THE AMERICAN EDUCATION SYSTEMJustin Cubilo

Types of Schools Kindergarten

A program or class for four-year-old to six-year-old children that serves as an introduction to school.

Public School An elementary or secondary school in the United States

supported by public funds and providing free education for children of a community or district.

Elementary School A school for the first four to eight years of a child's formal

education, often including kindergarten. Secondary School

A school that is intermediate in level between elementary school and college and that usually offers general, technical, vocational, or college-preparatory curricula.

Types of Schools (cont.) Prep School

A usually private secondary school that prepares students for college.

Charter School A public school operated independently of the local school

board, often with a curriculum and educational philosophy different from the other schools in the system.

Boarding School A school where pupils are provided with meals and lodging.

Vocational High School A school that offers instruction and practical introductory

experience in skilled trades such as mechanics, carpentry, plumbing, and construction

Types of Schools (cont.) Community College

A junior college without residential facilities that is often funded by the government.

Home School A school operated outside established educational

institutions, especially in a home. College/University

An institution for higher learning with teaching and research facilities constituting a graduate school and professional schools that award master's degrees and doctorates and an undergraduate division that awards bachelor's degrees

College vs. University What is the difference between the usage of college and university? Nothing. The only difference is that college is used

more often in American English while university is used more often in British English.

What is the difference between a community college and a college/university? Community colleges generally only offer a two year

degree at the end of which they get an associate’s degree. They also prepare students to go off to a university where they can earn their bachelor’s degree.

The American School System Fill out the graphic organizer with the

information that you are presented with. Each box represents a new progression

through the school system.

Example:

Nursery School/Kindergarten:•Transition from home to formal schooling•Children are taught to develop basic skills through creative play and social interaction•Generally for children between the ages of 4 and 6.

Elementary School Generally for students between

kindergarten and fifth-grade. Children are taught the basics of reading

and writing. These skills are continuously developed.

Social studies, science, math, English are integrated into the school day.

Middle School/Junior High Serve as a “bridge” between elementary school

and high school. Junior High generally includes grades 7 and 8 Middle school generally includes grades 6, 7, and 8

The terms are often interchangeable Students are taught in an interdisciplinary

approach by several teachers who teach the same group of students. Students learn about the same topic from the

perspective of different disciplines Courses begin to target

This leads into two possibilities High School Vocational High School

High School Educates students from grades 9 through 12 Subclassed as general high schools, vocational

high schools, or preparatory high schools. Most are general high schools

Offer college preparatory classes for advanced students as well as general education classes.

High school curriculums vary by state. Students have a little more freedom in what

classes the take.

Vocational High School Generally considered to be “post-

secondary schools” Exist to teach job-specific skills.

Considered as institutions devoted to training.

Examples of vocations that training is given for: Car mechanics Electricians Plumbers

University/College Institution of higher education and research. Grants degrees in many subjects. Offers undergraduate and postgraduate

education. Organized into a number of academic schools or

colleges. i.e. Arts and Letters, Social Sciences, Natural

Sciences Students pay tuition and fees in order to attend. A great deal of flexibility in courses that can be

taken to fulfill requirements.

Professional School/Postgraduate School

Schools that are attended after the Bachelor’s degree has been earned.

One generally goes to a postgraduate school in order to get a Master’s degree or PhD in a subject that is normally related to their undergraduate major.

Professional schools refer to medical school, law school, pharmacy school, etc. These schools train a student in a specific

area.

Pre-Reading: Vocabulary 1. H 2. L 3. B 4. E 5. A 6. M 7. F 8. O

Pre-Reading (cont.) 9. G 10. I 11. C 12. N 13. K 14. D 15. J

Comprehension Questions 1. Middle-class, white, English-speaking. 2. Demographic shifts took place. Minority groups

joined the original student population. 3. Mexican immigrants and other Spanish

speaking people. African-American children. 4. Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, Hmong, Chinese

and Farsi. No, they are all at different levels. 5. She remains constant in her enthusiasm and

her vision for her teaching job. Her greatest challenge is the cultural diversity of her students.

Focus on the Grammar Simple Past

How is it formed? Verb + -ed There are also irregular forms.

How is it used? Completed actions in the past. Series of completed actions in the past. Duration of actions in the past.

Worksheet 1. grade 2. core 3. started 4. interaction 5. accepted 6. took 7. expanded 8. became 9. minority

Worksheet (cont.) 10. began 11. spoke 12. considerable 13. intermediate 14. constraints 15. demographic 16. techniques 17. components 18. integration 19. levies

Homeschooling 1. Able to spend more time with children, test

scores are higher, able to tailor curriculum, siblings able to be closer, lessens the burden on taxpayers

2. 6,296 ; 4,241 3. controversial public school decisions 4. Notify the state, hold a high school diploma,

keep attendance and immunization records on file, give an annual standardized test.

5. Most are white, Christian, and affluent.