sheet.

Reading comprehension and writing tasks designed to prepare adults who are returning to education and taking Functional English at Level 1 or Level 2.

Level 1 reading comprehension is based on two texts about returning to education. This is followed by two writing tasks. Level 2 includes all the L1 texts and questions plus an additional lengthy text and questions that involve summarising, and comparing and contrasting two or more texts.

Editor's note

A fabulous set of scaffolded reading/writing tasks – written for E2-E3 ESOL but absolutely ideal for Entry 2-3 (and higher) Functional English. The reading is based on three different topical texts on this emotive subject (spring 2010).
The writing involves writing a letter to your MP – a frame is provided for E2 writers. Get your college/students involved in this now!
With full details of relevant Functional English criteria.
Please also download the related PowerPoint (see below).