Returning to Learning

Sometimes people can be put off returning to learning as they feel they may not be able to cope with some of the reading, writing and numbers involved.

Almost one in every four adults in Scotland has some difficulty with their reading, writing or number skills. Within Lanarkshire there are learning opportunities to allow adults to improve these skills.

These can range from working on basic reading or writing skills such as spelling and grammar or number skills through to completing a qualification - it depends upon what the learner wants. Initially there will be one-to-one tuition and then learners move into small groups where they will still receive very personal tuition.

These opportunities are available across  Lanarkshire in a range of places from learning centres, community centres, libraries and schools and even in the workplace.

1. North Lanarkshire

2. Adult Literacy And Numeracy within South Lanarkshire

3. Learning Resources

4. Improve your reading and writing

5. Improve your number skills

6. Developing confidence

7. Learning Connections

8. Information for practitioners - tutors - advisors

 

The North Lanarkshire Partnership has a team of highly trained staff operating across North Lanarkshire who provide learning opportunities and you should be able to find a convient location which will welcome you to join.

 

The North Lanarkshire staff are based, and can be contacted, in the following areas:

NORTH AREA
Muirfield Community Centre, Brown Rd, Seafar, Cumbernauld Tel. 01236 725448

CENTRAL AREA
Orbiston Business Centre, Babylon Street, Orbiston, Bellshill 01698 840884

SOUTH AREA
Area Office, Lammermoor Primary School, Rowan Street, Wishaw 01698 386886 also in Coatbridge, Cumbernauld and Motherwell colleges and the Volunteer Centre North Lanarkshire in Wishaw.

To find out more about help available click on the link below:

http://www.thebigplus.com/

 

Bigplus

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Adult Literacy And Numeracy within South Lanarkshire

ALAN is a free confidential service available to residents of South Lanarkshire in YOUR local area to:

  • Improve your reading, writing, spelling and number skills
  • Help children with homework
  • Work out bills and budgeting
  • Brush up on form filling
  • Take the first steps back into learning
  • Improve employment opportunities
  • Increase confidence and independence
  • Develop English as a second or other language

The Adult Literacy and Numeracy Team, in partnership with other community organisations, provides opportunities to learn in friendly and informal settings in Community Centres, Libraries, Work Places and Colleges throughout South Lanarkshire

Call 0141 584 2531 or 01698 452154
now and find out how we can help

Learn what you want, in the way you want, at a time and place to suit you.

Where required childcare facilities may be provided

for further information click on the following link

www.slc-learningcentres.org.uk/ALAN/alan.htm

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Learning Resources

 

If you feel you are rusty and need a bit of extra practice, you can try out some on-line resources for yourself by clicking on the link(s) contained below.

BBC Skillswise will take you through the basics of reading, writing and number work. 

www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise

BBC keyskills which  covers Communication (English) and Numeracy (Arithmetic).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/keyskills/

 This material is written for use in English colleges and schools but the basics remain the same. 

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Improve your reading and writing

 

Before you start a course of study you may feel you need to brush up on your reading and writing skills.

There are many websites that offer free access to quizzes, games and exercises to help you improve your reading and writing.  It is likely that you will broaden your computer skills and have some fun at the same time.

Click on the links to try some of the following games:

BBC Skillswise Apostrophes

http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/grammar/punctuation/apostrophes/game.shtml

Try to put the apostrophes in the correct place.

BBC Skillswise Homophones - (words that sound the same)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/spelling/recognising/homophones/game.shtml

Match pairs of words that sound the same but are spelled differently.

For more games like this go to the BBC Skillswise homepage:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/

If you prefer to work on paper you can also print off factsheets and worksheets.

BBC RaW Storytelling

http://www.bbc.co.uk/raw/gamesandquizzes/games/everypicture.shtml

Every picture tells a story - use this game to create a story with words, pictures and music.  Great fun on your own but even better to play with a child.

For more games like this visit the BBC RaW (Reading and Writing) website:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/raw/campaign/

Storyman

http://www.eastoftheweb.com/cgi-bin/go_daily_game.pl?game_id=Storyman&id=14

Guess the letters to form names of country - a bit like "Hangman".

Popword

http://www.eastoftheweb.com/cgi-bin/top_scores.pl?game=popword

Drag your mouse cursor over letters in any direction to make a word.

For more games like this, go to the East of the Web website:

http://www.eastoftheweb.com/games/index.html

BBC Key Skills - Report Writing

http://www.bbc.co.uk/keyskills/comms/level3/module4/1.shtml

Not exactly a game, but an interactive exercise designed to help you write a good report.

For more material like this, go to the BBC Key Skills Communication website:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/keyskills/comms/index.shtml

Mrs. Begum's Shopping List - spelling activity

http://www.talent.ac.uk/londononline/shopping/Page7/index.htm

Correct Mrs. Begum's spelling by typing in the correct answers.

For more material like this, go to the London Online website:

http://www.talent.ac.uk/londononline/welcome/home/index.htm

Please note - the material on London Online is intended for people whose first language is not English.  If you are coping well with reading what is on the MyETL website, you probably won't need these exercises - but you could pass them on to someone who does.

John England's Quizzes

http://www.quia.com/pages/learningsupport.html

Quizzes made on the website Quia by tutor John England for his students.  Check if you know when to use "have" and "of".

For more quizzes like this go the Quia quizzes homepage:

http://www.quia.com/shared/

There are quizzes here on a wide range of subjects made by teachers and tutors from all over the world.

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Improve your number skills

Before you start a course of study you may feel you need to brush up on your skills with numbers.

There are many websites that offer free access to quizzes, games and exercises to help you improve your skills and have some fun at the same time.

Try some of the following games:

BBC Skillswise mental addition and subtraction

http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/numbers/wholenumbers/addsubtract/mental/game.shtml

Seven games to test your addition and subtraction.

BBC Skillswise division problem solving

http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/numbers/wholenumbers/division/problemsolving/game.shtml

Work out the cost of the items on the conveyor belt.

For more games like these go to the BBC Skillswise website:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/

BBC Key Skills - Decorating a Room

http://www.bbc.co.uk/keyskills/number/level2/module3/1.shtml

Work out the cost of decorating a room.

For more exercises like this got the BBC Key Skills Website:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/keyskills/

BBC Maths File - Saloon Snap

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/mathsfile/shockwave/games/saloonsnap.html

Match the fractions and decimals.

For more games like this to the BBC Maths File homepage:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/mathsfile/index.shtml

BBC GCSE Bitesize - Fractions Quiz

http://www.bbc.co.uk/apps/ifl/schools/gcsebitesize/maths/quizengine?quiz=fractions_foundation&templateStyle=maths

A multiple choice quiz about fractions.

For more quizzes like this go the BBC GCSE bitesize homepage:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/maths/

Gameaquarium - Subtraction Games

http://www.gamequarium.com/subtraction.html

Test your subtraction skills and beat the clock

For more games like these visit the Gameaquarium homepage:

http://www.gamequarium.com/math.htm

Mathsnet - Tower of Hanoi puzzle

http://www.mathsnet.net/puzzles/hanoi/index.html

For more games like this go to the Mathsnet homepage:

http://www.mathsnet.net/

Money Matters

http://www.moneymatterstome.co.uk/

This website covers budgeting and coping with lifestyle changes.  You can learn through activities and workshops.

Learn about money

http://www.learnaboutmoney.org/pra.html

This website covers the basics like budgeting, but you can also learn about investments, borrowing and saving for retirement.

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Developing confidence

Advice and resources for self and others including advice to parents is available from

www.centreforconfidence.co.uk/

Identified as a key requiremnet within  the 'Curriculum for excellence',  the Centre for Confidence is supported by the Scottish Executive.

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Learning Connections

 

A Scottish Execitive agency site which contains information for those engaged in community learning is

www.lc.communitiesscotland.gov.uk/

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For practitioners - Tutors - Advisors

 

Specific resources are available from Learning Connections on

http://www.aloscotland.com/stellent/groups/public/documents/webpages/ALO_home.hcsp

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