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Home Schoolers on the Rise Lower-Intermediate
Heads Up English - 1 www.headsupenglish.com
the ARTICLE (for teachers)
Home Schoolers on the Rise
More and more families are choosing to teach their children at home. Although some
families disagree or dislike with what is taught in schools, the reason for the new trend is
different. Instead, home schooling better fits their lifestyles than public schools.
For example, Lisa Mazzoni and her family live in California and Florida. Lisa sometimes
does her algebra or history homework by the pool or on her condo's rooftop. Lisa's mother
says, "For someone who travels a lot and wants to keep the family together, it's an excellent
choice." The Mazzonis own a speedboat company, and so they must travel frequently.
Private teachers cost about $70 to $110 an hour, though. Supporters see in-home teaching
as the chance to give children the best schooling with flexible schedules. However, some
believe that children don't have the chance to build friendships and social skills. Group
lessons, such as ballet or sports, may help, but the results aren't clear.
There are many companies that supply teachers and materials, which makes it easier for
families to choose home schooling. Tiffany Wheeler, another home schooler, explains it best.
"It's fun," she says as she sits relaxed at her bedroom desk.
Teacher's Notes:
* Underlined words in red typeface are the recommended vocabulary for this lesson.
Home Schoolers on the Rise Lower-Intermediate
Heads Up English - 2 www.headsupenglish.com
WARM-UPS
Select one or all of the following warm-up activities.
1: Define: What does "home schooling" mean? Can you use it in a sentence? Can you give
examples?
2: Brainstorm: Brainstorm with a partner words and ideas for "home schooling" for two
minutes. Next, talk about the words and ideas for five minutes.
3: Title: Today's article is: "Home Schoolers on the Rise." What will you read about?
4: Do you agree or disagree? Why?
a. Home schooling is for the rich and powerful. It’s an unfair system!
b. Grades are the most important part of school.
c. Children must learn social customs, and so should go to school.
d. All children will learn from home with a tutor or via the Internet in the future.
e. All children should have to go to public school to receive the same education.
Home Schoolers on the Rise Lower-Intermediate
Heads Up English - 3 www.headsupenglish.com
VOCABULARY Select one of the following vocabulary acquisition activities.
1: Vocabulary match: Individually or in pairs/groups, match the words in column A (from
the article) with the best choice in column B.
a. trend u. way of life
b. lifestyle v. give
c. frequently w. change
d. flexible x. often
e. result y. pattern
f. supply z. answer or outcome
2: Fill in the Blanks: Fill in the blank with the correct word.
flexible supply trend
lifestyles frequently results
a. The reason for the new ( ) in home schooling is different.
b. Home schooling better fits their ( ) than public schools.
c. The Mazzonis must travel ( ).
d. In-home teaching gives children the schooling with ( ) schedules.
e. Group lessons may help, but the ( ) aren't clear.
f. There are many companies that ( ) teachers and materials
3: Define: Look in your dictionary for each word. Write the definition, correctly pronounce
the word, and give an example sentence to the class.
a. trend:
b. lifestyle:
c. frequently:
d. flexible:
e. result:
f. supply:
Home Schoolers on the Rise Lower-Intermediate
Heads Up English - 4 www.headsupenglish.com
WORD RECOGNITION These activities are optional. They reinforce vocabulary and increase reading speed.
1: Word Search: Find only the target words (in bold). Time yourself, and see how long it
takes to find all the words.
flexible supply trend
lifestyles frequently results
S L S I E R L E U S Z Y Y F S V T P S L L L G Y N E L M L G U T U U I B I B G C T P L E L Y U Q I H C Q F L N L P C X N S E I Y L P P S E F S U N I S H Q S I W L P U L S I S K B L Z X E F R E Q E U N T L Y L O Q V L S Q E X D S D I Y L E W I E Y U R A N O L T O P E L H W I T F B E J K J V L D H L E G T S L R D P D S O R U C Q S S V E T H G M Z O K H U S N Q U E F A O Y A W B J G W E E Y D W I Q O R H K H N W R R V R N Y L I T Q L R Q M R D C W L
2: Target Word Pool: Find only the target words (in bold) with their exact match. Time
yourself, and see how long it takes to find all the words.
flexible supply trend
lifestyles frequently results
flexible
inflexible
flexibly
flexibility
inflexibility
lifestyles
lifestyle
lifestyling
style
lifelong
supply supplies
supplied supplying
supplement
frequently
infrequent
infrequently frequency
quaintly
trend
trends trending tend
tended
results
resulted
resulting
resting
resolute
Home Schoolers on the Rise Lower-Intermediate
Heads Up English - 5 www.headsupenglish.com
pre- or post-COMPREHENSION Select one or more activity to direct students before the article is read, or to check
understanding after the article is read.
1: Brainstorm Questions: Brainstorm questions that you would like to ask about today's
topic. Answer a partner the questions. He shouldn't look at the article when he answers.
2: True or False?: Guess (before the article) or answer (after the article) if the sentence is
true or false. If false, correct the sentence.
a. The trend for home schooling is due to a poor education system. T/F
b. Private schools are usually more expensive than home schooling. T /F
c. Opponents say that home schooling gives the highest levels of education. T /F
d. There are no minuses to home schooling. T /F
e. Sports can definitely build social skills outside of school. T /F
3: Questions: Answer the questions to check comprehension.
a. Why are more and more families choosing home schooling?
b. How much does it cost?
c. What do supporters of home schooling have to say?
d. If there are any negatives, what are they?
e. What might the solutions be to these problems?
4: Fragments: Remember how the fragments were used, and complete the sentence.
a. More and more families are choosing to...
b. Lisa sometimes does her algebra or history homework by...
c. Supporters see in-home teaching as the chance to...
d. Group lessons, such as ballet or sports, may help, but...
Home Schoolers on the Rise Lower-Intermediate
Heads Up English - 6 www.headsupenglish.com
post-COMPREHENSION Select one or more activity to discuss the contents of the article.
1: Vocabulary: Circle any other unknown words/phrases in the article. In pairs/groups, use
your dictionaries to understand these words. Write an example sentence for each one.
2: Class Questions: Read through the article once more, and write down any questions
that you would like to talk about in pairs/groups or as a class. Answer the questions.
3: Summarize: Work with a partner to summarize the article in your own words.
4: Discuss: Talk about the following questions in pairs/groups. Remember to support your
answers and ask more questions with your partner.
a. Did you like this article? Why/not?
b. What are some reasons that you would want to home school your child?
c. What are some reasons that you wouldn’t want to home school your child?
d. Do you think home schooling via the Internet will be common in the future?
e. What would you say if your son/daughter wanted to quit school and study at home?
f. If you moved to an English speaking country for one year, would you home school?
5: Role-play: Assume the roles to discuss the following topics. Would you choose home or
public schools?
Talk About: Home or Public school?
Grades
After school activities and social events
Dating
Friends and peers
Child: You hate school. You want to study at home instead because you can learn more about the subjects you like. Of course you will also be able to learn more about other subjects!
Parent: You've recently read about home schooling. Although it sounds like a good idea academically, you are worried that those children don't have enough chances to meet and talk with their friends. In the future, those children won't understand how to live and work in society.
6: Google Search: Type "home schooling" into Google news and read additional articles on
this topic. Discuss or write an essay about your findings.
Home Schoolers on the Rise Lower-Intermediate
Heads Up English - 7 www.headsupenglish.com
STUDENT HANDOUT (the article)
Home Schoolers on the Rise
More and more families are choosing to teach their children at home. Although some
families disagree or dislike with what is taught in schools, the reason for the new trend is
different. Instead, home schooling better fits their lifestyles than public schools.
For example, Lisa Mazzoni and her family live in California and Florida. Lisa sometimes
does her algebra or history homework by the pool or on her condo's rooftop. Lisa's mother
says, "For someone who travels a lot and wants to keep the family together, it's an excellent
choice." The Mazzonis own a speedboat company, and so they must travel frequently.
Private teachers cost about $70 to $110 an hour, though. Supporters see in-home teaching
as the chance to give children the best schooling with flexible schedules. However, some
believe that children don't have the chance to build friendships and social skills. Group
lessons, such as ballet or sports, may help, but the results aren't clear.
There are many companies that supply teachers and materials, which makes it easier for
families to choose home schooling. Tiffany Wheeler, another home schooler, explains it best.
"It's fun," she says as she sits relaxed at her bedroom desk.
Notes:
Home Schoolers on the Rise Lower-Intermediate
Heads Up English - 8 www.headsupenglish.com
STUDENT HANDOUT (fill in the blank) Fill in the blank with the correct word.
frequently relaxed supply lifestyles results
although trend someone company flexible
Home Schoolers on the Rise
More and more families are choosing to teach their children at home.
(a. _______________) some families disagree or dislike with what is taught in schools,
the reason for the new (b. _______________) is different. Instead, home schooling
better fits their (c. _______________) than public schools.
For example, Lisa Mazzoni and her family live in California and Florida. Lisa sometimes
does her algebra or history homework by the pool or on her condo's rooftop. Lisa's
mother says, "For (d. _______________) who travels a lot and wants to keep the family
together, it's an excellent choice." The Mazzonis own a speedboat
(e. _______________), and so they must travel (f. _______________).
Private teachers cost about $70 to $110 an hour, though. Supporters see in-home
teaching as the chance to give children the best schooling with (g. _______________)
schedules. However, some believe that children don't have the chance to build
friendships and social skills. Group lessons, such as ballet or sports, may help, but the
(h. _______________) aren't clear.
There are many companies that (i. _______________) teachers and materials, which
makes it easier for families to choose home schooling. Tiffany Wheeler, another home
schooler, explains it best. "It's fun," she says as she sits (j. _______________) at her
bedroom desk.
Home Schoolers on the Rise Lower-Intermediate
Heads Up English - 9 www.headsupenglish.com
STUDENT HANDOUT (extended listening) Listen and fill in the missing sentences. Compare your answers with a partner, and
then listen once more.
Home Schoolers on the Rise
More and more families are choosing to teach their children at home. a) _______________
________________________________________, the reason for the new trend is different.
Instead, home schooling better fits their lifestyles than public schools.
For example, Lisa Mazzoni and her family live in California and Florida. Lisa sometimes
does her algebra or history homework by the pool or on her condo's rooftop. Lisa's mother
says, " b) _______________________________________________________, it's an
excellent choice." The Mazzonis own a speedboat company, and so they must travel
frequently.
Private teachers cost about $70 to $110 an hour, though. Supporters see in-home teaching
as the chance to give children the best schooling with flexible schedules. However, some
believe that children don't have the chance to build friendships and social skills. Group
lessons, such as ballet or sports, may help, but the results aren't clear.
c) _______________________________________________________, which makes it
easier for families to choose home schooling. Tiffany Wheeler, another home schooler,
explains it best. "It's fun," she says as she sits relaxed at her bedroom desk.
Sentence #1:
Sentence #2:
Sentence #3:
Home Schoolers on the Rise Lower-Intermediate
Heads Up English - 10 www.headsupenglish.com
ANSWER KEY
Vocabulary
1: Vocabulary Match: 2: Fill in the Blanks:
a. trend
b. lifestyles
c. frequently
d. flexible
e. results
f. supply
pre- or post-Comprehension
1. True or False: 2. Fragments:
Student Handout
1: Fill in the Blanks:
a. Although f. frequently
b. trend g. flexible
c. lifestyles h. results
d. someone i. supply
e. company j. relaxed
2: Extended Listening:
a. Although some families disagree or dislike with what is taught in schools
b. For someone who travels a lot and wants to keep the family together
c. There are many companies that supply teachers and materials
a. y
b. u
c. x
d. w
e. z
f. v
a. T
b. F
c. F
d. F
e. F
a. teach their children at home.
b. the pool or on her condo's rooftop.
c. give children the best schooling with flexible schedules.
d. the results aren't clear.
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