Spelling test

Dealing with nouns ending in 'y' and adding 's' or 'ies'. How and when do we change nouns that end in y and are singular into the plural form? 

Encourages exploration with a helpful flowchart.  

Editor's notes

Ideal for Entry Level ESOL or Functional Skills English. Clear explanation followed by a task that can be done with or without the flow chart.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
English
FE E2.14 Form regular plurals
FE E3.14 Form irregular plurals
ESOL
ESOL Ww/E2.1c Develop strategies to aid spelling
ESOL Ww/E3.1b Apply knowledge of strategies to aid with spelling

An exploration of the ie / ei conundrum. This set of resources provides a fun newspaper article, a simple flowchart, explanation and exercises.  It also has a set of playing/flash cards with suggestions on activities.

Editor's notes

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
FE E3.17 Spell correctly words designated for Entry Level 3
FE L1.21 Spell words used most often in work, study and daily life, including specialist words
FE L2.22 Spell words used in work, study & daily life, including a range of specialist words
ESOL
ESOL Ww/E3.1a Apply spelling knowledge to a wide range of common & special-interest words
ESOL Ww/E3.1b Apply knowledge of strategies to aid with spelling
ESOL Ww/L1.1a Apply knowledge about vocabulary to aid accurate spelling
ESOL Ww/L1.1b Use strategies to aid accurate spelling
ESOL Ww/L2.1a Apply knowledge of vocabulary to aid accurate spelling
ESOL Ww/L2.1b Develop strategies to aid accurate spelling

A PowerPoint taking learners through common 'tricky words' and words with silent letters, highlighting common silent letters and their rules, with a brief quiz.

Editor's notes

Useful and highly adaptable. In particular, the quiz can easily be edited to suit each learner group and the spellings they are focusing on.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
English
FE E2.16 Spell correctly words designated for Entry Level 2
FE E3.17 Spell correctly words designated for Entry Level 3
ESOL
ESOL Ww/E2.1b Use knowledge of sound–symbol relationships & phonological patterns when spelling
ESOL Ww/E2.1c Develop strategies to aid spelling
ESOL Ww/E3.1a Apply spelling knowledge to a wide range of common & special-interest words
ESOL Ww/E3.1b Apply knowledge of strategies to aid with spelling

Written specifically for the new reformed English content which expects secure homophone skills at much lower levels than previously. Covers 6 of the 22 homophone spellings required at E3 using differentiated sets of cloze exercises. 6 sets each with 12-15 questions / sentences plus detailed teaching notes and an appendix listing all E1, E2 & E3 spellings.

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
FE E3.17 Spell correctly words designated for Entry Level 3
FE L1.21 Spell words used most often in work, study and daily life, including specialist words
FE L2.22 Spell words used in work, study & daily life, including a range of specialist words
Homophones, homographs & confusables

English Entry Level exam revision. This is based on the exercises in the Functional Skills Entry Level English writing exams.  It provides revision and practice in spelling and reading sentences. I use this as a starter activity, whilst the students are settling into the classroom. It is not intended to be completed at one time. The resource is kept in their folders and can also be used in spare time or for homework. 12 pages.

Editor's notes

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
FE E2.16 Spell correctly words designated for Entry Level 2
FE E3.17 Spell correctly words designated for Entry Level 3
FE L1.21 Spell words used most often in work, study and daily life, including specialist words
FE L2.22 Spell words used in work, study & daily life, including a range of specialist words

Graphic organiser to aid learners in their discovery of vivacious vocabulary that they can use in their L1 -L2 Functional Skills English writing exams.

Editor's notes

A beautifully presented organiser that covers all the topics that could appear in  Functional Skills English writing assessments (hobbies, learning to drive, fund raising, health and fitness, holidays, technology, etc. etc.). Could also be used for spelling assessment.

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
FE L1.17 Read & understand a range of specialist words in context
FE L1.24 Use format, structure & language appropriate for audience & purpose
FE L2.27 Use language & register (e.g. persuasive techniques, supporting evidence, specialist words) to suit audience & purpose
FE L1.21 Spell words used most often in work, study and daily life, including specialist words
FE L2.22 Spell words used in work, study & daily life, including a range of specialist words

A short information text is followed by several pages of cloze exercises for Motor Vehicle students. To support subject knowledge, working out the meanings of technical vocabulary and learning subject specific spellings.

Editor's note

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
English
FE E3.11 Use strategies to find meaning of words e.g. dictionary, context, word types
FE L1.13 Use reference materials & appropriate strategies for a range of purposes, inc. to find word meanings
FE L1.17 Read & understand a range of specialist words in context
FE E3.17 Spell correctly words designated for Entry Level 3
FE L1.21 Spell words used most often in work, study and daily life, including specialist words
Context
Motor vehicles & Transport

A cloze exercise for Motor Vehicle students. To support subject knowledge, working out the meanings of technical vocabulary and learning subject specific spellings.

Editor's note

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
English
FE E3.11 Use strategies to find meaning of words e.g. dictionary, context, word types
FE L1.13 Use reference materials & appropriate strategies for a range of purposes, inc. to find word meanings
FE L1.17 Read & understand a range of specialist words in context
FE E3.17 Spell correctly words designated for Entry Level 3
FE L1.21 Spell words used most often in work, study and daily life, including specialist words
Context
Motor vehicles & Transport

Updated 24/3/22 10.30pm the writing resource is now available for download again. Apologies for any frustration. 11/3/22 3.00pm (typo fixed, page 3 question 8 writing assessment paper)

Two mega-sized Entry Level 1 Functional English assessments with a Mother's Day theme. Modelled closely on the Pearson-Edexcel assessments (but 1.5 times the size! ) but ideal pre-exam practice for any Awarding Organisation. 

Level
Entry Level 1
English
FE E1.8 Read correctly words designated for Entry Level 1
FE E1.9 Read simple sentences containing one clause
FE E1.10 Understand a short piece of text on a simple subject
FE 1.14 Write letters of alphabet in sequence & in upper / lower case
FE E1.11 Punctuate simple sentences with capital letter & full stop
FE E1.12 Use capital letter for pronoun ‘I’ and proper nouns
FE E1.13 Use lower-case letters when there is no reason to use capital letters
FE E1.15 Spell correctly words designated for Entry Level 1
FE 1.16 Communicate information in words, phrases & simple sentences
Context
Family and relationships
Catering Food Nutrition
Retail Hospitality Customer service

This is an E1 practice writing paper based on the Pearson E1 assessments. I have included words from the E1 spelling list and mirrored the layout and question types. Useful for summative assessment in the lead up to exams.

Editor's note

Level
Entry Level 1
English
FE 1.14 Write letters of alphabet in sequence & in upper / lower case
FE E1.11 Punctuate simple sentences with capital letter & full stop
FE E1.12 Use capital letter for pronoun ‘I’ and proper nouns
FE E1.13 Use lower-case letters when there is no reason to use capital letters
FE E1.15 Spell correctly words designated for Entry Level 1
FE 1.16 Communicate information in words, phrases & simple sentences
Context
History, culture, museums, libraries