What parents can do

Wasatch Junior High - French

What parents can do!!!!

1 - UNDERSTAND... UNDERSTAND... UNDERSTAND!!!!!
	- The French program at Wasatch! may appear different from the way 
parents learned a foreign language when they were in school!
              - Study the disclosure statement and other pages.
	      - Discuss classroom activities with student.
	      - Visit the class anytime.
	      - Inquire from teacher.(Email is best)
I often am asked questions by parents which show that parents DID NOT spend 
the time to understand the program. Such questions can be: "Does s/he turn 
in her/his homework?", "Why does s/he not have a textook?", "Why doesn't 
s/he not know the words in English?" "What can we do help?" etc...
Please read carefully and discuss the class with your student.  I seldom get 
specific questions regarding what is written in my disclosure statement or 
what comes up in the discussions at home!!! 

	- The student:
	      - Learning style.
	      - Attitude.
	      - Work habits.

2 - BE POSITIVE ABOUT…
	- The student:
	  The grade is not everything  
	      - A : Excellent
	      - B : Good
	      - C : Average
              - D : Poor
	      - We all have different aptitudes.
	      - Contentment and long term development are better than a 
grade.

	- The culture:
	      - Consider and point out the historical contributions which 
                came trough the French language in many areas.

	      - French is with English the language of the Olympics and the 
                UN and is considered the second language of the World 
                from Asia to Europe and South America (La Francophonie.)
	
              - Find in papers and on TV and point out to students the 
                current events which involve the French language and         
                culture(Europe,Canada, Africa, etc.) 

	- The program and the teacher:
	      - The immersion program at Wasatch has been very successful.
	      - The teacher is a native speaker of the language and properly 
                trained in the method.


3 - BE SUPPORTIVE…
	- Ask regularly what is happening in the French class. 

	- Monitor the French notebook:
	      - Neatness.
	      - Work seems to be done properly.
	      - Colors.
	      - Student seems to be able to explain.

	- Supervise and participate in the home activities: 
              - MAKE SURE that student maintain (see "what students can do  
at home)
	      - Show and tell.

	- Attend parent-teacher conference.

	- Schedule a conference with teacher, if necessary.

Failure to learn the material in class and participating (paying attention, 
asking questions, responding etc...) cannot be compensated by work at home.  
Parents and friends RETEACHING the materials or using different methods will 
not work.  The activites at home should be mainly in the area of REVIEW and 
MAINTENANCE. Students need to GET IT in class.