A little bit about me...

I live with my husband and bunny in Fayston and have two grown children: Emma,who is also a teacher, and Caleb, who works in social media marketing. They attended the Fayston Elementary school and were my students!

I have been teaching French to elementary children since 2002. I have also taught middle schoolers and adults. I acquired French while living in Strasbourg, France for 3 years as a young teen. I received my BA in French language and literature from Boston University and my teaching certification through St. Michael's College. 

I continue to stay current in French by reading French books, watching movies in French and by using my French as often as possible on travels to Quebec and France.

I believe everyone can acquire a second language. "Petit à petit l'oiseau fait son nid." "Little by little the bird makes his nest.": A wonderful analogy to  acquiring a second language. It takes time!

 A little bit about the French program...

Your child has French twice a week (Monday and Tuesday at Fayston; Wednesday and Thursday at Moretown). Class is 40 minutes. We use movement, song, stories, art/projects and occasionally technology in class. Your child does not have homework, however, I encourage you to ask what they have done in class. You can also check back here to find out what's happening in French class. Using words and phrases at home is a great way to bring French outside of the classroom.

The classes are highlighted in orange and are in order (kindergarten, Grades 1 and 1/2, Grades 2/3 and 3/4, Grades 5/6 and 6)

Kindergarten

The kindergartners have been using greetings and introductions (Bonjour, je m'appelle - sounds like "bonjoor, juh mah pell" : Hello, my name is...) with puppets. They've been hearing colors and have done color searches in the classroom. We have also moved our bodies while counting.

The kindergartners received a France coloring book and began coloring a map of France. They were quick to find the Eiffel Tower!

We have begun talking about things we see in clouds  through  Reading a to z: Les nuages which I put in a slide deck:  (Les Nuages).  We are focusing primarily on animals. Below are some of the animals they've heard in class:

une souris (ewn sooree): a mouse

un lapin (un lahpen): a bunny

un serpent (un sare -pen): a snake

une tortue (ewn tortu): a turtle

un mouton (un mooton): a sheep

Grades 1 and 2 (MES); Grade 1 (FES)

The 1st and 2nd graders (MES) and 1st graders began the year choosing their favorite fairy tale castle. They heard the words "maison" (house) and château (castle). You can check out some of the pretty amazing houses your children chose to live in by clicking here:  Quelle maison preferes-tu?

 

At Moretown in Grades 1 and 2  and at Fayston in Grade 1 we have also talked about clouds and what they look like through  Reading a to z: Les nuages and pictures created from clouds (Les Nuages).  The question they have heard: Qu'est-ce que c'est? (What's that?) They are learning/reviewing animal names through the book and will be doing some of their own creative cloud pictures soon!

Grades 3 and 4 (MES); Grades 2 and 3 (FES)

The 2nd and 3rd graders (FES) and 3rd and 4th graders (MES) began the year choosing their favorite fairy tale castle. They heard the words "maison" (house) and château (castle). You can check out some of the pretty amazing houses your children chose to live in by clicking here:  Quelle maison preferes-tu? There are clues for each house on the slide preceding it.

We have begun a Movie Talk (a brief explanation is below) related to storks, clouds and babies! As the students watch, I narrate in French. I stop the video frequently to check for understanding and to ask the class questions. The key words and phrases are posted on the board as a tool and are frequently pointed to. I've included a brief write up of the story below with the vocabulary.

The link below the story has pictures to help with understanding.

Partly Cloudy

Il y a des cigognes.  Les cigognes volent dans les nuages.  

Les nuages donnent des bébés aux cigognes. 

Il y a des bébés animaux (chiens, chats, …) et des bébés humains. 

Les cigognes donnent les bébés aux mamans et papas. 

Le nuage donne un bébé  crocodile au cigogne.  

Le cigogne ne veut pas le bébé crocodile.

Le cigogne vole avec le bébé  crocodile dans un sac. 

Le nuage donne un bébé bélier au cigogne.

Le cigogne ne veut pas le bébé bélier.

Le cigogne vole avec le bébé bélier dans un sac.

Le nuage donne un hérisson au cigogne.

Le cigogne ne veut pas le bébé hérisson.

Le cigogne vole avec l’hérisson dans un sac.

Le nuage a un requin. 

Le cigogne ne veut pas un bébé requin! 

Il vole à un autre (other) nuage.

Le nuage est fâché! Le nuage est triste! Il pleure.

Le cigogne revient au nuage! Il est bien préparé! (He is well prepared!)

Le nuage donne un bébé anguille au cigogne! 

C’est une anguille électrique! Aïe!

Words with * are target (good to know) words. Several are review words from previous years.

French	Sounds like	English
*Il y  a	eel ya	There is/are
des cigognes	day see-gonya	some storks
*volent / vole	vole	fly / flies
*les nuages	lay newahj	clouds
*donnent/ donne	dun	give / gives
*dans	dan	in
*un sac	un sahk	a bag
un bélier	un bay-lee-ay	a ram
un hérisson	un aireeson	a hedgehog
un requin	un reuh ken	a shark
*ne veut pas	neuh veuh pa	doesn’t want
*fâché	fahshay	angry
*triste	treest	sad
pleure	pluhr	cries

Story with pictures 

What is Movie Talk (sometimes called Clip Chat)?

Movie Talk or Clip Chat is a method of introducing words and phrases and sparking conversation in a target language. The teacher shows a short video (Pixar is a great resource) of about 5 minutes. Students listen to narration and glean meaning from what they hear thanks to visual cues or connections to prior learning.

                                        Grades 4 and 5 (FES)

You may notice that classes may do similar topics and stories. This allows siblings to come home with similar new vocabulary and connections students in different classes can share. It is modified  for the different grade/ability levels.

The 6th graders(FES) and 5th and 6th graders (MES) began the year choosing their favorite fairy tale castle. They heard the words "maison" (house), château (castle), pièces (rooms). You can check out some of the pretty amazing houses your children chose to live in by clicking here:  Quelle maison preferes-tu? There are clues for each house on the slide preceding it.

We have begun a Movie Talk (a brief explanation is below) related to storks, clouds and babies! As the students watch, I narrate in French. I stop the video frequently to check for understanding and to ask the class questions. The key words and phrases are posted on the board as a tool and are frequently pointed to. I've included a brief write up of the story below with the vocabulary. This version is more detailed than the one for the younger grades. 

The link below the story has pictures to help with understanding.

Partly Cloudy

Il y a des cigognes. Les cigognes volent dans les nuages.  

Les nuages donnent des bébés aux cigognes. 

Il y a des bébés animaux (chiens, chats, …)  et des bébés humains. 

Les cigognes apportent les bébés aux mamans et papas. 

Les cigognes volent dans les nuages. Un nuage a un bébé crocodile.

Un cigogne arrive! Il dit: “Donne-moi un bébé, s’il te plaît.” 

Le nuage donne le crocodile au cigogne. 

Le nuage met le crocodile dans  un sac. 

Le cigogne vole avec le bébé  crocodile dans un sac.

Le cigogne revient. Le nuage a un bébé bélier . 

Le bébé bélier attaque le  cigogne! 

Le nuage met le bélier dans  un sac.  

Le cigogne vole avec le bébé bélier dans un sac.

Le cigogne revient. Le nuage a un hérisson! 

Il a des piquants (quills)! Aïe!

Le nuage met le hérisson dans  un sac. 

Le cigogne vole avec l’hérisson dans un sac.

Le cigogne revient. Le nuage a un requin. 

Le cigogne ne veut pas un bébé requin! 

Il vole à un autre (other) nuage.

Le nuage est fâché! 

Le nuage est triste! Il pleure.

Le cigogne revient au nuage. Il est bien préparé! (He is well prepared!) 

Le nuage donne un bébé anguille au cigogne!  

C’est une anguille électrique!

Words with * are target (good to know) words. Several are review words from previous years.

French	Sounds like	English
*Il y  a	eel ya	There is/are
des cigognes	day see-gonya	some storks
*volent / vole	vole	fly / flies
*les nuages	lay newahj	clouds
*donnent/ donne	dun	give / gives
*apportent	ahport	bring
*a	ah	has
*dit	dee	says
*Donne-moi	dun mwa	give me
*s’il te plaît	seel tuh play	please
au	oh	to the
*met	may	puts
*dans	dan	in
*un sac	un sahk	a bag
*revient	reuh vee  en	comes back
un bélier	un bay-lee-ay	a ram
un hérisson	un aireeson	a hedgehog
*Ça fait mal!	Sa fay mahl	That hurts!
un requin	un reuh ken	a shark
*ne veut pas	neuh veuh pa	doesn’t want
*fâché	fahshay	angry
*triste	treest	sad
pleure	pluhr	cries

Story with pictures:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vMpMsnt9CAtJS3lK9SRBXScwL-ltqgnSjiJApvV3_Uw/edit?usp=sharing

Grades 5 & 6 (MES); Grade 6 (FES)

The 6th graders(FES) and 5th and 6th graders (MES) began the year choosing their favorite fairy tale castle. They heard the words "maison" (house), château (castle), pièces (rooms). You can check out some of the pretty amazing houses your children chose to live in by clicking here:  Quelle maison preferes-tu? There are clues for each house on the slide preceding it.

We have begun a Movie Talk (a brief explanation is below) related to storks, clouds and babies! As the students watch, I narrate in French. I stop the video frequently to check for understanding and to ask the class questions. The key words and phrases are posted on the board as a tool and are frequently pointed to. I've included a brief write up of the story below with the vocabulary. This version is more detailed than the one for the younger grades. 

The link below the story has pictures to help with understanding.

Partly Cloudy

Il y a des cigognes. Les cigognes volent dans les nuages.  

Les nuages donnent des bébés aux cigognes. 

Il y a des bébés animaux (chiens, chats, …)  et des bébés humains. 

Les cigognes apportent les bébés aux mamans et papas. 

Les cigognes volent dans les nuages. Un nuage fait un bébé crocodile.

Un cigogne arrive! Il dit: “Donne-moi un bébé, s’il te plaît.” 

Le nuage donne le crocodile au cigogne. 

Le bébé crocodile saute sur le cigogne! 

La tête du  cigogne est dans la bouche du bébé crocodile! 

Le nuage met le crocodile dans  un sac. 

Le cigogne vole avec le bébé  crocodile dans un sac.

Le cigogne revient. Le nuage a un bébé bélier . 

Le bébé bélier attaque le  cigogne! 

Le nuage met le bélier dans  un sac.  

Le cigogne vole avec le bébé bélier dans un sac.

Le cigogne revient. Le nuage a un hérisson! 

Il a des piquants (quills)! Ça fait mal!

Le nuage met le hérisson dans  un sac. 

Le cigogne vole avec l’hérisson dans un sac.

Le cigogne revient. Le nuage a un requin. 

Le cigogne ne veut pas un bébé requin! 

Il vole à un autre (other) nuage.

Le nuage est fâché! 

Le nuage est triste! Il pleure.

Le cigogne revient au nuage. Il est bien préparé!  

Le nuage donne un bébé anguille au cigogne!  

C’est une anguille électrique!

Words with * are target (good to know) words. Several are review words from previous years.

French	Sounds like	English
*Il y  a	eel ya	There is/are
des cigognes	day see-gonya	some storks
*volent / vole	vole	fly / flies
*les nuages	lay newahj	clouds
*donnent/ donne	dun	give / gives
*apportent	ahport	bring
*fait	fay	makes
*dit	dee	says
*Donne-moi	dun mwa	give me
*s’il te plaît	seel tuh play	please
au	oh	to the
*saute	sote	jumps
*sur	sewr	on
*la tête	la tet	head
*la bouche	la boosh	the mouth
*met	may	puts
*dans	dan	in
*un sac	un sahk	a bag
*revient	reuh vee  en	comes back
un bélier	un bay-lee-ay	a ram
un hérisson	un aireeson	a hedgehog
*Ça fait mal!	Sa fay mahl	That hurts!
*a	ah	has
un requin	un reuh ken	a shark
*ne veut pas	neuh veuh pa	doesn’t want
*fâché	fahshay	angry
*triste	treest	sad
pleure	pluhr	cries

Story with pictures:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vMpMsnt9CAtJS3lK9SRBXScwL-ltqgnSjiJApvV3_Uw/edit?usp=sharing

What is Movie Talk (sometimes called Clip Chat)?

Movie Talk or Clip Chat is a method of introducing words and phrases and sparking conversation in a target language. The teacher shows a short video (Pixar is a great resource) of about 5 minutes. Students listen to narration and glean meaning from what they hear thanks to visual cues or connections to prior learning.

Bonjour! Bienvenue! 

Hello! Welcome!

This is where you can find news on what is happening in French class. Check back later for an update!

Madame (Erika Lindberg)

elindberg@huusd.org

Kindergarten

The kindergartners heard the story of "The Giraffe who Walked to Paris" about a giraffe that the ruler of Egypt gave to the king of France in 1826. The giraffe was transported by boat and then walked from Marseille to Paris. 

They were given a letter and information on how to access Linguascope, an online learning tool with various games. They will be coming home with their French folders this week as well.

I look forward to seeing your children next year! 

Have a wonderful summer! 

Erika / Madame

Grades 1 and 2

The 1st and 2nd graders have finished watching Muzzy and have been using some of the words and phrases in games and other activities.  

They were given a letter and information on how to access Linguascope, an online learning tool with various games. They will be coming home with their French folders this week as well.

I look forward to seeing your children next year! 

Have a wonderful summer! 

Erika / Madame

Grades 3 and 4 

The 3rd and 4th graders have been using useful words and phrases in activities, both on their computers and in whole class games.

They were given a letter and information on how to access Linguascope, an online learning tool with various games. 

I look forward to seeing your children next year! 

Have a wonderful summer! 

Erika / Madame

Grades 4/5 (FES) and 5/6 (MES)

The 4th (FES) and 5th and 6th  graders have been using useful words and phrases in activities, both on their computers and in whole class games. 

They were given a letter on how to access Linguascope, an online learning tool with various games. 

I look forward to seeing your children next year! If you have a graduating 6th grader (MES) I will miss them next year and wish them the very best!

Have a wonderful summer! 

Erika / Madame

 Kindergarten

We have been singing a song about spring and learning some words and phrases related to spring.

The kindergartners created an illustration of the song and have brought their drawings home. The song is 

on the front or back of their drawing. I've also included it below.

Some of the words and phrases we've been using in games and activities:

une fleur (ewn fleur): a flower

un papillon (un pah pee yon): a butterfly (a word they heard in The Very Hungry Caterpillar)

une abeille (ewn ahbey):  a bee

Il pleut (eel pleuh): It's raining

C’est le printemps! Sung to the tune of Frère Jacques Song in French C’est le printemps (x2) Il y a des fleurs (x2) et des papillons et des abeilles dans mon jardin (x2) Sounds like say luh prenten (x2) eel ya day fleur (x2) ay day pahpeeyon et daze ahbay dan mon jarden (x2) English It’s spring (x2) there are flowers (x2) and butterflies and bees in my garden (x2) Happy Spring! Erika (Madame)

Grades 1 and 2

The first and second graders have been using expressions related to how they are feeling through Muzzy and whole class games.

I've included them below.

French	Sounds like	English
J’ai faim.	jay fe(n)	I’m hungry.
J’ai soif.	jay swaf	I’m thirsty.
J’ai froid.	jay frwa	I’m cold.
J’ai chaud.	jay show	I’m hot.
J’ai peur.	jay purr	I’m scared.
J’ai mal	Jay mahl	Something hurts.
J’ai mal à la tête.	jay mahl ah la tet	I have a headache.
J’ai mal au ventre.	jay mahl oh ventre	I have a stomach ache.
J’ai mal au dos.	jay mahl oh doh	My back hurts.
J’ai mal au genou.	jay mahl oh juhnoo	My knee hurts.

Surprise your kids by using one of these expressions in French and see if they can tell you how you're feeling!

Grades 3 (FES) and 3/4 (MES)

The third (FES) and third and fourth graders (MES) heard a silly story about a boy in search of a cheese sandwich. They are now working as a class on creating a menu for a restaurant. They can add additional items if they want and will each name their own restaurant.

Grades 4/5(FES) and 5/6 (MES)

The fourth (FES) and fifth and sixth graders (MES) are or will be creating menus in French. They may choose to create a menu for a restaurant in France, Quebec or Senegal. Stay tuned!

 Kindergarten

The kindergartners have heard or will hear the story of Pat le chat:  J'adore mes souliers blancs (Pete the Cat: I love my White Shoes). You can hear the story in French here. I have simplified it slightly. 

They continue to dance and sing to "J'aime les fruits." 

The kindergartners celebrated Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) the week before February break. They decorated crowns and learned about some of the traditions around Mardi Gras.

The Kindergartners celebrated "la chandeleur," similar to Groundhog Day by eating crepes, a tradition in France. We talked about the different ways to fold a crepe and all the yummy things you can put in a crepe.

                        

We have been listening to a silly song about fruit called "J'aime les fruits" (I like/love fruit).  You can listen to it by clicking here.

J'aime (sounds like "jem"):  I like

les pommes (sounds like "lay pum"): apples

les bananes (sounds like "lay bahnahn): bananas

les pêches (sounds like "lay pesh"): peaches

les fraises (sounds like "lay fre"): strawberries

les poires (sounds like "lay pwar"): pears

les oranges (sounds like "laze ohran"): oranges

Grades 1 and 2

The first and second graders celebrated Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) before February break. They ate king cake (la galette des rois) and learned about / reviewed some of the traditions around Mardi Gras.

We continue  to watch Muzzy.  Below are a few words and phrases they have heard. Some of these they've heard in other contexts.

Combien (sounds like "kombee-en")- How many

cent (sounds like "suhn")- 100

Je ne sais pas (sounds like "juhn say pah")- I don't know

J'ai (sounds like "jay") - I have

Grade 3 (FES) and Grades 3 and (MES)

We will be starting a story about a man in search of a cheese sandwich. It includes vocabulary related to ordering in a restaurant, including some foods and key phrases. You can read the story here, however each class chose a different name for the main character.

The 3rd and 4th graders celebrated Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) before February break. They ate king cake (la galette des rois) and learned about / reviewed some of the traditions around Mardi Gras. 

Grades 4/5 (FES) and Grades 5/6 (MES)

The students have worked in small groups on a story which takes place in a restaurant. They have or will share their stories and the class will choose one story we will use to learn vocabulary related to ordering in a restaurant.  There are some budding novelists and a lot of imagination in these classes!

Grades 4/5 and 5/6 celebrated Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) before February break. They ate king cake (la galette des rois) and learned about / reviewed some of the traditions around Mardi Gras.

 Bonne Année!  Happy New Year!

You have probably seen your child's report card. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions (elindberg@huusd.org)

Kindergarten

The kindergartners have been learning vocabulary related to winter through a short Peppa Pig video.

Below are the words and phrases they've heard. Remember hearing the vocabulary does not mean they can necessarily produce the words and phrases on demand.

Il neige (eel nej) - It's snowing

un bonnet (un bo-nay) - a hat (the kind you wear outside)

des mitaines (day mee-ten) - mittens (Canadian French); des moufles (day moofluh) - French French

une echarpe (ewn aysharp) - a scarf

court (koor) - run/runs

saute (sote) - jump/jumps

une boule de neige (ewn bool duh nej) - a  snowball

tombe (tomb - b is pronounced) - fall/falls

un bonhomme de neige (un bunum duh nej) - a snowman

Je suis désolé(e) (juh swee day-zo-lay) - I'm sorry

They came home (or will come home) with "un bonhomme de neige" (a snowman) they made.

They named their snowman using the sentence starter "Je m'appelle" (sounds like "juh mah pell")

Grades 1 and 2

The first and second graders have finished activities related to "Simon's Cat - Snow Business, " however the vocabulary will be popping up in other contexts.

We will be starting Muzzy soon, a video series in French the second graders are familiar with. Some of you may even have watched it when you were in school. It introduces kids to high frequency (common) words and phrases through a story that kids enjoy. The 5th and 6th graders continue to ask to watch it! Stay tune...

We have also begun using Linguascope a bit more in class. It is an online language learning tool that you are welcome to use at home as well. It is a paid subscription so I am required to ask you not to share the log in information with those outside your family. Merci!

You can log in using either Moretown's or Fayston's log in details.

MES

linguascope.com

Username: moretown

password: bobcats123

FES

linguascope.com

Username: fayston

password: foxes123

Grade 3 (FES)         Grades 3 and 4 (MES)

We have finished activities related to "Simon's Cat - Snow Business, " however the vocabulary will be popping up in other contexts.

We will be focusing on foods and ordering in a restaurant through stories, skits and technology. We have also begun/ will begin practicing numbers between 20 and 100.

We have begun / will begin using Linguascope a bit more in class. It is an online language learning tool that you are welcome to use at home as well. If you are interested in brushing up on a language other than French that is possible through Linguascope as well. It is a paid subscription so I am required to ask you not to share the log in information with those outside your family. Merci!

You can log in using either Moretown's or Fayston's log in details.

MES

linguascope.com

Username: moretown

password: bobcats123

FES

linguascope.com

Username: fayston

password: foxes123

Grade 4 and 5 (FES)     Grades 5 and 6 (MES)

We have finished activities related to "Simon's Cat - Snow Business, " however the vocabulary will be popping up in other contexts.

We will be focusing on foods and ordering in a restaurant through stories, skits and technology. We have also begun/ will begin practicing numbers between 20 and 100.

We have begun / will begin using Linguascope a bit more in class. It is an online language learning tool that you are welcome to use at home as well. If you are interested in brushing up on a language other than French that is possible through Linguascope as well. It is a paid subscription so I am required to ask you not to share the log in information with those outside your family. Merci!

You can log in using either Moretown's or Fayston's log in details.

MES

linguascope.com

Username: moretown

password: bobcats123

FES

linguascope.com

Username: fayston

password: foxes123

 Kindergarten

The kindergartners have been hearing the story The Mitten in French, based on Jan Brett's version of the classic tale.

They are creating paper mittens in which they will put the animals from the story. We have been focused on a few key words and phrases I've included below.

*  une mitaine (sounds like "ewn meeten") - a mitten  (Canadian French)

 * une mouffle (sounds like "ewn moofluh") - a mitten (European French)

I have been using the Canadian French word for mitten as it is closer to the English word and they are more likely to hear that than the European word for mitten.

* tombe (sounds like "tow mbk") - falls

* la neige (sounds like "la nej") - the snow

* J'ai froid! (sounds like "jay frwa") - I'm cold!

* une taupe (sounds like "ewn tope") - a mole

* un lapin (sounds like "un lahpen") - a rabbit

* un hibou (sounds like "un eeboo") - an owl

* un renard (sounds like "un reuhnar") - a fox

* un herisson (sounds like "un ayreeson") - hedgehog

* un blaireau (sounds like "un blay row") - a badger

* un ours (sounds like "un oors") - a bear

* une souris (sounds like "ewn sooree") - a mouse

                                                                Grades 1 and 2

The first and second graders watched and listened to my narration of Simon's Cat - Snow Business.

In this humorous video a cat and bird have a snowball fight.

We  have played some games using the new vocabulary and they have received or will be receiving a small book with the story.  MES students have met with me in small groups to practice telling some of the story. FES students will be doing so next week.

You can see the book here.

       Grades 3 and 4 (FES) and 3/4 (MES)

The 3rd and 4th graders watched and listened to my narration of Simon's Cat - Snow Business.

In this humorous video a cat and bird have a snowball fight.

We  have played some games using the new vocabulary and they have received or will be receiving a small book with the story.  This is the same story that the 1/2 classes have heard but with slightly more vocabulary. 

You can see the book here.

 Grades 5 (FES) and 5/6 (MES)

The 5th and 6th graders watched and listened to my narration of Simon's Cat - Snow Business.

In this humorous video a cat and bird have a snowball fight.

We  have played some games using the new vocabulary and they have received or will be receiving a the written story with pictures from the video.  This is the same story that the younger classes have heard but with more vocabulary.  As the 4th graders at FES are in class with the 5th graders they will have the option of following the 3/4 version or the 5/6 version.