Month: September 2025

Stepping into a support role this year has completely shifted how I see teaching French in early years classrooms. Instead of leading one class, I’ve been moving between spaces, working with different teachers and learners, and seeing how French instruction actually looks day-to-day. And while it’s been an adjustment (hello, rolling bins and schedule juggling!), it’s also been incredibly eye-opening. Here are five things I’ve learned so far that have changed how I think about teaching French—especially when time is short, confidence is low, or fluency isn’t fluent. 1. Simplicity Is Powerful You don’t need complicated units or flashy routines to teach French well. What I see working best are simple, consistent tools: vocabulary cards, sentence stems, songs with movement, and repeated daily structures. When teachers focus on repetition and clarity (instead of perfection), students thrive—and so do the adults teaching them. 2. Visuals Aren’t a Crutch—They’re Essential In a…

Did you know? Ripping paper is a surprisingly powerful way to build fine motor skills.  When students tear paper, they’re strengthening the same fingers—thumb, index, and middle—that they’ll use for: ✍️ Writing🎨 Drawing📏 Precision-based tasks The best part? It’s easy to incorporate into your classroom, fairly mess-free, and students absolutely love it. How to Use Torn Paper in Your Classroom Sensory bins: Add strips of paper for students to tear and sort by color, size, or texture. Art projects: Encourage students to create collages or seasonal art with torn pieces. Vocabulary activities: Have students tear pieces of paper with words in English and French and match them to images or objects. Themed projects: Pair tearing paper with holidays, seasons, or classroom themes for extra engagement. Even small daily opportunities for tearing, rolling, or crumpling paper can make a big difference in hand strength and coordination Bonus If you’re a fan…

The first few weeks of school are all about building connections — between you and your students, and between students themselves. One of my favourite ways to set the tone for the year is with a bulletin board that makes every child feel seen and included. That’s exactly why I created my Back-to-School Bulletin Board Freebie — a simple, bilingual display you can set up in no time. What’s Included This free resource comes with: Editable Teacher Introduction – Share a little about yourself so students can start making connections from day one. Student Name Cards – Available in both French and English, so you can personalize for your class needs. Colourful, Inclusive Graphics – Bright, welcoming visuals to draw students in and spark conversation. Why I Love This for the First Week Low Prep – Print, cut, and post. That’s it. Student-Centred – The display is about them —…

If you’ve ever stood in front of your French class and thought, “Who am I to be teaching this?” — you are not alone. Imposter syndrome is common in education, but for non-fluent French teachers, it can feel especially overwhelming. I know this because I have been there. Even with years of teaching experience, when I stepped into the French classroom, I often felt like I didn’t belong — like someone was going to “find out” that my French wasn’t perfect and decide I wasn’t a real French teacher. But here’s the truth: being a good French teacher is about so much more than speaking perfect French. Mindset Shifts That Changed Everything You Don’t Need to Be Fluent to Be EffectiveYour value as a teacher comes from your ability to connect, engage, and create a learning environment where students feel safe to try — and make mistakes. That’s where language…