One Teacher's Adventures

The number one question I get asked by colleagues and customers is "How do you structure your Core French blocks?" Because it is such a common request, I thought I'd share it here. In my middle school, our blocks are 52 minutes long. I try to fit in some opportunity for students to speak, listen to, read, and write French in every block, but it doesn't always work out that way for timing purposes. If I don't have time and have to cut something, I make sure that I never cut out speaking. I want my students to speak French every single day. Here is a sample structure for a typical middle school French block: 1.      Date and Weather report (2-3 minutes) a.     The first unit I teach in Core French is weather and calendar. This allows for all the students to have familiar vocabulary and framework so that we can start every day with a brief weather report. I will welcome the students in French and tell them the date, then I ask “Quel temps fait-il?” and ask f...

  Back to School time is just around the corner for us here in BC. For my FSL classes, I like to start the year off with a study (or review) of basic greetings and introductions. That way, we can get to know each other and speak French at the same time. Here is a free FSL greetings and introductions packet that can be used with beginner French students or as a review for those kids who may need a reminder after the summer break! Click on the picture to get this free packet! How do you like to begin your year in FSL? Let me know in the comments! Looking for more great tips and ideas for middle school? Subscribe to my email list and receive an exclusive FREE sub plans resource. It includes plans for math, ELA, science, social studies, and Core French. Click  here  to subscribe.

  French is one of my favourite subjects to teach, especially at the Middle School level. In BC, students begin taking French in Grade 5. When I get them in Grade 6, they have an initial understanding of vocabulary, and it's amazing to see how much growth can occur in just one year. Last year, my class was so excited in February to be reading (and understanding) this French text during our study of Francophone communities in Canada. This text comes from the TpT store Les Ressources de Mme Bedard Here are 10 tried and true activities and games that can bring some variety and fun to your FSL classroom! 1. Question du Jour (Question of the Day) What? (purpose of the activity) This activity gives a low-stress way for every student to speak French everyday, practice asking and answering questions, and connect letter patterns with pronunciation. How? (steps) Create a question.  I like to ask questions that fit in with the theme of the unit we’re studying at the time. I usually ...

I don't know about your students, but mine don't especially love taking down notes!  I don't love notes, either, but they can be a great tool for studying and review if they are set up in a user-friendly way.   For French vocabulary review, I like to set up the notes as a French-English dictionary.  The students use a notebook and dedicate one page for each letter of the alphabet.  I like Hilroy 32-page exercise books because I can pick them up at Walmart the week before school starts for only $0.05 each!  To jazz up the booklets, you can glue on a simple cover. I spend the first class setting up the book with my students.  I use three columns:  ENGLISH WORD   I set the alphabet by English word, as it makes it easier for the students to find what they are looking for. FRENCH WORD I have my students include an article for all nouns to help them remember the gender of the noun. WORD TYPE  I ask my students...

I'm excited to share two free Core French projects that align with the new BC Curriculum for Grade 6-8! Francophone Communities Across Canada Project The first fits in with Grade 6 and Grade 7.  It is a Francophone Communities Across Canada Research Project.   Grade 6 BC Curriculum Connections: Big Idea Learning about Francophone communities helps us develop cultural awareness. Content Students are expected to know the following: There are many Francophone and Francophone Métis communities across Canada Basic information about a Francophone or Francophone Métis community in Canada Curricular Competencies Students  are expected to be able to do the following: Demonstrate awareness of Francophone and Francophone Métis communities across Canada Recognize that some Francophone communities are connected to First Peoples communities Identify and share information about a Francophone community in Canada Grad...

Today, I'd like to share two new Beginner French resources with you. 1. Les Passe-Temps Unit This unit is all about hobbies!  It includes vocabulary lists, vocabulary puzzles and games, verb conjugation notes for pouvoir (to be able to) and vouloir (to want to), speaking and listening activities, reading and writing activities, and a section to talk about frequency (time)!  It's perfect for Grades 4-7!                     2. La Nourriture Unit This includes a huge vocabulary list with 50 basic food words! It is full of fruits, vegetables, meats, and other staple vocabulary terms.   The unit also includes vocabulary games and puzzles, presentations, a grocery flyer reading activity, verb notes for the verbs manger (to eat) and boire (to drink), an interview activity, and a survey!            ...

I've just finished my newest French unit for TpT.  This unit is designed for beginner students (Grades 4-7) and would be a great way to start off your year!   This complete unit includes reading, writing, speaking, and listening activities.   You'll get: -Vocabulary list -Create your own flash cards activity -Vocabulary crossword with answer key -Vocabulary quiz with answer key -Fill-in-the-blanks activity with answer key -5 pages of être activities (present tense, positive and negative formation, with answer keys) -Place prepositions vocabulary (dans, devant, derrière, près, etc.) -Preposition listening activity with variation ideas for differentiation -Reading activity (dans mon sac a dos, il y a...) -School dialogue activity Click here to download! If you don't need the whole unit, you can buy pieces of it separately.  Click on the pictures below for more information.

Most of my Grade 8's don't love French class.  I think it's because they didn't get enough exposure to it in their Grade 5-7 years and by Grade 8, they are supposed to know a lot more than they actually know.   I try to make it fun and interesting for them, as I LOVE teaching French, but it wasn't working in my favour until I tried Verb Race.   We've been working on regular verbs since September, but the kids are still stuck on the conjugations.  A lot of my kids play sports, so I decided to turn practicing verbs into a competition.   I split my kids up into two teams.  On the white board, I wrote the personal pronouns je, tu, il, elle, nous, vous, ils, elles for both teams and a space for them to translate the verbs. One at a time, each team had to run up to the board and fill in one of the spaces.  They could either translate the verb or conjugate it for one of the pronouns.  The team who completed the relay first, with...