## Step 1 - Reading

First day at school
You are going to read a text about Katy who tells about her experiences at a new school.

- Read the text.
- Do assignment 1.
- Do assignment 2.
- Do assignment 3.

My experiences starting secondary school The new school term has begun and lots of you have gone to secondary school for the first time. In her report Press Packer Katy shares her experiences of starting secondary school and offers some useful advice. "I started a new school a year ago and I can't believe how quickly the year went! I wasn't that nervous on my first day, I was really looking forward to it. I knew a bit about what to expect because I had an older sister at the same school. It will be fine! For anyone who's starting a new school, don't worry. The stories that you hear aren't usually true - I don't know anyone who's been bog-washed! I've met lots of new people and made loads of new friends since I started. I thought the work would suddenly get really hard but it was just like primary school really. I also thought that I'd be flooded with homework but the amount I got in my first year was quite easy to handle. Katy's tips Here's my advice for anyone who's worried about going to a new school: Relax and think about all the positives of moving to secondary school Don't be shy, introduce yourself to people! Be yourself, don't try to brag because people might think you're big-headed Good luck!" Katy, 13, Edinburgh bron: CBBC Newsround

#### Assignment 3

You have now read the text and have had a look at difficult words.
The meanings of three of the difficult words will be discussed here.
You are going to try to guess the meaning of a word from its context (numbers 1 and 2) and you are going to try to look up the meaning of an informal word that is not present in standard dictionaries (number 3).
Discuss with your partner what the meanings of the words in bold in numbers 1 and 2 could be. It does not matter if you do not know the precise meaning, but being able to guess what words more or less mean will help you with your reading skills!

1. I also thought that I'd be flooded with homework but the amount I got in my first year was quite easy to handle.

2. Be yourself, don't try to brag because people might think you're big-headed.

The following sentence (number 3) is an example of informal language.
You will not find this word in standard dictionaries. How can you find out what it means then? Try to have a look at what both parts of the word ('bog' and 'washed') mean in a dictionary and discuss with a partner what you think 'bog-washed' means.

3. The stories that you hear aren't usually true - I don't know anyone who's been bog-washed!