Creative Writing Contest

We have been working on raps and poetry in French class since the middle of December, and I have been very impressed with the work that the students have been doing.  We started working on class raps, then moved on to writing raps in groups, then to partners.  Now students are starting to work on individual raps and poems, and every time I read them, I am blown away by the quality of their work.

So, yesterday, when Mrs. Will was talking to the teachers about the guidelines for the Creative Writing Contest, I suddenly thought "Why can't the students turn in French poems or raps?"  

So here's your challenge, Lee Academy.  The Creative Writing Contest deadline is fast approaching (Monday, 16 April).  If you would like to write a rap or poem to submit, come see me at snack recess (Days 1, 3, 4) or lunch recess (Days 2, 3, 4), and we can see what sorts of amazing poems you can write - en français, bien sûr!

Décris la photo

We did one of my favourite activities in class today: "Décris la photo", or "Describe the picture" for you non-French speakers out there.

This is an activity suggested by the program that I use, in which I can show the kids images from the plays that we study, and get them to describe it.  We do this a lot in class, and the students get very good at it!  So I like to change it up by showing the students some more thought-provoking images.  Today, I showed the Grade Sixes the following image:

The kids then set to work telling me what they saw, what they thought was happening and finally, asking questions about what was happening in the photo.  Along the way, we had a discussion about the Occupy movement and about protests in general - ENTIRELY IN FRENCH.  I love lessons like this, where we move away from the "prescribed" activities, and I get to see how my kids think, and watch them actually USE French as they communicate in another language.  It is incredibly impressive, and I am so proud of them!