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Parents punished if kids late to school (10th June, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

Parents in the U.K. face being punished if their children are continually late for school. Britain's Education Secretary Michael Gove has announced he will crack down on what he terms "problem parents". He said too many families fail to "face up to their responsibilities" by ensuring their children get to school on time, and are "ready to learn and show respect for their teacher". Parents are already slapped with a £60 ($100) fine if their child is repeatedly late for school. However, 20,000 of these penalties were unpaid last year, prompting Mr Gove to announce a tougher penalty system. There will also be fines for parents who withdraw their children during term time to take them on cheaper family vacations.

Mr Gove said his plans were all part of raising standards in education, creating a bigger incentive for parents to ensure their children get to school, and tackling the problem of "habitual truancy". Gove also hit back at his critics, accusing them of adhering to policies that set pupils up to fail and of promoting "a diet of dumbed-down courses". He said opposition politicians shied away "from anything which might require grit". Gove warned their policies would send children to school "without daring to think they might be intellectually curious and capable of greatness, denying them access to anything stretching or ambitious, and setting expectations so low you can never be surprised by someone's potential".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/10881955/Gove-to-dock-parents-benefits-for-condoning-truancy.html
http://news.sky.com/story/1277284/parents-to-be-punished-for-kids-bad-behaviour
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/michael-gove-says-parents-will-3657584

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. EDUCATION: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about education. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

parents / late for school / responsibilities / on time / fine / penalty / family vacations / plans / standards in education / truancy / critics / opposition / politicians / potential

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. RAISING STANDARDS: How might these ideas to raise standards in education work? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Good points	Bad points
Punish parents
Cash for A grades
Webcams in class
Smaller class sizes
More online learning
Homework study groups

4. PROBLEM PARENTS: Students A strongly believe punishing "problem parents" will raise standards in education; Students B strongly believe it won't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

5. OBSTACLES: Rank these with your partner. Put the biggest obstacles to learning at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• class size

• the teacher

• computer games

• boring subject

• too little sleep

• little parental support

• television

• too many tests

6. LATE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "late". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

a.	Parents will be punished if their children are late for school even once.	T / F
b.	The UK education secretary said families need to be more responsible.	T / F
c.	Parents failed to pay around 20,000 lateness fines last year.	T / F
d.	Parents can take children on family holidays during school time.	T / F
e.	The UK government is aiming to reduce truancy levels via these fines.	T / F
f.	The government said students would fail with the opposition's policies.	T / F
g.	The education secretary said all children know they can be great.	T / F
h.	The education secretary said the opposition sets standards too high.	T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.	punished	a.	making
2.	crack down on	b.	duties
3.	responsibilities	c.	strength of character
4.	prompting	d.	stricter
5.	tougher	e.	lifting
6.	raising	f.	penalized
7.	incentive	g.	constant
8.	habitual	h.	promise
9.	grit	i.	motivation
10.	potential	j.	get tough on

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1.	Parents in the U.K. face	a.	up to their responsibilities
2.	he will crack down on what	b.	politicians
3.	many families fail to face	c.	£60 ($100) fine
4.	slapped with a	d.	he terms "problem parents"
5.	announce a tougher	e.	of "habitual truancy"
6.	part of raising	f.	being punished
7.	tackling the problem	g.	so low
8.	opposition	h.	standards in education
9.	intellectually	i.	penalty system
10.	setting expectations	j.	curious

GAP FILL

Parents in the U.K. (1) ____________ being punished if their children are continually late for school. Britain's Education Secretary Michael Gove has announced he will (2) ____________ down on what he terms "problem parents". He said too many families fail to "face up to their (3) ____________ " by ensuring their children get to school on time, and are "ready to learn and show (4) ____________ for their teacher". Parents are already (5) ____________ with a £60 ($100) fine if their child is repeatedly late for school. However, 20,000 of these penalties were (6) ____________ last year, prompting Mr Gove to announce a tougher penalty system. There will also be fines for parents who (7) ____________ their children (8) ____________ term time to take them on cheaper family vacations.

slapped
withdraw
responsibilities
during
face
unpaid
crack
respect

Mr Gove said his plans were all (9) ____________ of raising standards in education, creating a bigger (10) ____________ for parents to ensure their children get to school, and tackling the problem of "habitual (11) ____________ ". Gove also hit back at his critics, accusing them of adhering to policies that set pupils up to fail and of (12) ____________ "a diet of dumbed-down courses". He said (13) ____________ politicians shied away "from anything which might require grit". Gove warned their policies would send children to school "without (14) ____________ to think they might be intellectually curious and capable of greatness, denying them (15) ____________ to anything stretching or ambitious, and setting expectations so low you can never be surprised by someone's (16) ____________ "

opposition
access
truancy
potential
part
daring
incentive
promoting

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	Parents in the U.K. face being punished if their children ______
	a. are continue all late b. are continual be late c. are continually late d. are continually be late
2)	Education Secretary Michael Gove has announced he ______
	a. will crack up on… b. will crack down on… c. will cracked down on… d. will crack down none…
3)	He said too many families fail to "face ______"
	a. up to their responsibilities b. up two their responsibilities c. up for their responsibilities d. up four their responsibilities
4)	Parents are already slapped with a £60 ($100) fine if their child ______
	a. is repeat and late b. is repeated less late c. is repeatedly late d. is repeat tidily late
5)	prompting Mr Gove to announce a tougher ______
	a. penalties system b. penalty is system c. penalty system d. penalty systems
6)	Mr Gove said his plans were all part of raising ______
	a. standard sin education b. standards on education c. standards in education d. standards for education
7)	ensure their children get to school, and tackling the problem ______
	a. of "habitual truancy" b. of "habitual truant" see c. of "habitual truants" see d. of "habitually truancy"
8)	set pupils up to fail and of promoting "a diet of dumbed-______"
	a. down courses b. own courses c. downed courses d. down in courses
9)	without daring to think they might be intellectually curious and ______
	a. cape able of greatness b. capable of greatness c. cape a bull of greatness d. capable of great nest
10)	setting expectations so low you can never be surprised ______
	a. by someone's potential b. by someone's potentially c. by someone's potent shall d. by someone is potential

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Parents in the U.K. (1) ___________________ if their children are continually late for school. Britain's Education Secretary Michael Gove has announced he will (2) ___________________ he terms "problem parents". He said too many families (3) ___________________ their responsibilities" by ensuring their children get to school on time, and are "ready to learn and show respect for their teacher". Parents (4) ___________________ a £60 ($100) fine if their child (5) ___________________ school. However, 20,000 of these penalties were unpaid last year, prompting Mr Gove to announce a tougher penalty system. There will also be fines for parents who withdraw their children (6) ___________________ take them on cheaper family vacations.

Mr Gove said his (7) ___________________ raising standards in education, creating a bigger incentive for parents to ensure their children get to school, and tackling the problem (8) ___________________. Gove also hit back at his critics, accusing (9) ___________________ policies that set pupils up to fail and of promoting "a diet of dumbed-down courses". He said opposition politicians (10) ___________________ anything which might require grit". Gove warned their policies would send children to school "without daring to think they might be intellectually (11) ___________________ of greatness, denying them access to anything stretching or ambitious, and setting expectations (12) ___________________ be surprised by someone's potential"

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	What is Michael Gove's position in the U.K. government?
2.	What did Mr Gove say many families failed to do?
3.	What did Mr Gove say children should show teachers?
4.	How many fines were unpaid last year?
5.	What could parents do during term time that would get them a fine?
6.	What does Mr Gove hope to raise?
7.	What habitual problem does Mr Gove hope to tackle?
8.	Who did Mr Gove accuse of setting students up to fail?
9.	What did he say some politicians shied away from?
10.	What did Mr Gove think was set too low by some policies?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	What is Michael Gove's position in the U.K. government?	6.	What does Mr Gove hope to raise?
	a) Education Secretary b) Minister for Schools c) Secretary for Student Success d) Leader of Youth Development		a) awareness b) nice children c) money d) education standards
2.	What did Mr Gove say many families failed to do?	7.	What habitual problem does Mr Gove hope to tackle?
	a) stay together b) pass exams c) face up to responsibilities d) homework		a) urgency b) flippancy c) truancy d) leniency
3.	What did Mr Gove say children should show teachers?	8.	Who did Mr Gove accuse of setting students up to fail?
	a) their good side b) their homework c) ambition d) respect		a) Britain's leader b) opposition politicians c) school heads d) the system
4.	How many fines were unpaid last year?	9.	What did Mr Gove say some politicians shied away from?
	a) 12,000 b) 20,000 c) 22,000 d) 2,000		a) accepting poor grades b) responsibility c) anything students need grit for d) photographers
5.	What could parents do during term time to get a fine?	10.	What did Mr Gove think was set too low by some policies?
	a) take their children on holiday b) not go to school c) help with exams d) do their child's homework		a) exam pass marks b) expectations c) language level d) the height of students' desks

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Class size

You think class size is the best thing to raise education standards. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so effective in raising standards. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): the teacher, sleep or online learning.

Role B – The teacher

You think the teacher is the best thing to raise education standards. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so effective in raising standards. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): class size, sleep or online learning.

Role C – Sleep

You think sleep is the best thing to raise education standards. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so effective in raising standards. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): the teacher, class size or online learning.

Role D – Online learning

You think online learning is the best thing to raise education standards. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so effective in raising standards. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): the teacher, sleep or class size.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'education' and 'standard'.

education

standard

Share your findings with your partners.

Make questions using the words you found.
Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

continually
up
show
20,000
system
cheaper

part
ensure
set
away
access
low

EDUCATION SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about education in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

EDUCATION DISCUSSION

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

a)	What did you think when you read the headline?
b)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'education'?
c)	What do you think of the education you had?
d)	What do you think of children who are always late for school?
e)	Is it a good idea to punish parents if students misbehave?
f)	How can we get students to show more respect to teachers?
g)	What do you think of the term "problem parents"?
h)	What should happen to parents if kids do not respect teachers?
i)	How much respect do children have for teachers in your culture?
j)	Is it wrong for kids to go on overseas vacations during school time?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	What would you do to raise standards in education?
c)	What other incentives could we create for parents?
d)	What can schools do to reduce truancy?
e)	What kind of policies set students up to fail?
f)	What kind of grit did you show at school?
g)	What signs of greatness did you show as a kid?
h)	What expectations would / do you have of your own children?
i)	Have you realized your potential? Why?
j)	What questions would you like to ask Mr Gove?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

Parents in the U.K. face (1) _____ punished if their children are continually late for school. Britain's Education Secretary Michael Gove has announced he will crack down (2) _____ what he terms "problem parents". He said too many families fail to "face (3) _____ to their responsibilities" by ensuring their children get to school on time, and are "ready to learn and show respect for their teacher". Parents are already (4) _____ with a £60 ($100) fine if their child is repeatedly late for school. However, 20,000 of these penalties were (5) _____ last year, prompting Mr Gove to announce a tougher penalty system. There will also be fines for parents who (6) _____ their children during term time to take them on cheaper family vacations.

Mr Gove said his plans were all (7) _____ of raising standards in education, creating a bigger incentive for parents to ensure their children get to school, and tackling the problem of "(8) _____ truancy". Gove also hit back at his critics, accusing them of adhering to policies that set pupils (9) _____ to fail and of promoting "a diet of dumbed-down courses". He said opposition politicians shied away "from anything which might (10) _____ grit". Gove warned their policies would send children to school "without daring to think they might be intellectually curious and capable of greatness, (11) _____ them access to anything stretching or ambitious, and setting expectations so (12) _____ you can never be surprised by someone's potential"

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	having	(b)	doing	(c)	being	(d)	feeling
2.	(a)	on	(b)	in	(c)	for	(d)	by
3.	(a)	up	(b)	over	(c)	off	(d)	down
4.	(a)	slapped	(b)	slipped	(c)	supped	(d)	sapped
5.	(a)	payees	(b)	unpaid	(c)	payments	(d)	paying
6.	(a)	insert	(b)	deposit	(c)	unfasten	(d)	withdraw
7.	(a)	party	(b)	partners	(c)	part	(d)	partnering
8.	(a)	habits	(b)	habituate	(c)	habitat	(d)	habitual
9.	(a)	up	(b)	down	(c)	along	(d)	over
10.	(a)	require	(b)	requite	(c)	requisite	(d)	request
11.	(a)	denoting	(b)	denying	(c)	degenerating	(d)	denigrating
12.	(a)	beneath	(b)	under	(c)	down	(d)	low

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	tnuaylicnol late for school
2.	face up to their pinreiisseslbtio
3.	their child is deetlrpyea late for school
4.	nrusgnie their children get to school
5.	anuoncne a tougher penalty system
6.	parents who ihtwdwra their children
Paragraph 2
7.	create a bigger eevntciin for parents
8.	the problem of habitual ratcyun
9.	sniopootip politicians
10.	intellectually suucori
11.	access to anything stretching or iumtiasbo
12.	surprised by someone's opalntiet

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( 1 )	Parents in the U.K. face being punished if their children are continually late for school. Britain's Education
( )	ensuring their children get to school on time, and are "ready to learn and show respect for their teacher". Parents are already slapped
( )	ambitious, and setting expectations so low you can never be surprised by someone's potential".
( )	Mr Gove said his plans were all part of raising standards in education, creating a bigger
( )	with a £60 ($100) fine if their child is repeatedly late for school. However, 20,000 of these penalties were
( )	parents". He said too many families fail to "face up to their responsibilities" by
( )	curious and capable of greatness, denying them access to anything stretching or
( )	incentive for parents to ensure their children get to school, and tackling the problem of "habitual
( )	up to fail and of promoting "a diet of dumbed-down courses". He said opposition politicians shied away "from anything which might
( )	Secretary Michael Gove has announced he will crack down on what he terms "problem
( )	unpaid last year, prompting Mr Gove to announce a tougher penalty system. There will also be fines
( )	truancy". Gove also hit back at his critics, accusing them of adhering to policies that set pupils
( )	for parents who withdraw their children during term time to take them on cheaper family vacations.
( )	require grit". Gove warned their policies would send children to school "without daring to think they might be intellectually

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	"problem terms he what on down crack will He . parents"
2.	teacher to show their Ready and for learn respect.
3.	school repeatedly their $100 late child fine A for is if .
4.	, year were of 20,000 unpaid these , However last penalties.
5.	children Parents during who term withdraw time their.
6.	education His plans were all part of raising standards in.
7.	policies pupils fail to set to Adhering that up.
8.	Shied might away require from grit anything which.
9.	might Daring be to intellectually think curious they.
10.	be surprised You by can someone's never potential.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Parents in the U.K. face being punished if their children are continuous / continually late for school. Britain's Education Secretary Michael Gove has announced he will crack up / down on what he terms "problem parents". He said too many families fail to "face up / down to their responsibilities" by ensuring / insuring their children get to school in / on time, and are "ready to learn and show respect from / for their teacher". Parents are already slapped / slipped with a £60 ($100) fine if their child is reportedly / repeatedly late for school. However, 20,000 of these penalties were unpaid last year, prompting / promoting Mr Gove to announce a tougher penalty system. There will also be fines for parents who deposit / withdraw their children during term time to take them on cheaper family vacations.

Mr Gove said his plans were all part for / of raising standards in education, creating a bigger incentive / inventive for parents to ensure their children get to school, and tickling / tackling the problem of "habitual truancy". Gove also hit / slapped back at his critics, accusing them of adhering to policies that set pupils down / up to fail and of promoting "a diet of dumbed-down courses". He said opposition politicians shied / shooed away "from anything which might require grit / great". Gove warned their policies would send children to school "without during / daring to think they might be intellectually curious and capable of greatly / greatness, denying them access to anything stretching or ambitious, and setting expectations so small / low you can never be surprised by someone's potential"

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

P_r_nts _n th_ _.K. f_c_ b__ng p_n_sh_d _f th__r ch_ldr_n _r_ c_nt_n__lly l_t_ f_r sch__l. Br_t__n's _d_c_t__n S_cr_t_ry M_ch__l G_v_ h_s _nn__nc_d h_ w_ll cr_ck d_wn _n wh_t h_ t_rms "pr_bl_m p_r_nts". H_ s__d t__ m_ny f_m_l__s f__l t_ "f_c_ _p t_ th__r r_sp_ns_b_l_t__s" by _ns_r_ng th__r ch_ldr_n g_t t_ sch__l _n t_m_, _nd _r_ "r__dy t_ l__rn _nd sh_w r_sp_ct f_r th__r t__ch_r". P_r_nts _r_ _lr__dy sl_pp_d w_th _ £60 ($100) f_n_ _f th__r ch_ld _s r_p__t_dly l_t_ f_r sch__l. H_w_v_r, 20,000 _f th_s_ p_n_lt__s w_r_ _np__d l_st y__r, pr_mpt_ng Mr G_v_ t_ _nn__nc_ _ t__gh_r p_n_lty syst_m. Th_r_ w_ll _ls_ b_ f_n_s f_r p_r_nts wh_ w_thdr_w th__r ch_ldr_n d_r_ng t_rm t_m_ t_ t_k_ th_m _n ch__p_r f_m_ly v_c_t__ns.

Mr G_v_ s__d h_s pl_ns w_r_ _ll p_rt _f r__s_ng st_nd_rds _n _d_c_t__n, cr__t_ng _ b_gg_r _nc_nt_v_ f_r p_r_nts t_ _ns_r_ th__r ch_ldr_n g_t t_ sch__l, _nd t_ckl_ng th_ pr_bl_m _f "h_b_t__l tr__ncy". G_v_ _ls_ h_t b_ck _t h_s cr_t_cs, _cc_s_ng th_m _f _dh_r_ng t_ p_l_c__s th_t s_t p_p_ls _p t_ f__l _nd _f pr_m_t_ng "_ d__t _f d_mb_d-d_wn c__rs_s". H_ s__d _pp_s_t__n p_l_t_c__ns sh__d _w_y "fr_m _nyth_ng wh_ch m_ght r_q__r_ gr_t". G_v_ w_rn_d th__r p_l_c__s w__ld s_nd ch_ldr_n t_ sch__l "w_th__t d_r_ng t_ th_nk th_y m_ght b_ _nt_ll_ct__lly c_r___s _nd c_p_bl_ _f gr__tn_ss, d_ny_ng th_m _cc_ss t_ _nyth_ng str_tch_ng _r _mb_t___s, _nd s_tt_ng _xp_ct_t__ns s_ l_w y__ c_n n_v_r b_ s_rpr_s_d by s_m__n_'s p_t_nt__l"

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

parents in the uk face being punished if their children are continually late for school britain's education secretary michael gove has announced he will crack down on what he terms "problem parents" he said too many families fail to "face up to their responsibilities" by ensuring their children get to school on time and are "ready to learn and show respect for their teacher" parents are already slapped with a £60 ($100) fine if their child is repeatedly late for school however 20000 of these penalties were unpaid last year prompting mr gove to announce a tougher penalty system there will also be fines for parents who withdraw their children during term time to take them on cheaper family vacations

mr gove said his plans were all part of raising standards in education creating a bigger incentive for parents to ensure their children get to school and tackling the problem of "habitual truancy" gove also hit back at his critics accusing them of adhering to policies that set pupils up to fail and of promoting "a diet of dumbed-down courses" he said opposition politicians shied away "from anything which might require grit" gove warned their policies would send children to school "without daring to think they might be intellectually curious and capable of greatness denying them access to anything stretching or ambitious and setting expectations so low you can never be surprised by someone's potential"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

ParentsintheU.K.facebeingpunishediftheirchildrenarecontinuallyl
ateforschool.Britain'sEducationSecretaryMichaelGovehasannoun
cedhewillcrackdownonwhatheterms"problemparents".Hesaidtoo
manyfamiliesfailto"faceuptotheirresponsibilities"byensuringtheir
childrengettoschoolontime,andare"readytolearnandshowrespectf
ortheirteacher".Parentsarealreadyslappedwitha£60($100)fineift
heirchildisrepeatedlylateforschool.However,20,000ofthesepenalt
ieswereunpaidlastyear,promptingMrGovetoannounceatougherpe
naltysystem.Therewillalsobefinesforparentswhowithdrawtheirchi
ldrenduringtermtimetotakethemoncheaperfamilyvacations.MrGo
vesaidhisplanswereallpartofraisingstandardsineducation,creating
abiggerincentiveforparentstoensuretheirchildrengettoschool,and
tacklingtheproblemof"habitualtruancy".Govealsohitbackathiscriti
cs,accusingthemofadheringtopoliciesthatsetpupilsuptofailandofp
romoting"adietofdumbed-downcourses".Hesaidoppositionpoliti
ciansshiedaway"fromanythingwhichmightrequiregrit".Govewarn
edtheirpolicieswouldsendchildrentoschool"withoutdaringtothinkt
heymightbeintellectuallycuriousandcapableofgreatness,denying
hemaccesstoanythingstretchingorambitious,andsettingexpectati
onssolowyoucanneverbesurprisedbysomeone'spotential"

FREE WRITING

Write about education for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Punishing parents if children do not follow rules is a good idea. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about standards in education. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. EDUCATION: Make a poster about education. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. PUNISHMENTS FOR PARENTS: Write a magazine article about punishing parents for their children's bad behaviour. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

6. LETTER: Write a letter to an education expert. Ask him/her three questions about raising standards in education. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to do this. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

News
Warm ups
Pre-reading / Post-reading
Using headlines
Working with words
While-reading / While-listening
Moving from text to speech
Post-reading / Post-listening
Discussions
Using opinions
Plans
Language
Using lists
Using quotes
Task-based activities
Role plays
Using the central characters in the article
Using themes from the news
Homework

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

T

c

T

d

F

e

T

f

T

g

F

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	punished	a.	penalized
2.	crack down on	b.	get tough on
3.	responsibilities	c.	duties
4.	prompting	d.	making
5.	tougher	e.	stricter
6.	raising	f.	lifting
7.	incentive	g.	motivation
8.	habitual	h.	constant
9.	grit	i.	strength of character
10.	potential	j.	promise

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Education Secretary
2.	Face up to their responsibilities
3.	Respect
4.	20,000
5.	Take their children in holiday
6.	Education standards
7.	Truancy
8.	Opposition politicians
9.	Anything that required grit from students
10.	Expectations

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

a

2.

c

3.

d

4.

b

5.

a

6.

d

7.

c

8.

b

9.

c

10.

b

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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Parents punished if kids late to school (10th June, 2014)

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