It’s back to school season! With back to school comes lots of new routines and establishing expectations. During my morning meeting and other parts of my day, I have a few French read aloud books I like to use. They are a perfect segway into the school year, help me ease my students anxieties, and begin discussing classroom expectations.
Here are my top four favorite French read aloud books for la rentrée:
Notre classe est une famille
The illustrations in the book are adorable, and the message is perfect for back to school. In the story, students will hear about inclusion, friendship, and celebrating differences. The premise of the book is that your class is like your school family! They love you for who you are.
After doing a read aloud in French with this book, I like to work on building our classroom community. We do this through an activity where we express our uniqueness and find commonality. I give my students a “Find someone who…” sheet. For example, find someone who has been on a plane.
Another activity I love doing is handing each student a puzzle piece. I have them draw different things about themselves, such as their hobbies, favourite foods, etc. Then we put the puzzle together and post it on the bulletin board. It shows that we’re all different, but it doesn’t mean we can’t be friends and support each other.
I also have an entire blog post about building classroom community, which you can read for more ideas.
You can purchase a copy of Notre Classe est une Famille here.
Le Garçon Invisible
This French read aloud book speaks to exclusion. Arthur is always excluded from games during recess and birthday parties. When a new student, Justin, arrives at school, the other kids pick on him for being different. Arthur reaches out to Justin, and they develop a friendship.
I like to talk to students about practicing kindness after reading this book. Sometimes during our morning meeting, I have them act out different ways to show kindness. If someone dropped their pencil box, what might you do? If someone is sitting alone, what might you ask? Then, I make sure to point out these acts of kindness in class when I see them!
You can purchase a copy of Le Garçon Invisible here.
Pas de câlin pour Adrien
This French read aloud book is great for discussing boundaries, especially with our neurodivergent friends. Some people may not enjoy being touched, like hugs, and that is okay! I love the way this book introduces boundaries and consent for young students.
Again, this book can easily be followed with modeling and role-playing. You can also refer to Adrien when having a conversation with students later. If you see students snatching or grabbing things from each other, talk about boundaries.
You can purchase a copy of Pas de câlin pour Adrien here.
David va à l’école
Teachers often have to redirect David because he is doing things he shouldn’t, like dipping a girl’s hair into paint. This read aloud is great for back to school because you can discuss classroom rules and why you have them.
After reading this book, I like to create my classroom rules with students. We write down the rules on chart paper, and then everyone has to sign off and agree to the rules. When a student is acting out, I refer to the chart to help them redirect their behaviour and self-regulate.
You can purchase a copy of David va à l’école here.
If you want more back to school activities and ideas, you can sign up for the back to school freebies. You’ll receive 4 freebies that are great for primary French teachers, and they will help you engage your students from the start of the school year.
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