Useful Links

Clicker is an excellent writing support tool. I used Clicker4 many years ago in pre-Entry / E1 literacy classes (now replaced by Clicker 7).  Masses of free grids available at Learning Grids which has a special download section for adult learners.

One Switch is full of ideas, resources and games aimed at moderate to severely learning / physically disabled people using a computer with a switch. One of their aims is to make mainstream and classic arcade games available to switch users – they even have DIY info on making your own switches.

Use this amazing program in pre-Entry / Entry 1 literacy. Allows creation of both printed materials and interactive ‘environments’. I have used it to create sample thank you letters and for work on describing objects and asking questions.

Also see our Symbols Inclusion Project and Symbol World links.

A goldmine of information. The Grammar section covers everything from punctuation and spelling to word classes and, yes, grammar! 

An international research forum (based in the UK) for teachers and researchers of adult maths/numeracy teaching. Archived newsletters and journals are available and are a mine of information.

Edexcel (Pearson) has the best selection of useful practice papers for all levels of  Functional Skills.

There are also online practice texts for  Functional English and Functional Maths.

Eclipse Crossword is a completely free downloadable program that is fast and powerful but easy enough for students to use to create their own puzzles – whilst practising spelling and sentence writing (for the clues) at the same time! Thanks to Janet Wilkins, Royal Forest of Dean College College, for suggesting this link and for contributing several crosswords.

Tarsia Formulator is a brilliant free program that creates wonderful matching jigsaws (rectangular, hexagonal, etc – with between 12-24 facts to match), dominoes and follow me cards. Although designed for maths use (built in formula editor etc.) it can be adapted for any topic and allows images to be imported. Why not download it and then send us your own contributions!

More Mathematical Activities (Brian Bolt, Cambridge University Press 1985). Susan particularly recommends the divisibility investigation (no. 113). The activities are supposed to be for school children but much of the book contains quite advanced activities.

Maths the Basic Skills (June Haighton) is an excellent book from Nelson Thornes (ISBN 0-7487-7700-8). Covers all numeracy elements from E3 to L2 with clear explanations and lots of practice exercises (answers at back). Great for students studying for Level 1 or Level 2 numeracy as they often need to dip back to Entry 3 in some areas.
Since publication in 2004 the book has been fully updated (now up to the fifth edition)