Merci beaucoup!
I would like to begin by extending a huge "merci beaucoup" to my parents/guardians of my French students. Without your constant support of your child, the Glacier High School French Program would not be what it is today. Bravo à vous!
I have told my students that even though my desire to learn French originally stemmed from wanting to make fun of my brother without him knowing (a fact that is slightly embarrassing!), without my parents teaching me French in the long car rides during our summer vacations I truly don't think I would be where I am today. Whatever your child's reasoning for taking French, below you will find some helpful ideas to continue to support your child during their language learning process. No French required!
You are also welcome to sign up for text message updates from me as well. Please contact me for information about signing up!
Top 5 Excuses Why Parents/Guardians Don’t Want to Get Involved in the Process of Learning A Language
1. It’s better if my child just learns it on their own.
2. My child won’t really learn it if I help him or her.
3. I don’t understand French anyway.
4. I’m too busy.
5. I’m too tired.
Children whose parents/guardians have positive attitudes toward learning French tend to do better in French; support and encouragement are the biggest factors not knowing how to speak the language. Remember, you are proud of their ability to speak French.
Top 10 Things to Do to Help Your Student Be Successful in French during the School Year
1. Create open, regular lines of communication with your child’s French teacher (that's me!) and share your enthusiasm about the teaching and learning of French.
2. Celebrate success! Hang up artwork and projects. Super grades, good ones, decent ones, daily triumphs should get just as many cheers as athletic or artistic triumphs. If you are interested in the results (every day, not just at the end of the quarter), your child will be too.
3. Ask your child what they learned in French class and what they liked the most. Doing this will help your child to reinforce their knowledge and understanding of the language, and they will probably feel special playing the part of the teacher.
4. Offer to help your child study for French tests.
5. Volunteer in the classroom. Parents can listen to students count, read, sing, or tell stories in French. Parents can also help with bulletin boards, fund-raising for the international language program, or talk about experiences and trips to Francophone countries.
6. Talk to other parents, teachers, and or administrators about bringing native French speakers to talk to the students in the French classes.
7. Volunteer to organize a career day that features jobs that use skills in more than one language
8. Donate prizes such as dictionaries, French books, and monetary prizes to present to deserving students at the end of the year or graduations.
9. Ask your child’s French teacher for resources that he or she might be able to use at home.
Frequently parents/guardians are concerned as to how they can help their child in a foreign language when they have had little or no contact with the language. Please be aware that learning, acquiring and retaining a foreign language takes time spent outside of class. One way is to ask your child to show you actual homework/class work assignments and to explain/ tell you what phrases and sentences mean. Another way to help your child is to encourage him/her to speak and to take risks with the language. Practice with him/her and encourage their interest in an endeavor that is quite challenging, exciting and worthwhile. In addition to monitoring the online grading program (Power School) for parents/guardians, please be informed and look for grade notifications (progress reports) and report cards that will be sent home with students.
Maintaining contact with both my students and parents/guardians is a top priority in my French classroom. Traditional methods such as stopping by my classroom (appointments required, please!), calling me, or sending me an email are, of course, appropriate and encouraged. I have also provided a website that I will update on a weekly basis to inform students and parents/guardians of the happenings of French class. This website also provides helpful links/information if your student is struggling. Be on the lookout for postcards, emails, or other news from French class as the year progresses!
I have told my students that even though my desire to learn French originally stemmed from wanting to make fun of my brother without him knowing (a fact that is slightly embarrassing!), without my parents teaching me French in the long car rides during our summer vacations I truly don't think I would be where I am today. Whatever your child's reasoning for taking French, below you will find some helpful ideas to continue to support your child during their language learning process. No French required!
You are also welcome to sign up for text message updates from me as well. Please contact me for information about signing up!
Top 5 Excuses Why Parents/Guardians Don’t Want to Get Involved in the Process of Learning A Language
1. It’s better if my child just learns it on their own.
2. My child won’t really learn it if I help him or her.
3. I don’t understand French anyway.
4. I’m too busy.
5. I’m too tired.
Children whose parents/guardians have positive attitudes toward learning French tend to do better in French; support and encouragement are the biggest factors not knowing how to speak the language. Remember, you are proud of their ability to speak French.
Top 10 Things to Do to Help Your Student Be Successful in French during the School Year
1. Create open, regular lines of communication with your child’s French teacher (that's me!) and share your enthusiasm about the teaching and learning of French.
2. Celebrate success! Hang up artwork and projects. Super grades, good ones, decent ones, daily triumphs should get just as many cheers as athletic or artistic triumphs. If you are interested in the results (every day, not just at the end of the quarter), your child will be too.
3. Ask your child what they learned in French class and what they liked the most. Doing this will help your child to reinforce their knowledge and understanding of the language, and they will probably feel special playing the part of the teacher.
4. Offer to help your child study for French tests.
5. Volunteer in the classroom. Parents can listen to students count, read, sing, or tell stories in French. Parents can also help with bulletin boards, fund-raising for the international language program, or talk about experiences and trips to Francophone countries.
6. Talk to other parents, teachers, and or administrators about bringing native French speakers to talk to the students in the French classes.
7. Volunteer to organize a career day that features jobs that use skills in more than one language
8. Donate prizes such as dictionaries, French books, and monetary prizes to present to deserving students at the end of the year or graduations.
9. Ask your child’s French teacher for resources that he or she might be able to use at home.
Frequently parents/guardians are concerned as to how they can help their child in a foreign language when they have had little or no contact with the language. Please be aware that learning, acquiring and retaining a foreign language takes time spent outside of class. One way is to ask your child to show you actual homework/class work assignments and to explain/ tell you what phrases and sentences mean. Another way to help your child is to encourage him/her to speak and to take risks with the language. Practice with him/her and encourage their interest in an endeavor that is quite challenging, exciting and worthwhile. In addition to monitoring the online grading program (Power School) for parents/guardians, please be informed and look for grade notifications (progress reports) and report cards that will be sent home with students.
Maintaining contact with both my students and parents/guardians is a top priority in my French classroom. Traditional methods such as stopping by my classroom (appointments required, please!), calling me, or sending me an email are, of course, appropriate and encouraged. I have also provided a website that I will update on a weekly basis to inform students and parents/guardians of the happenings of French class. This website also provides helpful links/information if your student is struggling. Be on the lookout for postcards, emails, or other news from French class as the year progresses!