Enrolment in French Immersion in Peel will soon be left to chance

The decision of the Peel District School Board (PDSB) on Tuesday evening (September 25th, 2012) to place a cap on all Grade 1 French Immersion programs, at 25% of total Grade 1 enrolment, and to reduce the amount of French instructional time to 50%, comes as a tremendous blow to parents and students. Effective September 2013, parents will be subjected to a lottery system to determine if their child will be among the lucky ones to hold a coveted French Immersion spot. The PDSB agreed to a “grandfather” clause that ensures siblings of existing French Immersion students will be among those selected but all others will have to hope their names gets pulled.

Rima Koleilat, a representative of the CPF Mississauga West Chapter and first generation Canadian, stated “the ability to communicate in the two official languages of our country is a source of pride, part of our identity and heritage as Canadians”. Add to this very real sentiment, the undisputed cognitive benefits of learning another language and the advantages this brings to children in today’s global community, and it is no surprise that program enrolment has grown. “It is reasonable to expect that all students should have access to the French Immersion program. Becoming bilingual should be a right not a fight!" says Heather Stauble, President of CPF Ontario.

Citing staffing, the introduction of full‐day kindergarten and accommodation challenges as the contributing factors, the PDSB’s final decision also includes a reduction in the daily amount of French language instruction from 85% to 50% in Grade 1.

“School boards receive funding for these programs through Federal‐Provincial agreements that call for an increase in enrolment.” added Stauble. “They need to find ways to maintain the intensity and integrity of the program and address the staffing issues without cutting instructional time or capping. It can be done. Other school boards are facing the same challenges and they are doing it.”

The strength and success of early immersion programs lies in children acquiring a competent level of comprehension of the French language in the early years through “immersing” them in high intensity, front‐end loaded programs, prior to the introduction of more complex subjects that will be taught in French. Its own environmental scan comparing the PDSB’s French Immersion program against nine other school boards revealed that six of them offer 100% French from SK or Grade 1; one offers 90% in Grade 1; with all of those programs continuing with at least 70% French language instruction to Grade 3. “As of September 2013, the PDSB will be offering the weakest French Immersion model in the province, in terms of program intensity” says Stauble.

CPF Ontario is calling on all French Second Language stakeholders to work together at the school board, provincial and federal levels toward more creative and strategic solutions that will ensure access to quality French Immersion programs throughout the province to meet the growing demand.

Canadian Parents for French (CPF) is the national network of 25,000 members that values French as an integral part of Canada and is dedicated to the promotion and creation of French Second Language learning opportunities for young Canadians.

Information:
Heather Stauble, President Betty Gormley, Executive Director (en Français)
Canadian Parents for French (Ontario) Canadian Parents for French (Ontario)
Tel.: 703‐277‐3402 Tel.: 905‐601‐2957
E‐mail: hstauble@cpfont.on.ca; E‐mail: bgormley@cpfont.on.ca
Website: www.cpfont.on.ca

Tips from Experienced Parents

• Get to know your child’s French teacher. Discuss the program and find out what you and your child can expect.

• Encourage your child to talk about his experiences in class. What project is he working on? What does he enjoy the most? Maybe even get you to teach you some French.

• If your child is taking an intensive French Program, he may need extra encouragement in the first few weeks or months. He will learn to understand the teacher quite quickly, but speaking, reading and writing skills will take longer. Some frustration is normal at first.

• Encourage activities that develop language skills and help to bring French alive for your child.

• Become a member of Canadian Parents for French.

For more tips and support from experienced parents, read Canadian Parents for French (CPF) newsletters, attend local Chapter meetings and CPF conferences, and surf CPF’s website (http://www.cpf.on.ca)

Source: Helping Your Child Become bilingual: A Toolkit for CPF Members, p7, CPF.

What if...?

• If homework sessions become long and frustrating, investigate the cause. It could mean that your child is having to catch up on work that was to be completed at school, but was not, because of inattention of some other cause. It could mean that the child is not making the best use of study time and needs some help with strategies for attaching the task at hand. It could mean that the work is beyond his/her level. Meet with the teacher and resource personnel to discuss your concerns and ask for some help crating ways of helping the child to develop good work and study habits, both in school and at home.

• If the child gets bored and irritable, he may be hitting the books too hard and too often. Don't let homework be the child's only evening experience.

• Too many nights out of the home, in team sports or other activities, is just as tiring, debilitating and stress producing as spending too many nights doing only homework. Try to create a balance that suites your life and the child's interested but still gets the assignments done on time and makes sure that the child is prepared for all scheduled tests.

• If a child's whole home time is spent on nothing but television and video or computer games, however, their creative juices may just dry up. This passive form of entertainment does little to make them thinking, communicating beings. Try to inject a little non-TV time into their free time, with the opportunity for some physical activity and scope for imagination.

Source: K. Burt- past Modern Languages Coordinator, Delta SD, How can you help your French Immersion Child at Home?

Homework in French...but I don't speak French!

How Can I Help?

Many parents either have a limited background in French or do not speak the language at all. If this is the case for you, don't feel alarmed! The most important factor in your child’s success will be your encouragement and the positive support you are able to give your child. You should make homework a top priority at home; assignments should take no more than 30 minutes to complete each night at the elementary level, not including daily reading of 15 minutes each night.

Provide praise and support, and contact your child’s French teacher if you notice a problem. You and your child's teacher must work together as a team that is committed to your child's progress. The secret to building and maintaining that relationship is through communication. Remember, if a child is having problems in the French program they would likely be having the same problems in the English program. Find out what these problems are and address them immediately!

French immersion parents can help with homework, too. The difference in language can be daunting, but the purpose is still the same...the attitude of the child to homework is influenced by the parents. If homework is seen as an arduous task, or a punishment for not finishing in class, it will become a negative experience. You, as parents, should encourage a positive attitude towards homework; if you are positive they will more than likely follow your lead and enjoy the experience of a second language, even at difficult times.

What can parents do:

1. You can start by establishing a good rapport with your child's immersion teacher in a spirit of collaboration and support. Discuss with the teacher and the child the reason for homework - most teachers will have an information session at the beginning of the year. Ask what to expect in homework and how much.

2. Ensure your child has a quiet, well-lit place to work, away from the TV and distractions.

3. Treat homework as your child's responsibility, with yourself as a helper, if needed. Try to encourage your child to use the dictionary - an excellent resource to have.

4. At home, your child should be free to read for pleasure in French or in English and encouraged to talk about his/her experiences at school. Showing interest in what your child is doing at school and providing encouragement and support is of the utmost importance.

5. You can help by sitting with your children and encouraging them to complete their work. This will help your child in the short and long run. It is particularly easy to work with your child in math, social studies, science or art because they can be done in English at home.

6. Discuss with your child the rules of studying; lay down and STICK to the rules and consequences for poorly done or undone homework. Know the teacher’s rules and try to reinforce them.

7. Set a regular period for homework to be completed - emphasize the fact that if the homework is completed first, the rest of the day is theirs.

8. Be interested in the work your child has accomplished...notebooks, worksheets, especially quizzes and tests...develop a system for remembering assignments and test dates so you can both plan for them.

Source: Canadian Parents for French, Help your Child with Homework

http://www.cpf.bc.ca/site3/index.php/parents/how-can-i-help-my-child

Helpful hints when it's all in French!

Homework

Homework has three main purposes:

• to finish work not completed in school;

• to provide practice and extension of concepts presented in class;

• to allow for student preparation in upcoming class lessons.

Early in the school year, you should find out what the expected amount of homework will be in your child’s class from his/her classroom teacher. Teachers are sensitive to the content of the homework which is sent home. Teachers outline the expectations of homework assignments in order for the students to successfully complete them.

Practical Tips for Providing a Successful Study Environment for Your Child

Preparation:

Schedule time for homework or studying. Provide a quiet secluded place with:

• good overhead lighting;

• a firm chair and table or desk;

• no distractions;

• no radio or TV!

Hints:

Your child should know that homework starts at school and by LISTENING to the teacher’s instructions, he/she will know:

• WHAT to do;

• WHEN the assignment is due;

• WHERE to get information;

• HOW to write the project.

Your child can:

• review notes and relevant textbook sections;

• correct mistakes;

• make a study outline.

Source: Central Ontario East Consultants’ Association, French Immersion Handbook For Parents

http://amherstviewps.limestone.on.ca/documents/french_immersion_handbook.pdf

How do I support my child in French Immersion?

Here are some suggestions for parents:

• be positive about the program and the teacher;

• show interest in your child’s daily activities;

• check newsletters for special events;

• check backpack or agenda for homework;

• communicate with teachers your concerns, questions or suggestions;

• listen to your child read in French and English;

• read daily to your child in English;

• access French books, subscriptions, tapes, games, software, videos,

television and radio;

• Check out the resources page of My French Club's website

• purchase a French/English dictionary for home.

Source: Central Ontario East Consultants’ Association, French Immersion Handbook For Parents

http://amherstviewps.limestone.on.ca/documents/french_immersion_handbook.pdf

How do I help with his French Homework?

This is a recurring question that we get from parents. The French Immersion program is catered to parents whose first language is not French. So because parents cannot understand the homework given to their children, teachers usually review the questions and explain the concept before sending the kids home with the homework.

Some suggestions that could be helpful are:

-To have different tools available at home such as an English-French dictionary, a Bescherell which is a book listing a verb conjugation manual and a French spell-check option on the word processing program.

-Encourage having a French reading buddy. Your child could meet after school or call a classmate to read together, to practice a dialogue or even to clarify the homework instructions

-Reading in your mother tongue or in English is very important. The skills of reading will transfer into French. We encourage parents to enjoy a nice book together, imagining the end of the story, writing about it. Reading should be enjoyable and would create a bonding experience between the parent and the child

Source: Central Ontario East Consultants’ Association, French Immersion Handbook For Parents

http://amherstviewps.limestone.on.ca/documents/french_immersion_handbook.pdf