Lesson 3: Education in the U.S. is Key to Success
Education is important in the United States. A good education can be the difference
between a good life and a difficult one. Research shows that adults who complete a
post-secondary certificate or degree program are able to financially support their families
far better than those who do not. Getting a post-secondary certificate or degree may not
be an option for all of us, but we can make sure our children succeed in school.
Research shows that children who go to preschool programs1 are more successful in
elementary school. Children usually begin preschool programs at the age of four. If your
children don’t go to preschool, you can help them learn letters, numbers, and colors in
your native language, English, or both. It is important to read with them every day.
Research shows that reading in any language helps prepare children for school.
Children begin elementary school in kindergarten at the age of five or six. It is
important to continue to read with your child at home in your native language, English, or
both. Reading is the most important skill your child can learn in elementary school.
Middle school2 begins in sixth grade and goes to eighth grade. Reading is important
for all subjects such as language arts, science, history, and mathematics. It is important
to get your child extra help if they are having difficulty with any subject. Often the school
or your public library can help.
High school3 starts in ninth grade when children are fourteen or fifteen. High school
prepares children for post-secondary training and education. Reading and writing in all
subject areas, higher math skills, and computer skills are needed to succeed. Parents
must set up a time and place for homework. Some parents require their children to
complete all their homework before they watch TV or play video games. Whatever you
choose to do, let your child know the importance of completing homework.
When children graduate from high school they are usually eighteen years old.
However, their education is not over. Completing a certificate or degree program will
prepare them to financially support a family. Vocational schools offer one and two-year
certificate programs. Colleges and universities offer two-year (A.A.) and four-year (B.A. or
B.S.) degree programs.
A good education is key to success in the United States. First, take time to continue
your own education. Then, make sure to support your children’s education. Supporting
education is the biggest contribution you can make to their future and yours!
1
Preschool refers to all programs preceding kindergarten, including Head Start and Pre-K programs.
Middle school is sometimes replaced by junior high. In this case, elementary school usually goes through 6th grade, junior
high through 9th grade, and 3high school from 10th to 12th grade.
2
1
Part 1: Vocabulary: Complete each sentence with vocabulary from the text. Use
strategies to understand the words. Write a definition in your own words.
1. __________ shows that children who go to preschool programs1 are more successful
in elementary school.
My strategy (circle): sound out
break down
, looks like
read around
My definition: _____________________________________________
2. Adults who complete a post-secondary certificate or degree program are able to
____________ support their families
My strategy (circle): sound out
break down
, looks like
read around
My definition: _____________________________________________
3. Getting a post-secondary certificate or degree may not be an __________for all of us.
My strategy (circle): sound out
break down
, looks like
read around
My definition: _____________________________________________
4. A good education is _________ to success in the United States.
My strategy (circle): sound out
break down
, looks like
read around
My definition: _____________________________________________
5. Supporting education is the biggest _______________ you can make to their future
and yours!
My strategy (circle): sound out
break down
, looks like
read around
My definition: _____________________________________________
Part 1: Main Idea: What is the main idea? Circle a, b, or c.
a. College helps you prepare for different jobs.
b. Reading with your children helps them succeed in school.
c. Supporting your children’s education will help them succeed in life.
Fill in the graphic organizer with information from the text.
Topic Sentence:
Educational Level: Preschool
According to the
text, what can I do
to support my
child’s education?
Concluding Sentence:
2
Part 3: Questions:
A. Text Only: Read each question. Write evidence from the text to show how the text
explicitly answers the question. Answer the question in your own words.
Note: Use quotations around the words and sentences you quote (copy) from the text.
1. What can completing a post-secondary program help adults do?
Short Answer: ____________________________
Text Evidence: “________________________________________________________”
Summary Sentence: ______________________________________________________
2. How can you help your pre-school children prepare for kindergarten?
Short Answer: ____________________________
Text Evidence: “________________________________________________________”
Summary Sentence: ______________________________________________________
3. When does middle school begin for most children?
Short Answer: ____________________________
Text Evidence: “________________________________________________________”
Summary Sentence: ______________________________________________________
4. How can parents help their children do well in high school?
Short Answer: ____________________________
Text Evidence: “________________________________________________________”
Summary Sentence: ______________________________________________________
5. Where can students go to complete a certificate program?
Short Answer: ____________________________
Text Evidence: “________________________________________________________”
Summary Sentence: ______________________________________________________
Challenge Question: Search the text…
6. What are three ways parents can support their children’s education?
a. ____________________________
b. ___________________________
c. ____________________________
Write a summary sentence.
Three ways______________________________________ are _____________________ ,
________________________________, and ____________________________________.
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B. Text +: To answer some questions you must find evidence in the text AND think
outside the text. These questions require you to interpret or infer.
Text + = Interpret or Infer
 Interpret means to use point of view to understand the text. What is the point of
view of the author or character?
 Infer means to make conclusions about the text. What does the text NOT say that
I need to add myself?
1. Why do you think adults who have a post-secondary certificate or degree are better
able to financially support their families?
My idea: ____________________________________________________________
My experience: _______________________________________________________
My Inference
The text says “__________________________________________” and
I think that means _____________________________________because
in my experience ___________________________________________.
2. The text says that “Getting a post-secondary certificate or degree may not be an
option for all of us”. Why do you think that may be true?
My idea: ____________________________________________________________
My experience: _______________________________________________________
My Inference
The text says “__________________________________________” and
I think that means _____________________________________because
in my experience ____________________________________________.
3. The text says, “Supporting education is the biggest contribution you can make to your
children’s future and yours!” What does this mean?
My idea: ____________________________________________________________
Text evidence: _______________________________________________________
My Inference
The text says “__________________________________________” and
I think that means _____________________________________because
the text says _______________________________________________.
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Part 4 Word Study: Look at each word in bold. First break the word into syllables.
Then find the base word, prefix, and suffix. The base word is the simple form of the
word that carries the meaning. The prefix is the part of the word that comes before the
base word. The suffix is the word ending.
1. Research shows that children who go to preschool programs are more successful in
elementary school.
Break down
re|search
prefix ___ base word ________
Sound out
re search
Complete: ___________ shows that children who go to preschool programs are more
successful in elementary school.
2. Children usually begin preschool programs at the age of four.
Break down
pre|school
prefix ___ base word ________
Sound out
pre school
Complete: Children usually begin _________ programs at the age of four.
3. High school prepares children for post-secondary training and education.
Break down
post|sec|ond|ar|y prefix ____ base word _______ suffix ___
Sound out
post sec ond ar y
Complete: High school prepares children for _____________ training and education.
4. Completing a certificate or degree program will prepare them to financially support a
family.
Break down
fi|nan|cial ly
base word _______ suffix ___
Sound out
fi nan cial ly
Complete: Completing a certificate or degree program will prepare them to
_____________ support a family.
5. Vocational schools offer one and two-year certificate programs.
Break down
vo|ca|tion|al base word ________ suffix ____
Sound out
vo ca tion al
Complete: ___________ schools offer one and two-year certificate programs.
6. Supporting education is the biggest contribution you can make to their future.
Break down
con|tri|bu|tion base word ________e suffix ____
Sound out
con tri bu tion
Complete: Supporting education is the biggest _____________you can make to their
future.
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Name: ___________________________________
Date: _______________
Listening Quizzes (Parts 1 – 4 Optional)
Part 1: Letter Sounds: Listen and write the missing letters.
1. __an
6. d__t__
2. ___at
7. p__ n
3. __at
8. sta__ __
4. h__t
9. sa__ __
5. t__k__
10. ca__ __
Part 2: Word Families: Listen and write the long ‘a’ words.
1. _____________
4. _____________
2. _____________
5. _____________
3. _____________
6. _____________
Part 3: Sound Match: Listen and circle the words you hear.
1.
can
cane
came
2.
same
Sam
sum
3.
made
mud
mad
4.
talk
take
tack
5.
let
lit
late
6.
met
mat
mate
Part 4: Sight Words: Listen and write the sight words.
1. ___________
6. ___________
2. ___________
7. ___________
3. ___________
8. ___________
4. ___________
9. ___________
5. ___________
10. __________
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Part 5: Dictation: Listen and complete the sentences.
1. ___________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________________
4. ____________________________________________________________________
5. ____________________________________________________________________
6. ____________________________________________________________________
7. ____________________________________________________________________
8. ____________________________________________________________________
9. ____________________________________________________________________
10. ___________________________________________________________________
Part 6: Multi-syllable words: Listen to each word. Break it into syllables. Write the word.
1. ___|_______
_________________
2. ___|___|____|___
_________________
3. ___|____|____|___
_________________
4. ___|___|___| ____
_________________
5. _____|____|____|___|__
_________________
Part 7: Vocabulary: Listen to each vocabulary word and the sample sentence that follows.
What does the word mean? Match it to the correct definition below.
1. A. To be helpful to someone
B. Relating to money
C. A choice between two or more
things
2. A. The answer to a problem
B. A problem
C. The careful study to collect
information about a subject
4. A. To be helpful to someone
B. A choice between two or more things
C. A problem that makes it difficult to
achieve a goal
5. A. The answer to a problem
B. A choice between two or more things
C. The act of giving something of value
such as money or time
3. A. The solution or way to achieve a
goal
B. An interesting situation
C. To be too stressful to manage
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Lesson 1: Listening Script
Part 1:
1. can
2. sat
3. that
4. hat
5. take
6. date
7. pan
8. state
9. safe
10.cash
Part 2:
1. cane
2. math
3. than
4. face
5. land
6. gate
Part 3:
1. cane
2. sum
3. mad
4. take
5. late
6. mat
Part 4:
1. about
2. which
3. other
4. their
5. will
6. them
7. when
8. many
9. then
10. do
Part 5:
1. A good education can be the difference between a
good life and a difficult one.
2. We can make sure our children succeed in school.
3. Research shows that reading in any language helps
prepare children for school.
4. Reading is the most important skill your child can
learn in elementary school.
5. It is important to get your child extra help if they are
having difficulty.
6. Parents must set up a time and place for homework.
7. Let your child know the importance of completing
homework.
8. Colleges and universities offer two-year and four-year
degree programs.
9. A good education is key to success in the United
States.
10. Supporting education is the biggest contribution you
can make to the future.
Part 6:
1. pre|school
preschool
2. vo|ca|tion|al
vocational
3. fi|nan |cial|ly
supportive
4. con|tri|bu |tion contribution
5. post|sec|ond|ar|y
post-secondary
Part 7:
1. financially (B)
2. research (C)
3. key (A)
4. option (B)
5. contribution (C)
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Lesson 3: Fluency Tests
Pre-Test:
Name: ______________________________
Date: _______________
Reading Time: _______
Test Score: ___/ 5_
Circle True or False:
1. Adults with post-secondary education can better support their families.
True
False
2. Children must go to preschool to learn letters and numbers.
True
False
3. Only read to your children in English.
True
False
4. Reading is important for all subjects.
True
False
5. Vocational schools have four-year degrees.
True
False
Post-Test:
Name: ______________________________
Date: _______________
Reading Time: _______
Test Score: ___/ 5_
Circle True or False:
1. Not all of us can get a post-secondary certificate or degree.
True
False
2. You must teach your children letters and numbers only in English. True
False
3. High school students do not need to do homework.
True
False
4. Universities only offer two-year degree programs.
True
False
5. Helping your children get a good education is important.
True
False
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