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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.



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.



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:



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.



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

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



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...



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.



STUDENT HANDOUT (the article)


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.



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.





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:



STUDENT HANDOUT (fill in the blank) Fill in the blank with the correct word.

frequently relaxed supply lifestyles results

although trend someone company flexible


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.


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.



STUDENT HANDOUT (extended listening) Listen and fill in the missing sentences. Compare your answers with a partner, and

then listen once more.


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.



says, " b) _______________________________________________________, it's an

excellent choice." The Mazzonis own a speedboat company, and so they must travel

frequently.





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:



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.

Documents

Home Schoolers on the Rise - Heads Up English€¦ · Home Schoolers on the Rise Lower-Intermediate Heads Up English - 1 the ARTICLE (for teachers) Home Schoolers on the Rise More