Resources for educators
CPF Alberta receives and distributes news of many resources and products designed to be of interest to students of French, their teachers, and their parents. Publication does not imply CPF endorsement.
| contests and competitions | pedagogical materials and resources |
| professional associations | professional development |
Teacher availability
Campus Saint-Jean has an online "job fair." Schools/districts can obtain a password to access the résumés of education graduates by calling Marie Simuong at 780-465-8766 or via e-mail to msimuong@ualberta.ca. They then go to http://lapratique.csj.ualberta.ca and click on "Carrefour d'emploi" - "Foire d'emploi" - "Candidats disponsible/Job seekers."
Information for teachers and administrators
Alberta Education's Handbook for French Immersion Administrators (print version)
Alberta Teachers' Association library - has resources to support those teaching French
American Council on Immersion Education - an organizational network for individuals interested in immersion education (teachers, administrators, teacher educators, researchers, parents). Check out their archive of articles from past editions of their newsletter.
Association Canadienne des professeurs d'immersion (ACPI/CAIT) and the Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers (CASLT) offer information, resources, journals, conferences, and more
check out ACPI's Electronic discussion forum on literacy
Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition
Connection: Information for Teachers - an online newsletter published by Alberta Education - stay connected with what's new in education in Alberta! - look under "Curriculum and Resources" for "French Immersion" or "French as a Second Language" - scroll to the bottom of the first page to subscribe
Diversity in French Immersion Classrooms: A Quick Inclusion Guide for Teachers
Diversity in French Immersion: Information for education professionals, consultants and specialists
Dual Language Development and Disorders: A Handbook on Bilingualism and Second Language Learning - for general educators and speech pathologists
Handbook for French Immersion Administrators (Alberta Education, revised 2011) (print version)
How to Keep Your French Immersion Staff - workshop by Fred Kreiner, Directeur du Bureau de la pratique, Faculté Saint-Jean
Inclusion of Students with Diverse Needs in French Immersion Schools - What School Administrators Need to Know
LangCanada.ca - educational resources, educational materials, training organizations and information that enhances second official language teaching and learning in Canada
Language Education and Learning Disabilities
Late Immersion Foundation Document English French
Review of the Literature on Second Language Learning - University of Calgary, 2006
School Administrator's Guide to Implementing Language Programming (Alberta Education, 2007)
School Self-Assessment Tool - a tool to help schools and school districts evaluate their support for French second language (immersion and core) programs and improve existing support systems to FL2 programs. Where schools and school boards do not yet have FL2 programs, the Tool provides a model for the development of quality FL2 programs.
Struggling Learners and Language Immersion Education: Research-Based, Practitioner-Informed Responses to Educators' Top Questions Minneapolis: University of Minnesota, The Centre for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition
The State of French Second Language Education in Canada - CPF's annual report outlining national and provincial/territorial support for French immersion and core French. Also include enrolment statistics and interesting articles. English version French version
Yes, You Can Help! - this handbook for French immersion parents is also a "primer" on the program for trustees and administrators not familiar with immersion, and offers insights for educators into the information needed by parents (printable version)
Language/culture enhancement activities
Accent offers one-stop shopping for field trips, workshops, entertainers and other services in French to help student groups experience French beyond the classroom. If your school is a CPF Associate Member Organization (AMO), it can access this searchable on-line directory at www.accentalberta.ca.
- the directory is divided into six categories: performers, field trips, camps, cultural events, workshops and activities, resources and services
- detailed descriptions of the services and activities listed
- see what others had to say - ratings of the services and activities
- a search engine that enables you to find activities that meet your criteria
- listings of what's available in your area of the province
- what's new, be it services or opportunities of a permanent nature or available for a limited time only.
Ü If your school has a CPF AMO membership but has lost its Accent access code, or if you are not receiving the periodic e-mail announcements of new listings and upcoming events, contact info@accentalberta.ca.
class trips to French-speaking areas of Canada and the world
Drama for Learning - visit the University of New Brunswick Second Language Education Centre website to learn about a module using "process drama" for the Grade 9/10 level of core French ("FSL")
Check our What's New page for information about current events. See also contests and competitions and Culture.ca
Language Assistants (formerly "Official Language Monitors"):
The Odyssey and Accent programs provide, respectively, full- and part-time language assistants who support teachers by organizing activities to help students discover and appreciate the French language and culture, organize cultural activities, and support students as they learn French. Program information is available through the Council of Minister of Education, Canada web site. Applications are sent each spring by Alberta Education to school district superintendents where French immersion is offered. A limited number of language assistants are available each year, and where they are assigned to a district the choice of school is the responsibility of the superintendent.
CPF Alberta receives and distributes news of many resources and products designed to be of interest to students of French, their teachers, and their parents. Publication does not imply CPF endorsement.
Pedagogical materials and resources
2Learn.ca offers technology-based resources relating to the Alberta curriculum as well as support for educators at www.pourapprendre.ca and S'amuser@2Learn.ca for students
Activity workbook for young children - click here to download all or part of this CPF document free of charge. Each page also includes a question-and-answer for parents about French-second-language learning.
Alberta Distance Learning Centre now offers Science, Mathematics, French Language Arts, Social Studies, and CALM as well as CTS courses, Psychology, Forensics, and Art for immersion students. Go to http://www.adlc.ca/content/view/166/221 or call Esther Kupsch, Senior High Associate Principal 1-866-774-5333 ext 5183 or Berthe Comeau ext 6120.
Alberta Program of Studies - to view and print out go to French version (includes "immersion") or English version. For more information:
Connection: Information for Teachers - an online newsletter published by Alberta Education - scroll to the bottom of the first page to subscribe
Alberta Education's Learning Resources Centre - provides a comprehensive range of learning and teaching resources, including both authorized resources that support the Alberta K-12 curriculum and general learning resources. Look under Catalogues: Alberta for French Resources or search for a specific title. Check out the Online Tutorials for How to Search for the Resources You Need.
Archives de Radio-Canada: Pour les profs - projets pédagogiques pour le 3e cycle du primaire et pour le secondaire et des pistes d'analyse et des activités destinées aux professeurs du collégial
book stories in Alberta:
Livres Lacoste Books
assists schools in selecting and ordering
French books
2021 - 35 Ave SW, Calgary
403-244-6433 1-866-371-6433
Librairie le Carrefour
8927 - 91 St., Suite 40
(bottom floor in La Cité Francophone)
Edmonton AB T6C 3N1
780-466-1066 1-888-339-1556
part of the University of Alberta Bookstore
Canadian Health Network - a bilingual web site on the prevention and promotion of health, including topics like air pollution, relationships, and much more. Look in the "Enfants" and "Adolescents" sections, check under the various topics, or search using terms like "quiz" or "games" for information and resources to use in the classroom.
CDL2000 in Calgary specializes in French computer software. Contact Sylvie Mercier at 403-232-5482 or 1-866-277-5529, or visit www.cdl2000.ca.
Census at School is an international classroom project for students aged 8 to 18. They complete a brief online survey, analyze their class results and compare themselves with students in Canada and other countries
Classroom Connections / Chaînon scolaire is a Canadian non-profit organization that develops free educational resources for schools across Canada. One of their recent publications is Découverte de la capitale du Canada: Tout un lieu de rassemblement for use in Grades 5-8 Social Studies.
Éditions Scholastic - offers pedagogical materials, Club de lecture, book fairs, magazine subscriptions, and more
Edmonton Public Schools' Resource Development Services has many French resources available for purchase
Faites de la musique! comprises a CD and 9 companion books for young readers to follow along while listening to the songs (most books include discussion questions and activities as a supplementary page for teachers and parents)
Educorock Productions - music designed to eliminate lacks in specific grammatical and thematic structures at the grades K-10 school level
Fur Trade in a Box, a classroom edukit developed by the Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site, is now available in French. It supports the new Alberta Learning Social Studies curriculum and is designed for Grades 4 and 5. Included are a teacher’s manual; historic props and costumes; puppets and a puppet theatre script; an interactive fur trade game appealing to all types of learners; word games; maps; and more. There is no user fee other than the cost of delivery. (The perfect follow-up is a class visit to the historic, where students can take on the roles of Métis and Francophone traders and learn more about their influence on this province. And, of course, all the listening stations give explanations in both French and English.)
Jamais je ne l’oublierai / Never Will I Forget, a bilingual map about the historical contribution of Francophones to the development of Alberta, was a centennial project of the Association canadienne française de l’Alberta. The coloured map, featuring 15 pictures, provides information on approximately 50 communities where Francophones stayed and played an important role. It also shows that more than 560 places in Alberta attribute their names to French influences. The map can be purchased for $5.00 at Librairie La Carrefour in Edmonton and Librairie Monette in Calgary or by calling the ACFA at 780-466-1680.
JUMP Math is available in French especially for immersion programs beginning the fall of 2011 (grades 1-4).
LangCanada.ca will connect you with web sites re: educational resources, training organizations for language learners, and research
Le Réseau d'échanges offers authentic tasks and lesson plans to encourage FSL students to practice speaking and writing French
LearnAlberta.ca offers quality multimedia learning resources in French, curriculum based, searchable by grade and subject. For your password contact your school or your division technology contact.
L'école des loisirs is a publisher in France which offers annual collections of 8 French books for all age groups. The children receive one each month from November to June. There are special rates for group orders of "Max" subscriptions, and a school library receives a free subscription for every 12 group subscriptions. Contact Isabelle Bergeron at 403-202-3280 in Calgary for further information.
The Library and Archives Canada Learning Centre offers educational products and services to teachers and students in both official lanaguges. English French
The Library of Parliament offers a variety of free, online, and inexpensive educational resources in both English and French relating to the Canadian Parliament, Senate, and governance.
MonUnivers: un tutoriel de littératie numérique destiné aux élèves du secondaire
Myosotis Press publishes textbooks and reference materials for the learning and teaching of French. 15% discount to CPF members - please indicate your membership number.
The Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages offers for free:
bilingual posters
The Magic Mural - for children ages 4 to 7. Includes a non-interactive CD-ROM, a mouse pad, a poster and an Activity guide. A parent or teacher must accompany the children on these Magic Mural adventures.
Adventures in Time - for 10 and 11-year-olds. Includes a story and fun activities.
Talking to Each Other - activities for exploring Canada's official languages. Kit for high school teachers (grades 9 - 12). Contains 11 lesson ideas and supporting material for the language arts, history, geography, social sciences, law, and even mathematics (surveys).
The Peer Tutoring Literacy Program is aimed at fostering literacy in French immersion. It is designed for Grade 2 and 3 students who are experiencing moderate difficulties with French reading who would benefit from extra reading support.
Puzzlemaker - allows you to generate your own word searches and other puzzles online
REPSIT - Ce répertoire analytique contient plus de 2000 sites choisis pour leur valeur informative, leur français soigné, leur présentation conviviale et leurs qualités d'ensemble. Il vise un public francophone et francophile intéressé à l'enseignement ou à l'apprentissage de la langue française, la littérature et la culture francophones.
Sabita et les mots magiques mêlés is a simple children's storybook written in the present tense, accompanied by the story on CD. Tara Natter (B.Ed., former Calgary immersion teacher) created this package to present French sounds (like eau = o) through a story of wizards, potions, and magic so that children can practice their reading at home even when their parents don't know French. It is also designed for use in the classroom.
Science-In-A-Crate - The Science Alberta Foundation offers the following science kits in French:
- Ways of Knowing: Teaching Time, Weather on the Trapline - bilingual kit for Grade 5
- Ways of Knowing: Lessons from the Sky - bilingual kit for Grade 6
- Save Our School: Evidence and investigation - French kit for Grade 6
- Team Aquatica: Fresh and Saltwater Systems - French kit for Grade 8
- Information Assurance: Electrical Principles - bilingual kit for Grade 9
- Extreme Alberta Challenge: Biological Diversity - French kit for Grade 9
Sound Language Solutions - original songs with lyrics which target the most common errors made by students learning French, with accompanying print resources and teacher's guides. They also do workshops for teachers.
TFO (la television educatif et culturelle de l'Ontario) offers games, classroom resources, hotlinks, and more.
The Education Station offers posters, games, stickers, CDs, and more. Visit 13204 - 137 Ave. in Edmonton or order online.
Top French Videos - a collection of fun video clips (commercials, music, cartoons, film trailers, etc.) and PowerPoint presentations selected to lighten up the study of French
Verbathon - "Specifically designed to meet both the needs of educators and students, Verbathon makes verbs and grammar fun and exciting to teach and learn in languages such as French and Spanish. Verbathon addresses three teaching and learning challenges: how to reduce the teacher's work, how to evaluate the language skills of students, how to have fun with the students."
Via Musica - resources developed here in Alberta to assist with music education at the elementary level
Other sources include:
Centre Franco-Ontarien de Resources Pédagogiques
Association canadienne des professeurs d’immersion - Canadian association of immersion teachers
Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers - now members of CPF receive $10 off a membership in CASLT
Le Conseil Français - ATA specialist council for French immersion and French first language teachers
Second Languages & Intercultural Council - ATA specialist council for second language teachers
CPF Alberta receives and distributes news of many resources and products designed to be of interest to students of French, their teachers, and their parents. Publication does not imply CPF endorsement.