Resources in this section have been organized into the following categories:
For more tips on how to develop tutoring sessions that help a learner improve their writing skills see our blog post: Taking on the Writing Challenge
Beginner writing skills
- Citizen Literacy
Citizen Literacy
Citizen Literacy Learner web app is free to use and requires no registration from users. It features a voice driven interface suitable for low literacy learners with two virtual teachers that provide instruction and instant personalized feedback. This keeps track of each learner’s progress anonymously to provide feedback. There is multimedia interactivity and gameplay, together with voice and handwriting recognition. Enabling some of the first online independent learning opportunities for low literacy learners. From a standing start, by the end of lesson 2, learners are beginning to read and write simple sentences.
- The app features interactive exercises including voice and handwriting recognition.
- Each lesson has a symbol next to it to indicate that it requires reading, listening, writing and/or even talking.
- Tutor Hub is a couple of documents that can help first time tutors guide their learners with the app.
- No required Log In.
- The app is free to download and can be accessed online.
For tutors who are new to the use of phonics methods then working their way through the app also serves as a practical phonics training resource and at the same time informs them of the structure and content of the Citizen Literacy programme. When combined with the Tutor Handbooks, the Tutor Hub service, the online free Tutor Resources and the free ‘POST-16 PHONICS APPROACHES: TOOLKIT’, this is a powerful and growing collection of CPD resources. For more information please visit the Supporting Tutors page.
Link to the resource: https://citizenliteracy.com/app/
- Hand Writing App
Best Kids Handwriting App This App lets you practice writing on a screen. Using the touch screen users can write on the screen using a finger or a stylus pen. Writing can be erased with a single button. Pen size can be changed to suite your device and learner. Words or sentences can be typed in to the App. The App then produces guidelines for the letters.
Although marketed to kids in it’s title, the App is simple and is suitable for adult learners. Does not contain child-orientated music or graphics.
- Sand Draw
Sand Draw Sand draw is a fun app which lets you draw free on realistic sand. Using the touch screen users can write or draw in the sand. Just shake the device, and let the waves wipe out the sand. Sand Draw can be used to send a message, play Tic-Tac-Toe, practice letter making or spelling or just draw whatever comes up on your mind. There are occasional tasks that the user is asked to draw.
Download Sand Draw from Google Play
Download Sand Draw from the App Store
Writing prompts and exercises
- Kahoot
Kahoot!
Kahoot is an online game based learning platform. Tutors can set up fun web based activities for learners to review lessons on any subject. Once comfortable with the platform, learners can be encouraged to create a quiz themselves and share it with their family or friends – a great way to promote family literacy!
Watch this video to learn more:
- Learnhip
Learnhip – Tips and Resources, Puzzles and Games Learnhip is a great website where you can find all sorts of resources and tips for your tutoring session. It has interactive games, puzzles, activities and exercises aimed at learning and teaching English and other subjects online. Contains some great ideas for screen sharing activities in remote tutoring.
- Make Beliefs Comix
Make Beliefs Comix
Developed by Bill Zimmerman and illustrated by Tony Bloom, these sites are full of writing prompts and cartoons developed specifically for ELL and literacy learners. You can download the PDF and type stories right into the document offline or while sharing their screen with their tutor.
- Teach Starter
Teach Starter – Visual Writing Prompts 4W + 1H Slideshow of colour photos that each have a downloadable PDF writing activities sheet that includes the photo, writing prompts and questions about who, what, why, where and how (4W+1H)
https://www.teachstarter.com/gb/widget/visual-writing-prompts-gb/
- Visual Writing Prompts
Visual Writing Prompts
This blog gives creative photos and prompt captions. You can search for prompts by subject or type of writing. Use the prompts to talk about topics with your learner and develop writing activities.https://visualwritingprompts.wordpress.com/category/subjects/english-ela/
Grammar
- All Things Grammar
All Things Grammar All Things Grammar is a free resource. The site has numerous worksheets with free downloads, including answer keys, on a variety of grammar topics. The site also has games for every level.
Subjects include: sentence structure, articles, adverbs, and adjectives
- All Things Topics
All Things Topics All Things Topics is part of the All Things site series. The site is full of English language learning resources that cover a variety of topics. The activities are grouped according to different topics (e.g., beach, cats, colours, weather). Each activity can take the form of Audio Files, Videos, Interactive Quizzes & Printable Worksheets and can be used in tutoring sessions or between sessions with learners at different levels.
Subjects include: spelling, vocabulary, grammar, reading and writing.
Please note that there are a few adverts on the site that can be distracting to some users.
- British Council Learn English
British Council Learn English This site is full of clear and simple explanations and exercises where a learner can practice their literacy skills and increase their understanding of English. Exercises are divided into different levels – beginner, intermediate and advanced. The site provides great resources to use in a tutoring session ~ reading, writing, speaking and listening and covers grammar, vocabulary and basic writing skills.
- English Lessons Brighton
English Lessons Brighton (ELB) ELB contains articles on grammar, reading, writing, vocabulary and other English skills, designed to help students at an intermediate level and above. You will find an archive of over 200 articles to help learners improve.
The site also contains links to many other great English language learning resources.
- EnglishLinx
EnglishLinx Englishlinx.com is a free resource. The site is full of worksheets that cover a a variety of topics. The worksheets may be used in tutoring sessions or between sessions and address a variety of grade levels.
Subjects include: spelling, vocabulary, grammar, reading and writing.
Please note that there are a few adverts on the site that can be distracting to some users.
- ESL with Jennifer
English With Jennifer This YouTube channel is a great place to go for any English language learner. Many of her lessons are free to view (there is a paid membership area where there are additional videos).
Lessons start from basic English language topics like: Greetings, useful expressions and basic grammar. There is lots to choose from and each video lasts between 3 and 15 minutes. Something you can share and watch in a tutoring session or ask your learner to review for homework.
- Kahoot
Kahoot!
Kahoot is an online game based learning platform. Tutors can set up fun web based activities for learners to review lessons on any subject. Once comfortable with the platform, learners can be encouraged to create a quiz themselves and share it with their family or friends – a great way to promote family literacy!
Watch this video to learn more:
- Learnhip
Learnhip – Tips and Resources, Puzzles and Games Learnhip is a great website where you can find all sorts of resources and tips for your tutoring session. It has interactive games, puzzles, activities and exercises aimed at learning and teaching English and other subjects online. Contains some great ideas for screen sharing activities in remote tutoring.
- Listen and Learn English 1
Listen and Learn English 1 – Adults Phonics Course via Video This video Adult Phonics Course is geared for ELL learners but is appropriate for beginner English-speaking literacy learners who are learning the basics of phonics. The videos cover the alphabet, short and long vowel sounds, consonant pairs and vowel pairs. There are 70 separate lessons which last 10 minutes on average.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp5zSGEKWyU6FrxaRZkxieeP7dk4Hu6H6
- Listen and Learn English 2
Listen and Learn English 2 – Basic English Course via Video This video-based Basic English Course is geared for ELL adult learners but is appropriate for beginner English-speaking literacy learners who are learning foundational grammar and vocabulary. There are 54 bite-sized lessons around 10-12 minutes in length that cover foundational grammar and vocabulary
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp5zSGEKWyU4Xmzj3obJHMAFkiLpf7rE5
- Perfect English Grammar
Perfect English Grammar A website that offers paid grammar courses but also generously provides FREE tip sheets for: explaining grammar and doing grammar exercises. These tip sheets cover a very comprehensive list of almost any grammar concept you can imagine. The exercises can be filled in online and also downloaded as PDFs.
- Quill – Featured Activities
Quill – Featured Activities Quill is a website for teachers and students. Their activities help students develop their sentence construction and grammar skills and are designed as supplemental writing exercises that students complete over short, 10 to 15 minute sessions at the beginning or end of a class period.
To access all the materials, you need to sign in. But featured articles (in the dropdown menu under Explore Curriculum) are available without signing in. Search for activities suitable for starter, intermediate, advanced or ELL.
- World Food Program Quiz
World Food Program Free Rice Quiz – Grammar The UN World Food Program (WFP) have created lots of quizzes in a game called Freerice. As you answer questions correctly, ads appear on your screen. When you see one of these ads, you trigger a cash payment to WFP that is equivalent to the cost of 5 grains of rice and this is used to save and change lives.
The Freerice grammar quiz is a multiple-choice quiz with two options to choose from. You can set the difficulty level for the quiz in a drop-down menu on the top left of the screen.
Spelling
- All Things Grammar
All Things Grammar All Things Grammar is a free resource. The site has numerous worksheets with free downloads, including answer keys, on a variety of grammar topics. The site also has games for every level.
Subjects include: sentence structure, articles, adverbs, and adjectives
- All Things Topics
All Things Topics All Things Topics is part of the All Things site series. The site is full of English language learning resources that cover a variety of topics. The activities are grouped according to different topics (e.g., beach, cats, colours, weather). Each activity can take the form of Audio Files, Videos, Interactive Quizzes & Printable Worksheets and can be used in tutoring sessions or between sessions with learners at different levels.
Subjects include: spelling, vocabulary, grammar, reading and writing.
Please note that there are a few adverts on the site that can be distracting to some users.
- British Council Learn English
British Council Learn English This site is full of clear and simple explanations and exercises where a learner can practice their literacy skills and increase their understanding of English. Exercises are divided into different levels – beginner, intermediate and advanced. The site provides great resources to use in a tutoring session ~ reading, writing, speaking and listening and covers grammar, vocabulary and basic writing skills.
- English Lessons Brighton
English Lessons Brighton (ELB) ELB contains articles on grammar, reading, writing, vocabulary and other English skills, designed to help students at an intermediate level and above. You will find an archive of over 200 articles to help learners improve.
The site also contains links to many other great English language learning resources.
- EnglishLinx
EnglishLinx Englishlinx.com is a free resource. The site is full of worksheets that cover a a variety of topics. The worksheets may be used in tutoring sessions or between sessions and address a variety of grade levels.
Subjects include: spelling, vocabulary, grammar, reading and writing.
Please note that there are a few adverts on the site that can be distracting to some users.
- Kahoot
Kahoot!
Kahoot is an online game based learning platform. Tutors can set up fun web based activities for learners to review lessons on any subject. Once comfortable with the platform, learners can be encouraged to create a quiz themselves and share it with their family or friends – a great way to promote family literacy!
Watch this video to learn more:
- Learnhip
Learnhip – Tips and Resources, Puzzles and Games Learnhip is a great website where you can find all sorts of resources and tips for your tutoring session. It has interactive games, puzzles, activities and exercises aimed at learning and teaching English and other subjects online. Contains some great ideas for screen sharing activities in remote tutoring.
- My Reading Words
My Reading Words My Reading Words is a great App for a learner to practice sight words. The App contains a larger set of the common sight words (Dolch and Fry sight words). You can also custom build your own list of words tailored to your learner’s needs.
Only available for Android devices. Download My Reading Words in the Google Play Store.
Free and can by used offline.
- Spellboard
Spellboard SpellBoard allows you to create any spelling quiz in any language. Including Word Search, Word Scramble, Alphabetize, Word/Sentence Matching, and Missing Letter puzzles. Using this App, learners can practice spelling different words.
Spelling lists can be custom made or are available in different themes (e.g. fruit, furniture).
Only available for Apple devices. Download Spellboard from the Apple Store.
Costs $4.99
