Homework Hints For French Immersion & Core French Parents

Hosted by: Kristina, Nora, Jennifer & Debra

Brian Council CPF Representatives

What is CPF and why are we doing this workshop?

CPF was founded in 1977 by parents who wanted to ensure that children would have the opportunity to become bilingual in the Canadian school system. Originally a small group of concerned parents who met in Ottawa, CPF has evolved into a proactive national network with 11 Branch offices and some 170 Chapters in communities coast to coast.

In Canadian Parents for French we value commitment to our mandate, the acquisition and dissemination of knowledge, and the taking of initiative and responsibility so that we achieve credibility and effectiveness.

The Role of the Chapter – “Toronto North”

Chapters help strengthen French-as-a-second (FSL) language education in Ontario by: distributing information about FSL education in their communities

working to support local FSL programs

encouraging and sponsoring extracurricular French experiences for young people.

Benefits to ChaptersCPF Ontario provides support for its Chapters including:

• grants to help support French activities ie,$400-$600 for French Performances at Brian in 2009 & 2010

• 65% of the revenue generated from each membership fee goes back to the Chapter

• access to CPF Ontario's knowledgeable staff and network of volunteers

• sponsoring Chapter representatives to conferences and training sessions

• provides copies of CPF publications and brochures to promote FSL and CPF programs.

The French Immersion Lesson

Nothing is REALLY new

The lesson is taught slowly and carefully, with pre-reading and writing discussions to introduce vocabulary and sentence structures

Students do exercises as a class first, followed by group and/or individual work

Homework is often unfinished class work, or just a review of the classroom work

Teachers know most parents don’t speak French and assign homework that can be done independently

Often time for research is provided in class so the school library can be used

I REALLY don’t understand the homework. What do I do?

Ensure a good homework routine in a conducive environment – No DISTRACTIONS!

I REALLY don’t understand the homework. What do I do?

Get the child to call a friend/classmate

Ensure a good effort is made

Use the agenda to communicate with the teacher

Use a dictionary (avoid website translations of longer phrases and texts)

Ask the child to “think back”. What did he/she do in class? What did the teacher say?

Expectations: Dos and DON’Ts

Don’t expect your child to do perfect word for word translations, even in high-school

Don’t compare your child to other children in other classes. Though the curriculum is the same, concepts may be taught in a different order

Do compare how your child is doing today compared to last week or last month.

Expectations: Dos and DON’Ts

Do expect your child to explain to you in English what she is learning or reading, or watching on French TV

Don’t worry – NOT knowing French can give you an edge in getting your child to think for himself!

Other homework tips

Ask your child about the classroom routine

Discuss homework expectations with the teacher

Stay ahead of the game - know what is being covered in class and help prepare your child by working with the themes and skills at home in your native language

Look at the work posted in and around the classroom & check your child’s agenda daily to become familiar with the curriculum

READING

Develop a love of reading

Model reading at home

Skills transfer -Read with your child in your native language - you don’t need to read in French – (That’s the teachers’ job)

Reading is not just about the sounds of letters, or pronunciation of words – it’s also about reading for meaning and making connections to experiences – (literacy workshop)

Most importantly: praise your child to create a pleasant feeling

READING

What if my child’s book is in French?

Have the child read the book in French orally

Have your child explain the story in your native language

Try to figure out meaning from pictures

Start with the cover of the book

Ask a lot of predicting questions and clarifying questions

If the book is French, con’t…

Have your child go through the sequencing of the book – “Then what happened?”

Have your child teach you some French words

An opportunity to take out a French dictionary

Ask your child why he/she chose the book

Play word games (count the words, find a word that…)

Use word families and context to guess meanings for unknown words

WRITING & SPELLING

Keep a French journal (picture + text)

Write a short storybook for fun

Copy sentences from a published book and draw your own pictures

Do crosswords, word search or other vocabulary & spelling games

Play hangman using old vocabulary lists provided by teachers

SPEAKING & LISTENING

Watch videos or TV in French

listen to French radio

Look into French camps

Get a tutor/babysitter to play in French

Invite a classmate over and role-play in French, ie. French restaurant, “Boutique Chez Nous”

Other ways to support & encourage French at home and in the community

Support literacy in your first language

Visit French section of your library

Join CPF – www.cpf.ca

Buy French computer programs

Discuss class ‘themes’ in your own language –know the curriculum and stay ahead

Look at labels on packages – which French words do you know?

FRENCH BONUS TIME Give an extra 15-20 minutes of computer games, TV or reading time before bed IF IT’S DONE IN FRENCH!

MATH & SCIENCE

Concepts in Math and Science transfer easily. Help your child in your own language

Word problems are not as easy, but try getting your child to draw a picture to illustrate the problem

In Canada many governments and businesses publish material (brochures and websites) in French, often for free. For example: Health Canada, WWF, PetroCanada

www.fr.wikipedia.org

Learn French yourself!

Books, CD audio programs are available at the library

Buy French language learning software

http://www.openculture.com/freelanguagelessons

A variety of courses are available online or language schools – Why not sign up with a friend?

Get your kids to teach you a few words here and there While making dinner, ask them the French names for the

different foods While talking about sports, ask them for French verbs, ie.

Kick, run, jump, etc… Make it a goal to learn 5-10 new words a week!

French Dictionaries & Resource Books

For 6 to 8 year olds:

Le Robert Benjamin, by Edition Nord Americain, 1997, published in Montreal by Dicorobert Inc.

For Grade 3 and up: Le Visuel Junior, Edition Quebec Amerique, 1993 French to English

dictionary Le Robert Junior Illustre, Dicorobert Inc., 1994 Larousse de Poche, Larousse Maison, 1994 French to English dictionary Multi-Dictionnaire de la Langue Francaise, Quebec Amerique, 1998 by

Marie-eva De illers (Grade 5 and up) Bescherelle – Verb conjugations (Grade 4 and up) French Atlas Consider getting a French CD-ROM encyclopaedia or check online

www.fr.wikipedia.org

French sources in the neighbourhood

Local libraries – Pleasantview Fairview North York Central

Book Stores & Educational Supplies Chapters – Indigo (Bayview & Sheppard)

www.chapters.indigo.ca Scholar’s Choice - 5851 Yonge St (@ Cummer)

www.scholarschoice.ca Sonchu Educational Supplies - 448 McNicoll Ave. (@ Tempo -

between DVP & Victoria Park) www.sonsuh.com

Pleasantview Community Centre – French Activities and Games Thursdays 6-7pm @ Blessed Kateri CS

THANK YOU!

We hope that you found this information to be useful.

Remember that you are NOT alone!

Benefits of Becoming a CPF Member: 65% of your membership fee goes back to your local Chapter

to help support programs and activities in your area. You will receive CPF's 30-page booklet for members: Helping Your Child Become Bilingual: A Tool Kit for Parents, plus informative National and Ontario newsletters, have access to research and to staff who can answer questions on FSL issues and get discounts at CPF Sponsored Events. The Branch and local Chapters actively advocate at the provincial government and school board level for continued support and improvement to FSL education.  

www.cpf.ca OR www.cpfont.on.ca