Madame Pierrette (Mrs. Byrd)

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About The Teacher Label:


About The Teacher
My name is Mrs. Byrd and my persona is "Madame Pierrette" in French class. It's a privilege to enter my seventh year of working with the wonderful children and families of Sarah Smith. I started out at The Galloway School in 2001, went to Towns Elementary in Bankhead in 2004, then taught English in three elementary schools in France for a year. I finally found my way back home...and here I am at the lovely SARAH R. SMITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. It's great to be at a place where foreign language instruction is truly valued as a gateway into our global society. The students' young minds are so ripe and eager to receive all the knowledge and skills we tranfer to them. This school year, I have the pleasure of teaching second grade again and fourth grade, which have become two of my favorites. I love the units on pizza, travels across Québec and devising plans to support endangered animals...just to name a few. I can't wait to get to know each of you and your families. Here's to a successful and enjoyable school year! *Facts About Me* - I graduated from the University of NC at Chapel Hill. - I started out doing Public Relations for a small agency in metro Atlanta, until I recognized my calling and passion -- French education. - I learned to speak French in high school, college and by periodically spending time in France over the last 15 years.

Mission Label:


Mission
The students at Sarah Smith receive French instruction every day for 30 minutes in grades one through five. We have a communicative program that is based 98 percent in the target language. So, from the moment the kids enter my classroom (or when I enter the 2nd grade classrooms with my cart), until the time I leave, the children usually hear only French, and are strongly encouraged to speak French themselves. Because the students are immersed in the language every day, they truly have an amazing comprehension level and develop productive language skills more naturally. Atlanta Public Schools is one of the few systems in the country that has an articulated K-12 foreign language program. That means that students who begin a language in kindergarten and continue a long sequence through high school actually have a chance to become fluent in a foreign language. What an incredible opportunity!