Teaching points are on the notes pages

French children return to school at the very beginning of September after 8 weeks holiday.

Pupils leave their coats on pegs either in or just outside the classroom. There is a place for them to hang their bags on their own desks in this picture. They tend to have their own desks and can keep their books and textbooks inside them. Pupils often sit in individual desks facing the front. The French method of teaching is quite traditional and formal. They do a lot of writing and little discussion or pairwork. Children are taught to write in a specific style, exactly the way you see the teacher writing. Children aren’t allowed to develop their own style.

French youngsters have always studied grammar French youngsters have always studied grammar. Studying spelling is also an important part of their daily routine. An interactive whiteboard is a rare commodity in French schools! This board has 3 parts and the 2 side boards can fold in to the centre so it is possible to write on both sides of these side boards.

La journée scolaire (The School Day) Les fournitures scolaires Clicking on the first link will take you to the webpage showing the hours of the Ecole St. Adrien in Lille The second link takes you to a page where you can click on a link for each class and be taken to a list of required school equipment for that class. They have their own pens, pencils etc. They are not normally provided by the school. This is why preparation for school is an important part of the summer holidays “les grandes vacances”. They do not have to wear school uniform but they have to spend money on school equipment and books.

Fournitures scolaires à acheter Click on the link. This website is typical of so many advertising school articles during the month of August in France.

des ciseaux des cahiers une règle des feuilles de papier 8,00€ 0,40€ des ciseaux des cahiers une règle des feuilles de papier un couvre-livres des feutres la colle des bics 0,40€ 2,16€ Parents of course have to buy exercise books and paper for their children in France. Ask pupils to match up the labels for these objects. Discuss the prices. 3,20€ 1,00€ 2,30€ 0,30€

CP – Cours Preparatoire (Key Stage 2 equivalent) CE1 – Cours Elementaire 1st year (Year 3 equivalent) CE2 – Cours Elementaire 2nd year (Year 4 equivalent) CM1 –Cours Moyen 1st year (Year 5 equivalent) CM2 –Cours Moyen 2nd year (Year 6 equivalent) Ask pupils which year group these study books are each for. In France dictation forms part of the school curriculum. Ask them if they can recognize the subjects taught in the CM2 booklet The subjects taught are divided into three main groups: 1. French, English, history, geography and civic studies 2. Mathematics, science and technology 3. Physical education and sport, arts and crafts, and music.

Fournitures scolaires : les indispensables du cartable ! Une trousse     Stylos à bille (bleu, rouge, vert, noir)     Crayons à papier     Gomme     Ciseaux     Colle en bâton     Taille crayon avec réservoir     Règle graduée     Crayons de couleurs     Feutres     Un cahier de texte     Ardoise, feutres effaçables, et un petit chiffon     Pochette plastique ou cartonnée     Des étiquettes autocollantes pour marquer les affaires     Du papier plastique transparent pour couvrir les livres     Un cahier de brouillon Schools in France provide parents with a list of stationery items which they need to buy for their sons or daughters. Ask pupils to work out the meanings of as many of these as possible. Fournitures scolaires : les indispensables du cartable !  (School equipment – the essentials for the school bag!)     Une trousse – pencil case     Stylos à bille (bleu, rouge, vert, noir) fountain pens     Crayons à papier - pencils     Gomme - eraser     Ciseaux - scissors     Colle en bâton – glue stick     Taille crayon avec réservoir – pencil sharpener with collector for shavings     Règle graduée - ruler     Crayons de couleurs – pencil crayons     Feutres – felt pens     Un cahier de texte – exercise book (usually squared)     Ardoise, feutres effaçables, et un petit chiffon – white board with non-permanent felt pens and a little duster     Pochette plastique ou cartonnée – polypocket or cardboard envelope     Des étiquettes autocollantes pour marquer les affaires – sticky book labels     Du papier plastique transparent pour couvrir les livres- plastic book cover     Un cahier de brouillon – rough workbook