How To Use Guided Reading Effectively in FSL or French Immersion Classes

 Does the following sound like something you might say?
"I want to do guided reading, but I teach French. How can I make it work with kids that have limited French language skills and who are afraid to speak? "
​
I know it can be more difficult with a second language, but it is possible to make it work successfully.

Benefits of guided reading

First of all, you need to understand why guided reading is something to consider. In most classrooms, kids learn at different speeds and they have different levels of comprehension and language skills. Teaching to the whole class at once doesn't always meet the needs of every student.

Working in smaller groups helps with targeting information that is needed to develop language skills and comprehension and this helps build up confidence. Each group can work on material that's appropriate for their skill level. It works for those who need extra support, those who are doing okay, and those who need enrichment and a challenge.

Those that need more support are able to get it in a safer environment. They will take more risks if they feel encouraged and less intimidated. This will help them to build confidence and be successful.

Guided reading and French

When it comes to teaching FSL with guided reading groups or center activities, the challenge can be greater because of limited understanding of the language. However, guided reading groups can give French beginners the chance to engage with the language in meaningful ways and practice their new skills. They also gain exposure to French in a supportive environment.

​​Although I don't have a lot of experience with using guided reading in French Immersion, I can tell you that when I was volunteering in a Grade 1/2 French Immersion class, the small groups that I worked with behaved in a similar manner to those guided reading groups I had in my English classroom.

​If you choose to do guided reading, it's important to make sure that you have centers set up with appropriate activities and materials for the groups that are not getting direct instruction. At any guided reading center or station, it's important that all participants are given the opportunity to practice their French whether they are working independently or with a partner.

​There are definitely challenges to running a guided reading program in early French Immersion classes due to the language skills needed, but it is doable once they have some basic skills. Later on in first grade or in second grade, most students should have enough language skills to handle independent activities at centers if they are taught how to use the different materials and activities.

​Extra adult support would be helpful so that multiple stations could be used. If not, you may need to work with any group receiving direct reading instruction while the rest of the class is working on one or two different activities. 

Center ideas and activities

if you are able to run multiple centers there are many different activities that you can try. Here are 4 different types of centers that you could consider along with possible activities that can be done at them.

Vocabulary center

- alphabetizing exercises where words must be sorted into alphabetical order; 
- matching word cards with images
- flashcards games
​- word bingo
​- sorting task cards by sound or rhyme

Sentence building and words center

- Sentence building and word games
- word searches
- crosswords
- sentence building using word wall or word banks
​- sentence scrambles
​- silly sentences

Listening and recording center

- listening to French songs
​- recording stories read
- reciting a poem in French
​- engaging in audio reading where they can listen to a story and respond to questions afterward.
​

Writing center

- creative writing assignments in French that focus on feelings and emotions;
​- responding to text-related questions to build on comprehension skills
 - French comprehension worksheets
​- filling out simple dialogues with pictures to teach common words and phrases
​- making storyboards
​- sequencing images to create stories

Other activities to develop French language skills

- role playing skits
- partner reading where students help one another with words they don't understand,
- creating a story together with a partner using select vocabulary words
​- using both auditory and visual clues while giving directions in French
- comprehension quizzes on text that they have read

Directed reading group ideas

To help ensure beginning students become proficient French speakers, there are several easy-to-implement French activities that can be applied to your directed guided reading groups. Examples include dictation exercises, introducing stories in chunks and practicing context specific vocabulary; practising letter recognition, phonemic awareness and word building activities; drawing story maps to help narrate the plot; playing dramatic storytelling games or roleplaying French dialogues.

French Language Resources

Here are some French language resources that I created and used in the classroom while volunteering. They may be helpful as you set up different activities and centers for your class.

Themed vocabulary word match activities
vocabulary task cards
emergent readers
escape room activity
​word games and activities

Using guided reading and centers in French classes can be challenging, but it can also be very rewarding. By using creative tips and tricks to engage your students in their learning environment, they are sure to see progress.

Here is a new French resource that you could use for vocabulary work or sentence building. It has 81 high frequency French words with the English translations so it can be used for a variety of different activities. 

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