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Have you ever watched a student “read” a page perfectly… only to realize they weren’t actually reading the words at all? If you’ve taught early French readers, you’ve likely seen it: the heavy reliance on pictures to guess at what the text might say. French reading comprehension isn't always as easy to teach as it seems! While picture clues can be helpful for language learners, they can also become a crutch—one that holds students back from developing real decoding and French reading comprehension skills. So how do we actually teach students to read and understand texts in French? Let’s talk about a powerful strategy that flips the script: removing the pictures entirely. Here’s why it works—and how you can start using it tomorrow. 🧩 Why Decoding Needs to Be the Priority When It Comes to French Reading Comprehension Reading is more than recognizing a few words—it’s the ability to decode new words using phonics knowledge and then make meaning from them. ...

Are Your French Literacy Centres Draining Your Time and Energy? If you’ve ever found yourself spending Sunday evenings scrolling Pinterest or cutting out last-minute centre cards, you’re not alone. Planning engaging, effective literacy centres in French can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re juggling everything else that comes with teaching primary. The truth is... your centres don’t need to be complicated to be powerful . In fact, simple, repeatable activities can actually lead to better student outcomes and a smoother classroom routine. Let’s take a look at how to simplify your French literacy centres while keeping them fresh, fun, and aligned to your students’ needs—all year long. 1. Why Simplicity = Success in French Centres It’s tempting to constantly search for “the next new activity” to keep things exciting. But for our youngest learners, repetition and routine are your best friends. Simple centres that use familiar structures help stude...

Ever feel like your students just aren’t speaking enough French during the day? You’re not alone. As French teachers, we know that oral communication is one of the most important (and most difficult!) skills to build, especially in primary grades. Our students need consistent opportunities to hear, say, and play with French words in a meaningful way. But with everything on your plate, adding something new to your routine, like a French word of the day routine, might feel overwhelming. Here’s the good news: Building oral language doesn’t have to be time-consuming. In fact, with the right 5-minute routine , you can set your students up for success and make French speaking a natural part of every day. Let me show you how! 🗣️ Why Daily French Oral Practice Matters If students don’t use it, they lose it. Simple as that. For many of our young learners, French isn’t spoken at home, which means the time they spend in your classroom is critical for developing spe...