West Suffolk 14-19 Partnership

Functional Skills
Events 2012
Teaching Functional English and Maths
- useful websites and resources
BBC Skillswise - free web-based activities for English and maths support for adults http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise Being Functional - a range of videos and other resources that illustrate good practice in embedding functional skills in other subject areas. http://tlp.excellencegateway.org.uk/tlp/fs/fs-resources/about.php Brain Games - an opportunity for learners to practise literacy and numeracy skills in a quiz format with single or multiple player options http://www.braingames.org.uk/ Countdown Free software to run both the numeracy and word-building games from the well known TV programme is available from http://www.csfsoftware.co.uk/products.htm Cre8ate Maths - a useful project area with free functional maths resources developed by KS3 maths teachers in Yorkshire using twelve workplace themes http://www.cre8atemaths.org.uk/ Dingbats - some fun activities for use in enlivening spelling sessions! http://www.kensquiz.co.uk/table-top-quizzes/word-puzzles/dingbats Functional Skills - a handbook for teachers entitled Teaching and Learning Functional English can be downloaded from http://collections.europarchive.org/tna/20100711211239/http://www.fssupport.or g/resources Functional Skills Support Programme

West Suffolk 14-19 Partnership

Functional Skills
Events 2012
- the archive for all the resources developed for both the schools and post-16 sector http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110809101133/http://fssupport.org/ resources Functional Skills Starter Kit - a comprehensive guide and website list for managers and teachers new to FS http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/node/20280 Functional Mathematics - site dedicated to maths in school yr7, 8, 9 work which is engaging for all ages. Full resources provided and open ended activity. www.functionalmathematics.co.uk Grammar for Reading - a summary of a text-based approach to developing grammar and writing skills through shared reading activities ftp://ftp.phon.ucl.ac.uk/pub/Word-Grammar/ec/g4r.pdf Grammar for Writing - guidance for teachers at KS2 on an investigative, inductive approach to teaching grammar that complements the Grammar for Reading resource noted above http://teachfind.com/national-strategies/grammar-writing-0 Grammatical Knowledge for Teachers - short, open learning modules for teachers who wish to update their own grammar knowledge http://www.teachfind.com/national-strategies/module-4-simple-compound-andcomplex-sentences Interactive Teaching Approaches A CPD training module that explores the use of active learning approaches in teaching literacy, language and numeracy. http://tinyurl.com/69x6v6a Jigsaw software Free software to make up matching activities using jigsaws and domino formats can be downloaded from http://www.mmlsoft.com/index.php? option=com_content&task=view&id=11&Itemid=12 The programme is entitled Formulator Tarsia. Key Skills Support Programme - the KSSP ended in 2008 but developed numerous resources that are still useful http://archive.excellencegateway.org.uk/page.aspx?o=126598

West Suffolk 14-19 Partnership

Functional Skills
Events 2012
Literacy Across the Curriculum - guidance on the development of literacy skills in other subjects areas http://teachfind.com/national-strategies/literacy-across-curriculum-school-baseduse-or-self-study Materials for Embedded Learning - a range of vocational-based resources folders that illustrate how English and maths skills can be developed in through an embedded approach http://rwp.excellencegateway.org.uk/Embedded%20Learning/ Move On the Learner Route www.move-on.org.uk The Learner Route section contains activities to develop some key reading skills e.g. understanding the purpose of texts, identifying the main points, use of organisational features. National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM) https://www.ncetm.org.uk/ The NCETM aims to support and encourage mathematics-specific continuing professional development for all teachers of mathematics across all phases. Maths in work videos may be of interest as well as self-assessment tools for mathematics subject knowledge and pedagogy. Online Stopwatch - free download of a variety of on screen stopwatches http://www.online-stopwatch.com/download-stopwatch/ Quizlet - online activities based on flash cards that develop key vocabulary and spelling, especially useful in vocational areas where learners need to learn technical terms http://quizlet.com/ Screens and Pages technology and reading for pleasure - guidance on how to use new technologies in developing reading skills www.niace.org.uk/publications Skillsworkshop www.skillsworkshop.org - free downloadable resources posted by Functional English/Maths & Skills for Life teachers

West Suffolk 14-19 Partnership

Functional Skills
Events 2012
Skills for Life Resources - a list of the main resources developed by the national Skills for Life Strategy 2001-10 http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/node/18259 Teaching Speaking and Listening Toolkit - activities to develop speaking and listening skills produced by the Key Skills Support Programme http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/pdf/Teaching%20speaking%20and %20listening%20a%20toolkit%20for%20practitioners.pdf Thinking Through Mathematics Strategies for teaching and learning using active approaches which promote collaborative group work and problem solving. An online resource: https://www.ncetm.org.uk/reflective-learning/ttm Triptico - website of David Riley, offering a range of free content creation tools for useon interactive whiteboards http://www.triptico.co.uk/ Twenty Four Ways of Teaching without Talking - an article by Geoff Petty that summarises active learning approaches to teaching http://www.teacherstoolbox.co.uk/document_downloads.html Vital The Open University Portals A useful website for subject resources ICT, English and Maths too. 30 day free trail - 5 annual fee www.vital.ac.uk We Can Work It Out - a book of photocopiable collaborative problem solving activities in maths http://www.atm.org.uk/shop/products/act054.html Web 2.0 Tools for Teachers - a guide to using web-based tools to promote collaborative approaches to teaching and learning http://www.scribd.com/doc/19576895/Web-20-Tools-for-Teachers Wordle http://www.wordle.net/

West Suffolk 14-19 Partnership

Functional Skills
Events 2012
- a website that enables learners to create 'wordclouds' from pieces of text X Mind http://www.xmind.net/ Free mind mapping software that can be useful when offering learners support with the planning stages of writing activities For a Youtube tutorial in using X mind go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9EDVmfsnyE&feature=related For a set of instructions about the key features of X mind in a Word document format http://www.rsc-ne-scotland.org.uk/msb_word_tutorials/XMind.docx