What your child is learning

In Grade 4, your child learns to:

• understand different kinds of spoken, written and visual messages in French about a variety of topics
• use his or her experience and what he or she knows about the topic, and about French words and other strategies in order to understand
• show understanding by:
  • identifying the actions and characteristics of the main characters in stories
  • finding information in reading selections
  • giving opinions and asking and answering questions about what he or she has read
• communicate a variety of ideas, such as feelings, opinions, ways to solve problems and giving directions for how to do something as they participate in activities such as:
  • talking and writing about past, present and future experiences
  • writing a message with a specific purpose and reader in mind
  • revising and editing what he or she has written using various strategies

To find out more about what your child is learning, talk to their teacher. You may also refer to the Language Arts Practices: Orientation Guide for information regarding the program's guiding principles and recommended practices.

How your child is assessed

In addition to regular report cards, your child’s classroom teacher also completes a Grade 4 Provincial Assessment ( 1.77 MB) according to criteria set out by the Province of Manitoba. The Grade 4 Provincial Assessment measures reading in French, whereas the Grade 3 assessment evaluates English literacy skills. Teachers collect information about your child’s literacy skills during the first few months of school. Parents typically receive their child’s results along with their first report card of the school year.

This assessment gives you information on your child's ability to read and to understand what he or she has read, as well as to set goals to be a better reader. This information helps teachers plan reading lessons and helps your child build a solid foundation in reading. Please visit the Assessment and Evaluation web page to learn more about provincial assessments.

Your child’s teacher will report on their progress three times a year. These reports cover three domains and may address the following questions:

Comprehension (Reading, Listening and Viewing)

• Does your child find information in a text and communicate about it?
• Does your child identify main characters and their actions?

Communication (Writing, Speaking and Representing)

• How well does your child give directions or explain a process to a particular audience?
• Does your child write, revise and edit a short paragraph using strategies learned in class?

Critical Thinking:

• Does your child connect what he or she is learning with previous knowledge and experiences?
• Does your child explain responses to information and ideas?
• Does your child think about or change personal views or opinions based on views and opinions of peers or experts?

The information from each report helps you to support your child’s learning. You can use it to talk with your child and your child’s teacher about results, strengths, challenges and what your child will be doing next.

Resources

• Winnipeg Public Library: Features information and programming devoted to Early Literacy as well as access to several databases of digital storybooks for a variety of grade levels. To access French storybooks, click on the Tumble Book Library link, then go to the top right hand corner of the page and change the language to "Français". The St. Boniface Library features the WPL’s largest collection of physical French language resources and offers onsite activities and services in French.
• Boukili: With a free account, families may access this rich collection of interactive French storybooks, organized by skill level. Boukili is also available as a smartphone app.
• The Fable Cottage: Classic children's stories presented in French with optional English translations and slow audio.
• Indigenous Storybooks: A series of leveled online storybooks featuring Indigenous and First Nations themes. Texts are available in French, several Indigenous languages, Spanish, and English.
• Radio-Canada’s Zone jeunesse, which targets school-aged children with French language games, videos, and activities. TFOKids offers French language resources in an English interface that caregivers can easily navigate. Télé-Québec hosts plenty of Francophone videos for children ages 6 to 9. Caregivers can also download smartphone apps for this age group developed by TFO and Radio-Canada.
• Students seeking a challenge can visit FlipTFO to view French language videos made for kids aged 9 to 12. Télé-Québec’s Squat website features videos and games for tweens and younger teens.
• Idéllo: Families signing up for a free account can access this online platform of French language multimedia content and learning activities, including lesson plans.
• WordReference Bilingual Dictionary: A quick reference tool including pronunciation files.
  • English-French dictionary
  • French-English dictionary
  • Verb conjugator
  • Mobile apps
• Farlex Pronunciation Dictionary: This tool allows users to hear French terms alone and in context. Includes an offline dictionary: iOS app, Android app.
• DREF (Direction des ressources éducatives françaises): Registered home-schooling families with verified accounts may access this library of French language educational resources, including books, board games, and digital tools.
• Please visit the My Learning at Home – Immersion website for links to more French language resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do you mean by "viewing" and "representing"? Viewing: Viewing is when children get information and are exposed to ideas that are presented visually, such as in photographs, videos, or drawings. Viewing involves understanding visual images and connecting them to accompanying spoken or written words. Representing: Representing is when children present information using a variety of media, such as charts, posters, diagrams, photographs, videos, drama and mime.

How can I help my child (even if I don’t speak French)? Talk with your child about school work. Even if you don’t know French, you can still be an interested and supportive listener. Help your child become familiar with your own traditions and stories. Read with your child every day in the language spoken at home – reading skills are transferred from one language to another. Encourage your child to read for pleasure in French or in English. Invite your child to read with you and listen to your child read in French. Watch French programs or videos, listen to a French CD and visit French websites. Give your child opportunities to get to know Francophone culture, activities and events in your community, in Manitoba and beyond. Give your child access to French books for reading enjoyment and reference books such as visual dictionaries.

Is the Grade 4 Provincial Assessment in French a test? No. The Grade 4 Assessment is not a test that your child can pass or fail. It provides information to teachers for planning reading lessons to help your child build a solid foundation in reading.

How do Children Learn to Read and Write in a Second Language "The process of learning to decode texts in French is not very different from learning to read in English or any other Western language. Children must first understand how texts "work": which way is up, and where text begins and ends. They must also understand that symbols and words can represent concepts and that a message, once written, does not change. Once children begin school, they learn that letters represent sounds and that different combinations of letters are used to represent all the words they hear. When studying French, students learn that the sounds associated with some letters differ from those used in English, while many stay the same. With guidance, students also notice that the structures of sentences differ somewhat between French and English. Comparing languages also reveals each language’s quirks and reinforces prior knowledge and skills. Although students may mix up these sounds and structures at first, they quickly learn to “code switch” between French and English. One of the most important factors affecting reading and writing in a second language – including French – is oral vocabulary. Students who quickly and accurately decode (or sound out) words may not understand what they are reading because they do not know what those words mean. Students must spend as much time as possible hearing, viewing, and speaking in French so that their vocabulary grows to levels allowing them to understand and enjoy the texts they are tackling. Your child’s teacher, school, and division may therefore delay formal reading instruction in order to focus on oral vocabulary acquisition. Rest assured that this vocabulary work – in French and in English – better prepares your child for learning to read successfully. Any delays in formal reading instruction are typically made up by the end of Grade 4, at which time students should be literate in not one, but TWO languages."