Presentation at the BCTLA in October 2015


I was honoured to be asked to present at the BCTLA conference in 2015.  I felt that I had been on my library journey long enough to share some of what I have learned about french immersion resources.

I titled my presentation: Developing an elementary French Immersion Learning Commons to promote literacy

My presentation covered: considerations when selecting french immersion resources, sources for book reviews (and how to adjust them for immersion), books and authors for students (students that start reading like to read series or authors), book resources for teachers ( to promote literacy, or sources of questions for literature circles).  Some of the information I have already shared in my blog.
My handout can be found on the BCTLA conference link above.

What I enjoyed the most was the sharing between the audience and myself.  When I introduced an idea, a number of the audience members shared their knowledge about the topic.  Ideas that were shared included: authors that were beloved in their school, other sites for book reviews and ways to encourage reading in french.

Thanks to the BCTLA for this opportunity!

À la recherche des livres autochtones!

To recognize the mix of students in my school I have been looking for books about Aboriginal people, that are written by Aboriginal authors or have a real representation of people of the First Nations of Canada.  One of my challenges is not to over-represent Inuit people but to find stories that are in a variety of environments.   Here is what I have found at this moment:

Book Publishers (Maisons d'Éditions)
Les Éditions soleil de minuit (http://www.editions-soleildeminuit.com/index.html)
Pemmican Publishers  (http://pemmican.websites.ca/Home.page) (~7 French children's titles)
Éditions Hurbubise (books by Michel Noel)
Les Éditions Cornac (http://editionscornac.com/index.php)
Scholastic Canada (several titles e.g. Lune d'érable, Les bas du pennsonait)
Pearson (leveled reader series "L'échos de l'île de la tortue")(http://www.lesechosdeliledelatortue.com/index.html)

Booksellers (Librairies):
Good Minds (www.goodminds.com) (many choices)
Strong nations (few French choices)
Scholastic Canada (quelques titres )
Librarie Pantoute (editions Hannenorak et Cronac)
Librairie Hannenorak (http://fr-fr.facebook.com/pages/Caf%C3%A9-librairie-Hannenorak/124973337528981)

Language Webpage:

First Voices (French and English) http://www.firstvoices.com/fr/home

Some suggested titles for French immersion students

read aloud's primary

• Entre dans la Grande Ronde par David Bouchard
• La Quete Spirituelle de Petit Ours par Diane Silvey (coastal BC) (has an English teachers guide)
• La ceinture fléchée par Sylvain Rivard (trilingual) Les editions Hannenorak

read aloud's intermediate:

• La piroque de Shin-chi par Nicola Campbell (residential school) and the sequel Shi-shi-etko
• all David Bouchard's picture books  e.g. Nokum, ma voix et mon Coeur
• Tant que couleront les rivières by Larry Loyie (Northern Prairies)

individual reading: grades (1)- 2

• Le corbeau est noir by Brenda Watson (B.C.), from Les Éditions soleil de minuit (14 other titles)
• tri-lingual books Wabanaki Series by Bouton d'Or Acadie; e.g. Le Roi de Glace by Allison Mitcham
• leveled reader series L'échos de l'île de la tortue (Pearson)

 

grades 3-4 

• - Michel Noel - les Papinachois (Abernaq - Ontario) (series de 8 titres)  (Dominique et compagnie) 
• - 6 titles in series "les loups rouges" (Wendat - Quebec) e.g. Le petit aigle et l'enfant par Johanne Laframboise; Natanis par Christine Sioui Wawanoloath. (now Les Éditions Cornac)
• - leveled reader series L'échos de l'île de la tortue (Pearson)

 intermediate:

• Louis, fils des Prairies (Metis) par Noelie Palud-Pelletier
• Tant que couleront les rivières par Larry Loyie (Northern Prairies)
• Les bas du pennsonait (Fatty legs) and its sequel ...par  Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton