Month: June 2026

June is a different kind of teaching. Schedules change constantly, students are excited for summer, and attention spans are much shorter than they were earlier in the year. This is usually when I lean even more into hands-on learning.   Honestly, it just works better in June. Students are usually more engaged when they are doing something instead of sitting for long periods of time. Simple centres, games, movement activities, and building tasks tend to hold their attention much longer than worksheets or longer written activities. I also find hands-on learning helps support a wider range of learners. Some students are happy to speak, some prefer drawing or building, and some just need movement to stay focused. Giving students different ways to participate makes a big difference this time of year.   One of the biggest reasons I keep using hands-on activities in June is because the routines are already…

June in Kindergarten is busy. Between reports, assemblies, special events, and excitement about summer, routines get harder to hold. You do not need anything elaborate to get through it. Low-prep, hands-on activities are usually what work best this time of year. Here are a few that hold up well in French class: 1. Building activities Open-ended building centres work really well in June. Students stay engaged because there is a clear task but lots of freedom. I like using building challenges where students recreate landmarks or structures using blocks or loose parts. You can easily connect it to French by adding vocabulary labels or simple prompts during French days (for example, naming shapes, materials, or describing what they built). It is simple, hands-on, and keeps students working without constant direction.   2. Outdoor learning  If you can get outside, keep it simple. Use the space for easy French learning through…

June is busy. Students are done routines, attention is inconsistent, and French can easily feel like one more thing to manage. You do not need new or complicated lessons to get through it. What works best right now is sticking with routines students already know. If they know how centres run, how rotations work, and what the expectations are, you can keep things moving without reteaching everything. Familiar activities with small changes are enough. Swap the vocabulary set, change the theme to summer, or reuse a centre with a different focus. The structure stays the same, so students stay independent. Movement helps a lot at this point in the year. Anything that gets students up and doing something in French tends to go better than sit-and-work tasks. Matching activities, scavenger hunts, or simple partner questions work well because they are active but still focused. If you are using centres, keep…