OCS Grade 6 students Collaborate with Kindergarteners to Enhance French Skills
December 2019 – Each week throughout the school, Ottawa Christian School’s Grade 6 class joins Madame Manouchehri’s kindergarten class for 30 minutes to play games, create crafts, and read French books with the JK and SK students. These activities are part of the French Buddies program called Les copains de lecture, in which the Grade 6 intensive French students are matched with a kindergarten student to help the younger student learn French. The program gives the older students a chance to connect with the younger ones, while enhancing their own French language skills.
Grade 6 student Logan says that helping the kindergarten students learn simple French words, such as numbers and colors, is rewarding and reinforces his own French. Kiera, another Grade 6 student, says that she values the chance to use French with the kindergarteners and to work with young children. Madame Manouchehri delivers all of the instructions for the crafts and games in French, giving the Grade 6 students an opportunity to use their French comprehension skills.
Apart from enhancing French language skills, the program fosters caring connections among students. “The Grade 6 students are matched with the same kindergartener for the entire school year,” explains Grade 6 French teacher, Madame Speirs. “This allows them to build relationships and create a special bond. These relationships between older and younger students help promote a sense of belonging and unity within the school.”
Ottawa Christian School is a non-denominational Christian day school where more than 230 students from JK to grade 8 incorporate Biblical values in their curriculum that meets or exceeds provincial standards. Weekly chapel services and teaching from a Christian perspective allows children to increase their knowledge and practice their Christian faith daily. Ask about Intensive French and After School programs. For more information visit www.OCSchool.org or call 613-825-3000.
Ottawa Christian School –Integrating faith and learning.