French American School Of Puget Sound Cycle 2 The Leader in Harmonized Bilingual Education in the Pacific Northwest

Cycle 2: Grades 1–2

The key objective of Cycle 2 is to ensure the instruction and comprehension of fundamental skills.

Our Philosophy

Students learn to integrate their knowledge, savoir-faire, and personal working habits. They learn to read, write, and communicate proficiently in both French and English, solidifying the foundation needed for academic success. The program covers reading, writing, mathematics, science, P.E., and art. Penmanship is taught according to the French program of cursive handwriting, while script is learned during English class. The English curriculum covers reading, writing, and social studies, and U.S. mathematics supplements the French curriculum. Art, swimming, music classes, field trips, and assemblies enrich the program. By the end of Grade 2, students are capable readers and are able to write short paragraphs in both French and English.

Program Highlights:

LANGUAGE ARTS: Students are immersed in the French language, learning basic interpersonal communication skills with the goal of attaining cognitive academic language proficiency. Their acquired language skills in a bilingual environment help them find their place in the world, connect socially, and thrive academically.

MATHEMATICS: In math, students develop foundational problem-solving skills, logical thinking, and numerical fluency that they can then apply to real world situations and future learning. An early focus on geometry develops spatial perception and enhances abstract reasoning skills.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY: Science, engineering, and coding are centered around the inquiry method and facilitate the understanding of concepts such as matter, the living world, earth and its ecosystems, as well as sustainability and technology. This fosters critical thinking and creativity.

VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS: Visual arts, music, and drama allow self-expression, the learning of techniques, and the cultivation of cultural appreciation, ultimately enabling students to understand and connect with the world around them.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION: PE helps students develop gross motor skills and teaches them to express themselves using their bodies. They learn to take on responsibilities, cooperate with their peers, and maintain physical fitness.

Photos

English and French curriculum teachers work closely together to coordinate their lessons with the English curriculum reinforcing the skills taught in the French curriculum and vice-versa

Sample Schedules

Grade 1

Students work collaboratively on the theme of location to create a specific island/ planet which offers unlimited opportunities to imagine and create. Multidisciplinary lessons are prepared according to the French Ministry of Education curriculum and answer the specific needs of the students in the class. The unit is comprised of language lessons, visual arts, science, math and social studies. This year-long project makes up approximately two hours of the weekly schedule.

Grade 2

Students receive writing instruction in French and English based on the readers’/writers’ workshop model. During the writing workshop, students are invited to live, work, and learn as writers. They observe the world with writers’ eyes while collecting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing well-crafted narrative and expository texts. Students receive direct instruction on specific skills in the form of class mini-lessons. Students write, applying the skills and strategies they have learned to their own writing projects. Feedback is given through one-to-one conferences and small group instruction. Each thematic unit culminates with a celebratory publishing party.