Important Updates for Next Week

As a reminder, next week we will be meeting twice - Tuesday and Wednesday!  Same time (3PM) and same place (Family Center).  

Tuesday:  One of our parents has arranged for a guest speaker from Normandy to visit!  The speaker will begin at 3:00PM at the start of class.  The speaker will tell a little about her life in France, read a children's book in French, and do a question / answer time.  Please talk with your children about this ahead of time and come up with 2 questions to ask the speaker.  Afterwards, we will move to the classroom where we will have a snack of crepes made by another mom in the class!  And, if time allows Madame Michelle has a fun game to play (if not, she'll have the kids try it out during a future class).  Merci to everyone collaborating to make this a super special class!  :)

Wednesday:  Madame Michelle will hold class meeting 5.  She is having a great time teaching our French class and is having a lot of fun with the children!  She asks if parents would do some extra reinforcing of colors over the next couple of weeks at home to help with an upcoming class activity she has planned using colors.  Here is a fun youtube link that reviews colors....  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOB_VX1L7Kk   Also, she recomends using the colors in day to day language - such as, when getting dressed, coloring, driving....

Lastly, click here to check out information on Session 3 (our current 6 week session)....
http://cmfleisner.wix.com/french-class#!2015-session-3/c20id

Have a great weekend!  Merci!  Marianne

Parent Resources

I added a new tab on the Les Amis website under "Resources" called "Home Tool Kit."  As instructors and families pass along great resources, I will post them there.  Please click on this link http://cmfleisner.wix.com/french-class#!home-tool-kit/c10cr to check it out.  So far, I have posted several useful resources including......

1.  The very helpful Parent Resource Guide that Madame Michelle created.  A paper version was handed out in class last week, but you can always refer to the electronic version now too.

2.  All of the French vocabulary bookmarks that Madame Michelle created for the Summer Session that are given out weekly in French.  I keep this handy resource posted on my fridge at home and find it so helpful to encourage weekly practice.

3  Tools and resources to reinforce the important foundational vocabulary Madame Qerimi and Madame Michelle have been introducing and reviewing regularly.

4. A fun clean up song with French and English subtitles! This is also found on the parent resource guide.  I know I'll be practicing this one at home as much as possible - love it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ3Fu-j0gEE

Class Song!

Madame Michelle created a fun French song to teach our students, and it really fits our group name name, "Les Amis!"

Sing the song to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle, and we can practice it in class together.

Bonjour Bonjour Mes amis (wave to each side)

Comment ca va aujourd’hui? (hands in air questioning)

Ca va bien merci et toi (thumbs up and point out)

ca va bien merci et toi

Bonjour Bonjour Mes amis

Comment ca va aujourd’hui?

Update from Madame Michelle!

Bonjour Parents!

This week we are working with a Birthday theme! Seeing how July 15th is La fête de la bastille in France it was fitting to do this theme around the real celebration day. When I was in France I was not able to be in Paris on this day, but I was in LaRochelle...a beautiful coastal city. Nothing special really happened except for a feu d’artifice  (fire works!) over the ocean. In Paris there is always a big celebration. This week I suggest making crèpes for dinner in honor of the French holiday! Crèpes are easy to make and are kiddo approved! You can make them sweet and fill them with nutella, jams, or even just plain sugar. When a crèpe is savory it is called a galette. Galettes are filled with warm ham and cheese, or can even be garnished with a small bed of greens and an egg over easy on top. Breakfast, lunch and dinner... crèpes are magnifique! Try out the recipe below.

P.S. Here is a link to watch real French crepes being made on the street! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=278ylLmcH7A

Crèpes

Ingredients:

• 1 cup milk
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup plus 1 Tbs. all-purpose flour
• 1/2 Tbs. melted unsalted butter, plus 8 tsp.
• butter
• 1/2 tsp. salt

Directions:

In a blender, combine the milk, egg, flour, the 1/2 Tbs. melted butter and the salt and blend until smooth. Refrigerate for 2 to 8 hours.

In a crepe pan over medium heat, melt 1 tsp. of the butter to coat the pan evenly. Lift the pan at a slight angle and pour 2 Tbs. of the batter into the center, tilting the pan to spread the batter to the edges. Return the pan to the heat and cook until the crepe is golden underneath, 1 to 2 minutes. Using a spatula, flip the crepe over and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate and cover. Repeat with the remaining batter. Makes 8 crepes.

Fill with sweet or savoury ingredients to your preference! ☺

Session 3 Starting Soon!

Bonjour Mes Amis!   French class will be starting up again on Wednesday!  Here are a couple of quick updates for you to be aware of...

1.  Classes meet from 3:00 - 4:00PM during summer session, not 3:20 to 4:20.  Also, classes meet on Wednesdays, not Tuesdays.  I'm sorry I keep saying this, but I'm just a worrier and picture people coming on the wrong day or time.  So, I thought I'd say it one more time.  :)

2.  I updated our website with information about Session 3 Week 1.  (I'll have the future weeks updated soon).  Please check it out because Madame Michelle put together a fun first week for the children and designed some very helpful parent resources too!   http://cmfleisner.wix.com/french-class#!2015-session-3/c20id

3.  We will need to decide as a group the best date for our 6th meeting.  I think August wasn't the best month for some families who attend, so we'll probably be looking at a July date and doubling up a week.  We can talk more during class, but thought I'd mention it ahead of time.

4.  Amy has a guest speaker from France who is able to come to one of our classes and speak with the kids!  The guest can't come on Wednesdays, but she is free on Tuesday, July 28th.  Would it work for everyone to switch our class to meeting on Tuesday that one week?  Or perhaps, that could be the make up date that we are trying to schedule?  Just some ideas to think over, let's talk in class and see what works for everyone.

5.  Bastille Days is in Milwaukee this week July 9 - 12!  Here is the link to the website...  http://www.easttown.com/events/bastille-days/   On Saturday, July 11 at 10AM there is a scheduled "Kids' Activities."  Let's talk more about this in class!  I haven't gone before, but I think some families in class have.  Maybe they have some helpful tips for going with kids, parking...  I hear it isn't good to bring kids in the evening.  What is Bastille Days?  Check out this little summery to learn more...  http://french.about.com/od/culture/a/bastille-day.htm

Week 1 Postponed Until July 8th!

Bonjour! Summer session is starting soon, and I have a few important updates to share.

1.  We will be meeting at the West Bend Family Center again for our location.  In the fall, we may move to St. Johns School, but will stay at the family center this summer.

2.  We had a few glitches with starting class on July 1st, so we will be postponing starting the class until Wednesday, July 8th.  We can all talk in class about choosing a day that works for everyone so we have our 6 meetings.  We can pick another day of the week during July to make it up.  So please do not come to class next week.  Week 1 will start July 8th from 3:00-4:00PM (please note the summer session time change as well;  it is a 3:00PM start time instead of 3:20.  I apologize if that caused an inconvenience for anyone's schedule planning. 

3.  Madame Milliken has lots of fun summer lesson plans up her sleeve and parent resources to help us practice with the kids at home! I'm missing regularly practicing French during the week and and am eager to start again!  She plans to incorporate summer vocabulary that we can use with our kids in our day to day activities to encourage home practice.

I'm writing you all from beautiful Scotland for the wedding!  Sooooo close to France, but no time to zip over there!  C'est la vie!  :)  (I've been waiting for a good time to use that phrase!  Finally! haha )  However, we do have time for a little sightseeing and will be touring Castle Culzean tomorrow, I attached a picture of it below.

Please let me know if you have any questions about the above updates.

See you on July 8th, Au Revoir!

Marianne

Madame Michelle Introduction

     Bonjour! Je m'appelle Michelle.  Hello my name is Michelle. I am so excited to meet all of you during out first session! I have just completed my k-12 French teacher certification and could not be more thrilled to share my passion for language with the students and their families.

     A little background about me: I graduated from UW-Milwaukee with my bachelors degree in French. I spent three months in LaRochelle, France in the summer of 2012 and came back from that experience certain that I wanted to make French my career. I continued my education with Cardinal Stritch University where I became certified as a K-12 French teacher. 

     French is my passion. I watch French movies, listen to French music (often in my car... a little too loud), and I have a particular interest in French children's books and classic fairy tales! Before and during my time at Cardinal Stritch University I nannied for two little girls under the age of 2 and spoke French to them. The older one will still request the French lullabye that I sang to her before naptime! I had the most wonderful time with them and always wished I could teach a French class to younger students. I am continuously amazed at how quickly little minds latch on to language!

     

    In my free time, I love to sew! I cannot sew clothing...yet! However, I have made quilts and lots of items for around the house. It is my goal this summer to make myself a quilt. My other favorite activities include farmers markets, coffee, tea, movies, and sitting on my front porch with friends and family.

     

I look forward to meeting you all very soon!

À Bientôt!