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.

The curriculum is divided into the following five areas: 1) Personal, Social, and Emotional Development; 2) Language Arts; 3) Math; 4) Discovering the World (Science); and 5) Art and P.E.

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.

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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