Read in French with Ratus the green rat, Year 1 Module 1
This is a basic learn to read class taught in the French language, based on scientific principles and using high-quality French materials, the fun book series with Ratus the green rat.
Victoria Haliburton
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(82)
What's included
12 live meetings
6 in-class hoursHomework
1-2 hours per week. Students may do handwriting and copying work for homework. It is important to stress directionality in writing. Parents may choose either North American style printing *or* European style cursive. Consider what schools or courses your child will be taking to follow, and we can work on either. If the parents speak French they may wish to work with students on vocabulary, but if not it's better not to teach errors of pronunciation so homework is optional.Assessment
The class is based on constant interaction so the student is assessed every day on what they can do. A more formal assessment may be written up at the end of the semester if needed.Class Experience
US Grade Kindergarten - 3
Beginner Level
[Version française disponible sur demande; SVP m'écrire un message, lien ci-dessous.] Please note: I can offer discounts in case of need. Please contact me via private message if you need support. This course is a full semester program of twelve or (preferably) sixteen weeks. For convenience in payment and scheduling I have divided it into four- and six-week modules; however to gain full benefit you need to re-register for the following modules for the full semester and for best results, for two semesters / a full school year of at least 32 to 36 weeks. The class is listed for 30 minute sessions. Later levels may run longer as students work into the system. **This is Module 1, the beginning reading level.** I will work with an individual student or, if more students at the same level arrive, in an extremely small group of no more than five, so every student will get extensive individual attention. **Prerequisite: Students *must* have at least a basic knowledge of French, at a minimum successful completion of French Immersion kindergarten and ability to hold simple conversations in the French language. **Please note -- Summer 2024 - I am working with a young student whose K Immersion class has been very unsuccessful. This particular session will go slowly and almost certainly require a second section of the same course. We will be dong a lot of K level vocabulary work etc. If your student needs intensive help, this is the class for you! A section can be added for more advanced students if there is demand. In the class, we learn French phonics, the 36 French phonemes and the most common spellings of each, French syllables, vocabulary, and knowledge of sentence structure. We read a short humorous story from a textbook, answer oral questions about the content, discuss the topic and the illustration and the silly jokes and cartoons, practice letter formation and writing of words, and do a few workbook exercises covering all of these topics. The course is developmental, starting with single letters and a few common words, moving up towards fluency in French reading at an age and grade appropriate level by the end of a year's course. The course speed is dependent on student needs and will vary highly depending on age, prior education and experience, prior French vocabulary, and any problems such as dyslexia. Exact predictions are impossible, but the average student can finish most of the Ratus text, aiming at 36 lessons in Year 1, and be quite independent in reading within one school year at age six or seven. Knowledge of French phonics and syllables transfers surprisingly quickly to English reading; all that is needed is understanding of a few different vowel and digraph sounds and different silent letter rules. The most effective approach, proven over time, is to concentrate only on the French for the first year or possibly two, and then to introduce English as a separate subject with different vowel rules. Students usually transfer their skills to English within a few months.
Learning Goals
Module 1:
French vowels a, i, o, é, u, and e, Ratus text Unit 1, Lessons 1 to 4 Pronunciation, visual recognition, auditory recognition of words containing target vowel, and writing each letter.
Practice reading and writing common high-frequency words.
Syllabus
12 Lessons
over 6 WeeksLesson 1:
Marou (Ratus 1 Lesson 1)
letter a in French, sound ah, names Marou, Ratus, high frequency words est, un,chat, rat other vocabulary; phonemic awareness a in beginning or middle of word. 30 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Marou continued
workbook practices reading and writing the above. 30 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Marou continued
finish above books 30 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Mina
letter i in French, sound ee as in police, machine; name Mina, high frequency words avec, il, son, ami, other vocabulary; phonemic awareness i in beguinning or middle of word. 30 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Learning Needs
I have worked with students with dyslexia, ADHD, and autism. Very student focused, students talk more than teacher, and progress always at the student's pace. Students need to be able to stay online, concentrate, answer verbally and write.
Pre-Requisites
Students should know at least most of the alphabet, particularly lower case. We will be working through letter by letter in both print and cursive so it's OK if they recognize about twenty letters. Should know a few hundred words in French.
Supply List
Each student must have a microphone and camera and keep them open so we can keep verbal and visual communication going. This is a class using constant interaction so these are essential. The student needs a relatively quiet place to work and a good table to write on -- writing lying on the floor is not acceptable; a small whiteboard and markers are very helpful, plus notebooks preferably with primary lines (wide lines with a dotted line in the middle); several fine markers or gel pens which work smoothly without too much pressure, so fluid writing can be practiced. Students should obtain the reading text "Ratus et ses amis" and the three associated workbooks (one white, two green) if at all possible. It is important for the student to have ownership of the text and to be able to write in the books, and we respect copyright. These books are good for the entire school year and part of the next (depending on the student's learning speed) so although they are a fairly large investment, it's an investment that will pay back for more than a year to come. Links attached below. I will assess the students during the first week of class and if extra work seems needed we can also obtain copies of other materials. Copies from several different sources may be assigned according to need. These will be printable from the internet. As needed we may do a little extra work from "Méthode de lecture pas a pas", "J'Apprends a Lire". and other fundamental reading guides in French. I also use "Bien Lire et Aimer Lire, which is an excellent book but quite expensive so it is NOT required to buy it. I can provide some copies on a temporary basis but we should try to get the books as soon as feasible. Text and learning material: "Ratus et ses amis" plus workbooks This text may be obtained from some bookstores; you may try Renaud-Bray, or ask Chapters / Indigo / Barnes and Noble (note that French books are listed on the computer separately from English, and you will need a knowledgeable salesclerk to open the French site) or you may be lucky enough to find a used copy on ebay. Used workbooks of course will not be helpful. For convenience, I am supplying the listings from Amazon. I do not work for Amazon nor do I earn anything from providing this reference. Basic text: https://www.amazon.ca/Ratus-CP-m%C3%A9thode-lecture-%C3%A9l%C3%A8ve/dp/2218073706 Basic workbooks: https://www.amazon.ca/Ratus-CP-cahier-exercices-Gouin/dp/2218000571/ref=pd_lpo_14_img_1/146-7647260-4751313?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=2218000571&pd_rd_r=0bb387bb-6270-4ffd-bb86-f8a796f346c5&pd_rd_w=NrczK&pd_rd_wg=TPhcR&pf_rd_p=256a14b6-93bc-4bcd-9f68-aea60d2878b9&pf_rd_r=STWSMEPFZ3S0WTB817YP&psc=1&refRID=STWSMEPFZ3S0WTB817YP https://www.amazon.ca/Ratus-ses-amis-cahier-expression/dp/221871728X/ref=pd_bxgy_img_3/146-7647260-4751313?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=221871728X&pd_rd_r=115a7867-bac8-46ed-b774- 59701690d085&pd_rd_w=nkm9k&pd_rd_wg=vXs3B&pf_rd_p=62bc58f5-5a07-4a59-9b91-fe01cc96db2b&pf_rd_r=5CEAA4VYZW20GZJBEPQD&psc=1&refRID=5CEAA4VYZW20GZJBEPQD There is a second green workbook from mid unit 5 up. https://www.amazon.com/Ratus-CP-cahier-dexpression-2/dp/2218717298/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=ratus+cahier&qid=1623107949&sr=8-3
Joined August, 2019
5.0
82reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Teaching Certificates
Non-US Teaching Certificate in Secondary Education
Non-US Teaching Certificate in Foreign Language
4 Degrees
Master's Degree in Education from Tufts University
Bachelor's Degree in Foreign Language from Bishop's University, Canada (second copy for double major)
Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics from Bishop's University, Canada
Bachelor's Degree in Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology
I speak French fluently and have lived in Montreal and area for a long time. I've taught and tutored a large number of students to read in French, using high-quality well-known materials that are aligned with the science of reading.
I have a BSc, a BA in Honours Math and a double major in Languages and Linguistics, and an MA in Education. I taught in French first-language schools for four years, and have taught a number of classes in French as a second language. I also have extensive experience in teaching and tutoring reading in both English and French, and all of my reading students have succeeded in learning to read fluently.Reviews
Live Group Course
$120
for 12 classes2x per week, 6 weeks
30 min
Completed by 12 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 5-8
1-5 learners per class
