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      classroom-chronicles2

Bringing 19th Century Literature to Life
by Clementine Riem

What happens when you mix classic literature, creative collaboration, and modern media? A fresh take on the 19th century realist author Guy de Maupassant’s works, brought to life by 8th grade students in the form of literary podcasts.

I asked my students to choose one of Maupassant’s works to read before diving into the world of French literary podcasts. In a critical listening session, they explored various existing formats, debated their favorites, and shared what worked and didn’t work in the podcasts they had listened to.

With that in mind, they brainstormed three possible podcast styles—interviews, critical debates, and expressive readings of excerpts—before deciding which direction to take for their own productions. From there, they developed their own evaluation criteria, drafted scripts, and got to work recording and editing their episodes.

Finally, we gathered as a class for a listening party, where students evaluated each other’s work using the criteria they had previously created. The result? A hands-on, creative exploration of literature that combined analytical thinking with media production—proving that even 19th century storytelling can find a voice in the digital age.

List of 7 news stories.

  • Enhancing Language Learning with Gesture Language 

     
    Recently, a group of preschool teachers and our French Language Learning specialist had the opportunity to attend a two-day training on gesture language. This approach, which was first introduced at FASPS in 2016 by our kindergarten teachers, has proven to be a game-changer in bilingual classrooms. Designed to help children overcome language barriers, gesture language allows students to store vocabulary more easily, learn at a faster pace, and, most importantly, avoid frustration in their learning journey.  
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  • Living and Celebrating “la Francophonie

     
    “La Francophonie” (French language and culture) is more than just a subject in the classroom at our school—it’s part of the fabric of the school, a way of life. From hands-on projects to unforgettable experiences, our students are immersed in the French language and culture in ways that are meaningful, creative, and fun. Here’s a glimpse of how “la Francophonie” comes alive at FASPS. 
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  • 2nd Graders Light Up Their Learning with a Pumpkin Project!

    Recently, my 2nd graders embarked on an exciting adventure that combined creativity, science, and a touch of magic! The result? A collection of glowing pumpkins and a classroom buzzing with discovery! 
    The students began with a creative challenge: design a pumpkin! In groups of three or four, they got to work using a variety of materials—paper, colored pencils, chalk, scissors, markers, and more. Each group let their imaginations run wild, crafting unique pumpkins.
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  • Feudal Fun: Bringing History to Life Through a Board Game 

    Why I Created a Medieval Board Game for My History Class:
     
    This year, I introduced Intrigues Féodales, a medieval-themed board game, to bring our unit on feudalism to life. Designed specifically for my students, the game immerses them in the social structures and power dynamics of the feudal era by allowing them to step into the roles of its key players.
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  • Touching The Hearts Of Our Elderly Friends--and Our Own

    As part of an intergenerational project, the Grade 8 classes have established an ongoing relationship with Covenant Living at the Shores, a nearby rehabilitation and assisted living facility. Started in 2017 (with a hiatus from in-person visits spanning March 2020 to May 2022 due to COVID – only handmade cards were delivered during this time) the visits have grown from twice a year (one at the beginning and at the end of the school year) to four times a year since September 2022. 
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  • One Classroom, Many Voices: Learning About Community and Individuality 

    In second grade, we worked on a bilingual activity centered around Only One You (Il n’y en a pas deux comme toi) by Linda Kranz. Only One You tells the story of a young fish named Adri who learns important lessons about being unique and finding one's place in the world. Through this engaging book exploration, students learned about individuality and community while expressing themselves creatively in both languages. 
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  • Adventures In Learning

    I see learning as an adventure. My role as a teacher is a bit like that of a navigator: I’m here to guide students through this exploration and offer them opportunities to learn through experience. One of the moments that really illustrates this idea is the trip we take every year with our 7th graders to the Washington State Capitol and Mount St. Helens. 
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FASPS

With two campuses, our main campus on Mercer Island and our new preschool campus in the vibrant Capitol Hill area of Seattle, the French American School of Puget Sound (FASPS) is a private, bilingual school for children age 18 months (tiny young pre-kindergarten) through grade 8. Students benefit from a rigorous academic program, arts and technology curriculum, social and emotional learning, and a wide selection of extracurricular activities.
Non-Discrimination Policy

The French American School of Puget Sound does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religion, or sexual orientation in the administration of its educational policies, financial aid programs, and athletic or other school-administered programs. This policy applies to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities, including applications and admissions, generally accorded or made available to students at the school.