LEARNING HOW TO READ… IN A FRENCH IMMERSION CLASSROOM USING LA ROUE

THIS EVENING Introduction of Grade 1 teachers, Administration and Learning Resource Teachers. Presentation – Learning How to Read in a French Immersion Classroom using La Roue. Classroom Presentations – Parents proceed to their child’s classroom for La Roue explications, demonstrations and expectations.

« Les élèves inscrits à un programme d’immersion française doivent, dès leurs premières années, faire face à un double défi. Ils doivent non seulement apprendre une autre langue, mais aussi apprendre à maîtriser le processus de la lecture dans cette langue. » Students enrolled in a French immersion program must, in their early years, face a double challenge. They must not only learn another language, but also learn the process of reading in that language. (translation) Bournot-Trites, 2003.

THE ‘LA ROUE’ PROGRAM ‘La Roue’ is used by more than 3500 Francophone and French Immersion teachers across Canada to teach how to read and write in French. Regina Catholic Schools Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2 and Learning Resource teachers are trained by Lise Larouche. La Roue is a phonological based reading program.

5 COMPONENTS OF READING Phonemic Awareness identify words with Phonics accuracy and Fluency speed Vocabulary constructing meaning Comprehension Strategies once words are identified

PHONOLOGICAL AWARENESS Phonological awareness is the ability to recognize that words are made up of a variety of sound units (letters of the alphabet). As a child develops phonological awareness, he not only comes to understand that words are made up of small sound units (phonemes) but he also learns that words can be segmented into larger sound “chunks”. These are known as syllables and each syllable begin with a sound (onset) and ends with another sound (rime). Phonological awareness provides the basis for phonics. Phonics, the understanding that sounds and print letters are connected, is the first step towards the act we call reading.

GUIDED READING AND BENCHMARKING In grade 1, we Benchmark (summative reading assessments) in March and June.   Grade level Reading level Term 1 report card Term 2 Term 3 Grade 1 0 - 6 Not evaluated 3 6 Grade 2 5 - 13 5 9 12 Grade 3 12 - 19 15 18 Grade 4 18 - 24 20 23 Grade 5 23 - 27 24 26 Grade 6 26 - 30 28 30

HOW CAN PARENTS SUPPORT READING AT HOME? Encourage, praise, complement your child! Set up a routine for practicing reading at home. Practice makes perfect!

MY CHILD IS ‘NOT GETTING IT’ Every student learns at their own pace. It’s normal if your child becomes frustrated. However, if their frustrations begin to impact their self-estime, please contact the teacher. At school, we work very closely with our LRT’s to ensure the early identification of students experiencing difficulties. Early identification and early intervention have been found to maximize response to intervention and to help prevent reading difficulties altogether. With the LRT, learning will take place in a small group or one-on-one setting in and/or out of the classroom. The program focuses on implementing best practices and helping students become independent learners.

READING AT HOME At home, it is very important for your child to read out loud. This ensures that they are pronouncing the syllables and words correctly as well as improving fluency and confidence. Reading for 15 minutes in French every night is very important! From January to June, Guided Reading books (that are tailored specifically for your child’s reading level) will be sent home to supplement reading.

« HOW DO YOU SAY THAT IN ENGLISH? » In class, students learn French vocabulary by acting the word out, by drawing a picture of the word or by watching a video about the word. We will never say a word in French and then give the students the English translation. If you ask your child “What does that word mean in English?” they will most likely say “I don’t know”….because they honestly might not know what it means in English but they know what it means in French. If you would like to know what some of the vocabulary means, please look it up on your device (phone or computer) or a French-English dictionary.

READING IN ENGLISH? In Grade 3, French Immersion students will begin English Language Arts. Reading skills will transfer from one language to another. Read to your child at home in English…or in your native language!

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS