FRANCISATION

Francization with Paul et Suzanne

Paul and Suzanne are still extremely popular
in the British Columbia pre-school system.
This year, thirteen kindergartens offering
French-language programming are teaching
the Francization curriculum in their class-
rooms. In a few months, Francization tour di-
rector Murielle Gauthier will meet with the
teacher and parents of the Kamloops Parents
Association to deliver a Paul et Suzanne kit.
This group will have a French-language nurs-
ery school beginning in September 2001.

Note that this educational program helps chil-
dren to learn enough French to be able to
integrate more easily into a French-language
kindergarten classroom. The program focuses
on the child’s interests, needs and general
development. It encourages the learning of
vocabulary and the acquisition of basic sen-
tence structure through simple, but relevant,
stories. The interesting part of the Paul et
Suzanne program is that the teacher always
speaks French to the students, encouraging
“the principle of identifying the language with
the speaker.”

The parents’ commitment is vital to the suc-
cess of the Francization process. Their in-
volvement includes supporting the teacher’s
efforts, at-home follow-up, and speaking
French to their children. Parents must speak
French at home if we hope to pass on our
Francophone culture and to help our children
to learn the language.

ENGLISH SECTION

Something New for Paul et Suzanne

Here’s something new for the Petit monde de Paul et Suzanne: Apprentissage
illimité Inc. has published a collection for the teaching of accompanied read-
ing. Now parents and educators may purchase four series of 30 small books
from the Petit monde de Paul et Suzanne collection.

Coming soon: Tire-Lire will purchase Series 1 Le lecteur en éveil.

This will permit members to use the short stories to better prepare children
for reading. If you wish to purchase the various series for yourself and for
your children, contact:

Le plaisir de lire a Tire-Lire. Open Thursday mornings, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The Centre provincial de ressources éducatives pour la petite enfance
Tire-Lire, located in Port Coquitlam at the Ecole des Pionniers, heartily
invites parents, children, mini franco fun, daycare and pre-school groups to
visit us and discover our many resources.

The Centre offers parents and French-language pre-school services a chance
to borrow a wide range of French-language books, games, CDs, and videos
for children between the ages of 0 and 6 years. Tire-Lire will also send or-
ders by mail, at no extra cost. To become a member and to order materials,
visit the Fédération des parents francophones web site at www.fpfcb.be.ca
or telephone 736-5056 or 1-800-905-5056. We will be happy to send you
our catalogue and to tell you about the services we offer.

New products at Tire-Lire for parents and educators:

Créactivité 4: 241 pages of activities, songs and nursery rhymes for children,
ages 0 to 3 years. Published by the Manitoba Fédération des comités de
parents.

Comptines et Chansons: Collection of songs and rhymes for infants, Collec-
tion from Mother Goose for Children and Parents series, Toronto

DEVELOPING MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCE IN OUR YOUNG CHILDREN
Duclos, Germain.- L’intelligence au pluriel, Magazine Enfants Québec Décembre-janvier 1999. pp 25-31

An extremely important aspect of the Paul et Suzanne program is its ability to make French comfortable, relevant, and
interesting. Howard Gardner and his team of researchers at Harvard University claim that there are at least seven types of
intelligence. Each child possesses all of these types and has the potential to develop each to a certain level. We also know
that each individual develops one or another of these types of intelligence differently. The role of the educator is to
structure an environment that will stimulate all of a child’s potential for learning. What are these types of intelligence, and
which activities will help to develop each type?

Logital/Mathematical intelligence: natural science activities, associative organizational and sequence games, blocks,
sandbox, etc.

Linguistic intelligence: nursery rhymes, word games, songs, rounds, books, puppets, etc.

Visual/Spatial intelligence: handicrafts, puzzles, woodworking, orientation games, etc.

Bodily/Kinesthetic intelligence: games involving fine and gross motor skills, gymnastics, playacting, etc.
Interpersonal intelligence: group play, discussions, artistic activities, modelling clay, etc.

Intrapersonal intelligence: role-playing games, activity options, knowledge of interests, etc.

Musical intelligence: songs, rounds, musical instruments, dance, listening centre, etc.

Of late, there is talk of another form of intelligence, natural or environmental knowledge, which represents the ability to
recognize and classify the numerous species of wildlife and plant life and to learn from natural phenomena. To develop
this, we could organize various nature walks, make observations, care for plants or small animals, etc.

Working to develop these types of intelligence would better prepare the child for problem solving and facilitate his or her
ability to adapt and to learn in a variety of ways. Let’s encourage our young children to learn in a rich environment that will
stimulate the full range of these types of intelligence.