Homework Hints For French Immersion & Core French Parents

1. Homework Hints For French Immersion & Core French Parents Hosted by: Kristina, Nora, Jennifer & Debra Brian Council CPF Representatives

2. 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.

3. 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 Chapters CPF 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.

4. 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

5. I REALLY don’t understand the homework. What do I do? • Ensure a good homework routine in a conducive environment – No DISTRACTIONS!

6. 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?

7. 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.

8. 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!

9. 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

10. 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

11. READING

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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”

16. 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!

17. 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

18. 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!

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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