Techniques for better reading

Worksheet: Tracking exercises
Thanks to Debbie Farnfield from the Adult Dyslexia Centre in Berkshire for these example tracking exercises. They help students practise concentrating while reading and scanning sentences for remembered words.
To download this file right click the link and choose 'save target as')

These exercises accompany the piece on dyslexia written by Debbie Farnfield. You can read her article in the  'Expert column' section of the Tutor centre.

Family reading
Literacy curriculum Rt/E3.4, Rt/L1.3, SLlr/E3.2, SLlr/L1.2
Read Josie Pearse's Expert column article on Family literacy programmes.
To reflect on the process of reading. To offer re-assurance to students that they have grammatical knowledge. To prepare for a joint reading session with children.
 

Office skills, IT and English
Literacy curriculum Rs/L1.2, Rt/L1.2, Rt/L1.4, Ws/L1.3, Wt/L1.1
Looks at the use of commas when reading, helps students practice business letter writing skills and makes use of the Skillswise website.
This plan has 3 handouts:   sheet 1      sheet 2      handout 3

Choosing a washing machine
Literacy curriculum SLc/E1.2, SLc/E1.3, Rt/E1.2, SLd/E1.1 and SLlr/E1.4
Lesson based on choosing a washing machine from adverts and technical details.
To ask questions to obtain specific information, recognise the difference in text between advertisements and technical literature.
Make requests using appropriate terms. Speak and listen in simple exchanges and everyday contexts

Washing machine - paying and delivery
Literacy curriculum Rw/E2.1, SLc/E1.3, SLc/E1.4
Lesson based on paying for a washing machine. Understand different methods of payment. Complete a simple form. Use prepositions

Operating the washing machine
Literacy curriculum Rw/E1.1, SLlr/E1.3, Rt/E1.1
Lesson based on understanding washing machine instructions. Follow single step instructions. Possess a limited meaningful sight vocabulary of words, signs and symbols. Obtain information from text.

Types of text

Instructions and types of text
Literacy curriculum Rt/E1.2, Rt/E2.1, SLr/E1.3, SLc/E1.2, SLc/E1.1, Wt/E3.1, Ws/E1.1, Ws/E1.2
A 2 hour lesson covering two topics: instructions and types of text.
Follow instructions by putting text in the correct order and listening to verbal instructions and writing a map route. Write simple instructions. Recognise different purposes and layouts of texts by matching up example text and purpose.
This plan has 2 handouts:   1)Jumbled instructions sheet
2)Listening to instructions exercise which uses the map found in the Instructions module worksheet 4

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Literacy curriculum Rt/L1.2, Rs/E3.2
For a mixed ability class - read Wendy Cranston's Expert column article on Teaching mixed ability groups.
To recognise how language and other textual features are used to achieve different purposes. To use implicit and explicit knowledge of different types of words, for example adjectives, to help decode unfamiliar words and predict meaning.
 

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For more teaching ideas look in the Teaching inspirations section.