USEFUL WEBSITES
Websites with free resources
Notes
A search for “free adult literacy resources” came up with
107,000 results! I have tried to find some of the most useful
websites for Read Easy groups.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise
On line and printable resources. Coaches and readers can try
using them together online where possible.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/game/game-phonics-tool
Use to support YWCR and to consolidate the coach training.
Features different regional accents.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/learners/quick-reads
More resources and ideas for using Quick Reads, and excerpts
from the books (see above.) Shows how to start a Quick Reads
Reading Group – RE groups may like to start one for Moving
Ahead readers or graduates supported by a coach.
Use the literacy tab, pick a level and then scroll through the
literacy topics, select a topic to see lists of downloadable
resources.
Use the contextual tab to find resources on different subjects
that may interest your reader such as different vocational
areas.
http://www.skillsworkshop.org
http://www.beatingdyslexia.com/
http://www.functionalskills.com/Functional-Skills/FunctionalSkills-Free-Functional-Skills-resources.php
http://english.excellencegateway.org.uk/resources-for-englishteachers
Website created by three dyslexic adults to help others
overcome their literacy difficulties, gain qualifications and
function successfully in the workplace. It provides information
and approaches to try to improve reading, writing, spelling and
grammar. Includes video on phonic alphabetic code chart. The
levels referred to are their own categories and do not
relate to the Adult Core Curriculum.
Free resources from Axis Education. (See further down for their
website of resources to purchase.)
Hard to navigate, but has some useful resources for readers.
Try this page:
http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/interactiveresources/literacy
http://www.unitedresponse.org.uk/easy-news
http://www.proliteracyednet.org/articles.asp?mcid=2&cid=23
http://www.tv411.org/reading
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/
“Politics and the news are often inaccessible to people with
learning disabilities because of the use of jargon and difficult
language - that's why we decided to create an easy read news
magazine. Easy News uses simplified text and useful pictures
to provide people with learning disabilities with easy to
understand, politically neutral summaries of key news stories
and events. The stories are selected and translated by UR
Consultants, a group of people with learning disabilities and
autism who are experts in easy read communication.”
“Free Resources for the global literacy community.” American,
so beware spellings and vocabulary, but has some useful
resources and training material
Another American site - worth a look at the engaging videos
about reading that cover topics like reading newspapers,
reading poems, summarizing and even reading medicine labels.
Brings the topics to life. TV411 also features web lessons on
scanning for specifics, reading the fine print and using context
clues. Print downloads are also available
British Council material for ESOL/TFL rather than literacy, but
some useful material such as the vocabulary games
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/vocabulary-games
http://www.grammar-monster.com/
Could be used by Moving Ahead coaches to help them explain
grammar to readers
http://www.englishgrammar.org/
For adults looking to improve their understanding of English
grammar. The free video lessons could be useful. Some of the
site is a little dense and dull but could help coaches explain
grammar to Moving Ahead readers.
http://www.sparklebox.co.uk/
Downloadable resources for children/ family learning. Use with
discretion for adult readers but some resources are useful e.g.
suffixes
https://digital.darkhorse.com/free/
An antidote to Sparklebox! A link to the free page of a site of
digital “graphic novels,” aka comics for adults. Some
sensibilities may be aggravated, but these materials motivate
some readers, so don’t knock them!
Some are adaptations of novels or based on films and TV
programmes and many are written by notable scriptwriters. Not
all are horror/adventure, so do scroll down.
 Text in speech bubbles tends to be in uppercase
 Some swearing was seen in sampled material
 “arrrgh!” and the like are frequently featured – comic
style
 Some of the free reading material is just an excerpt/first
chapter and you have to pay to see the whole story
https://www.superteacherworksheets.com/
For school teachers, so use carefully with adults
http://www.time-for-time.com/
To learn how to tell the time
http://writing-kit.com/apostrophes/index.html
The main site promises more, but the only active resource is
this one on apostrophes
Publisher websites
http://www.axiseducation.co.uk/Functional_English.aspx
http://www.barringtonstoke.co.uk/books-for-adults/
Notes
Axis Education produces reading materials for teenagers and
adults with a reading age of five and above. Try some before
you buy by downloading free sample resources from this link
http://www.functionalskills.com/Functional-Skills/FunctionalSkills-Free-Functional-Skills-resources.php
Axis Education has offered REUK discounts for bulk purchases
in the past – watch out for emails to alert you to future deals!
Age-appropriate books for people with dyslexia and for
reluctant and under-confident readers. Adult resources have
a“real book” look, so no reader need feel embarrassed to be
seen reading them. The website features interviews with
authors, competitions, games and news.
http://www.gatehousebooks.co.uk/
YWCR publisher. All resources are for adults and searchable by
reading level or topic. Includes Avanti Books – these include
books with multicultural themes, Quick Reads and the Brown
and Brown series.
http://www.ransom.co.uk/
Books for reluctant and struggling readers, combining strong
visual appeal with age-appropriate content. Lists of titles
provide both an “interest age” and a reading age, which is a
great help matching books to readers’ interests and abilities.
Current lists which may engage adults include
(giving an “interest age”)
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Cutting Edge
The Outer Reaches
Shades 2.0
Steve Sharp
http://www.quickreads.org.uk/
Quick Reads are short, exciting books by bestselling authors
and celebrities. Excellent for the resource box. The website
includes ideas for using Quick Reads that coaches may find
useful.
www.newleafbooks.org.uk
Good value readers, audio versions available. New Leaf say
“Adult literacy learners know what interests them and what
helps or hinders their learning. We recognise and utilise this
expertise and put all our efforts into publishing short, high
quality titles, written by adult learners themselves. This
ensures that the final publications are both accessible and
absorbing and match the needs of our target audience
exactly.”
Forty eight readers at Entry level with activities and wordlists to
support learning.
www.readwellroad.com
Other useful websites
https://www.gov.uk/improve-english-maths-it-skills
http://readingahead.org.uk/
Colleges and other community settings throughout the UK
provide a wide range of English and literacy courses to which
graduates of RE may progress. There is a government advice
helpline on 0800 66 0800 (open from 8.00 am to 10.00 pm,
seven days a week) which helps people to find their nearest
course. The Directgov website provides
background information as well as an online search. It is not
comprehensive, so does not replace local knowledge.
(Formally the Six Book Challenge). Now a challenge that
includes reading newspapers, websites and more, as well as
books. The challenge is delivered by public libraries and adult
basic skills tutors to help adults build their reading skills and
confidence, with incentives and creative reading activities.
Great “Find a Read” tab that helps readers choose a book by
“Type of Read” and Adult Core Curriculum Level.
Could also help Literacy specialists to build the resource box.
http://www.openingthebook.com/whichbook/
Whichbook enables millions of combinations of factors and then
suggests books which most closely match your reader’s needs.
Could also help Literacy specialists to build the resource box.
http://www.phonics-literacy.com/phonics-for-adults.html
Lots of background information to consolidate initial Read Easy
Coach Training information.
www.morewords.com/
More Words is a way to search word lists. It's designed as a
crossword puzzle solver, anagram lister, codeword decoder,
and a helper for other word games. It is also great for
generating word lists to reinforce YWCR and useful for onset
and rime. You can use it to find words (optionally of a specific
length) that start with, end with, or contain certain letters.
Videos for use in coach meetings.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIqX0SRtnkrtPwirsKxO49rooaHELIyR
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The Language Experience for Literacy video is
recommended to help coaches work with beginners at
the start of YWCR
The Word Recognition Strategies series can be used to
explore ways to consolidate YWCR
The Understanding, Reacting and Applying videos
explore ways to develop comprehension and fluency
that can be used to extend YWCR