A five-minute filler. Thanks to their texting skills, today’s students intuit the principle behind rebus puzzles but I’ve included a “comment déchiffrer un rébus” guide nonetheless. This rebus is intended for native speakers, Immersion, Extended & advanced Core French classes.

Nine pages to help students review the HOWs and WHYs of the subjuntive.

Print two sets of these cards on printable business card sheets for an instant MEMORY GAME. Or run one set for "group work" cue cards. Or use them as flash cards. Or run one card for every student and have them find their "twin" / "triplets" by travelling around the room asking "Quel temps fait-il?" Or . . . This is an updated resource. Two years ago, I took the original “Quel temps fait-il?” card set down until I could find the time to create optional “windy” and “sunny” cards that might please everyone. (Do you think that I may be a procrastinator?) I’ve also updated the graphics.

Embedded in the puzzle grid are 13 French words on the Saint-Valentin theme and more than 70 general vocabulary words. The file includes a thematic vocabulary, an answer key and a “how to play” guide. (I posted the English version of this Valentine's game five years ago and am truly tickled to see that it has been downloaded 3355 times! If your students enjoy the activity, please let me know and I will create more like it.)

A simple, visual introduction to these demonstrative pronouns wrapped in gentle humour. The lesson ends with a challenge to students to create similar visual comparisons for ‘ceux-ci ou ceux-là’ and ‘celles-ci ou celles-là’. I’d enjoy hearing about what your students produce.

"Trouvé" is a game inspired by Spot it™ or Dobble™. There is one matching expression between any two cards. "Trouvé" encourages students to concentrate, to read attentively and to pronounce the thematic vocabulary carefully. Included are a "how to play" guide and a deck of 54 cards to be printed on card stock, laminated and cut out. "Trouvé" est un jeu inspiré par Spot it™ou Dobble™. Il y a toujours une expression identique entre deux cartes. "Trouvé' encouragera vos étudiants à se concentrer, à lire attentivement et à bien prononcer le vocabulaire thématique. The grade levels will vary depending on whether your programme is in core, immersion or first-language French.

I’ve upgraded this light-hearted introduction to the sometimes challenging concept of les verbes réfléchis. This file that can be easily adapted and personalized.

Challenge your students to use their words with these Halloween, Diwali, Eid and Kwanzaa puzzles. Because the Hannukah Scribblescrabble has been available as a free resource for years, I've added a Thanksgiving Scribblescrabble for good measure. You'll find it in the second file. Unlike Scrabble players, Scribblescrabblers can choose which letters to use for each of their turns. As in Scrabble, however, they will score the most points with the strategic placement of those letters. You may ask your students to incorporate a thematic vocabulary list or to play using general vocabulary only. Either way, they will be engaged! In fact, very competitive students tend to want to play every possible open square. This file includes English, French and Spanish versions for of each grid and a blank grid for those of you teaching other languages.

IMHO, the old-fashioned practice of writing out conjugations for verb mastery still works academic wonders. But it is a much maligned approach so I’m always looking for ways to camouflage it as fun. This “MOTDOKU (sudoku) du subjonctif" is a review of the formation of the present subjunctive of DEVOIR dressed up as a sudoku puzzle. To be sure that it’s the kind of thing you want, download the free MOTDOKU du subjonctif (vouloir): https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/le-sudoku-du-subjonctif-vouloir-6160677

IMHO, the old-fashioned practice of writing out vocabulary for mastery still works academic wonders. But it is a much maligned approach so I’m always looking for ways to camouflage it as fun. As students solve these 3 MOTDOKUS (word sudokus) they will inadvertently “write out” the 15 “expressions avoir” listed below: to be thirsty - avoir soif to be hungry - avoir faim to be cold - avoir froid to be hot - avoir chaud to be wrong - avoir tort to be right - avoir raison to be sick - avoir mal to be x years old - avoir x ans to need - avoir besoin de to be ashamed - avoir honte to be sleepy - avoir sommeil to be afraid - avoir peur to have the giggles - avoir le fou rire to be lucky - avoir de la chance to feel like, to want - avoir envie de To see if MOTDOKU6? games are right for your students, try the free MOTDOKU6 (Noël) resource: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/motdoku6-no-l-11448787

This file includes • my Dr. & Mrs. van der Tramp poster • alternate Dr. & Mrs. van der Tramp mnemonics • a mini-lesson on verbs conjugated with être and their agreement with their subjects • Dr. & Mrs. van der Tramp exercises • The Transformers: a mini-lesson on “special snowflake” van der Tramp verbs and when they revert to the AVOIR auxiliary.

DIRE OU INTERDIRE? is a bit like “Taboo” and can be played 2 ways. If your students are confident in French, have them play according to traditional Taboo® rules. If your students are uncomfortable giving clues, turn the rules upside down. Have your students use the words beneath the red and green banner in their descriptions! This topsy-turvy approach encourages and empowers everyone to participate. You won’t believe what a positive game-changer it is. The green stars indicate challenging cards. It’s usually a good idea for you as the teacher to announce that you will accept synonyms like 'un palet” or 'un disque” for 'une rondelle”. The cards are designed to be run on business card sheets or card stock. As it is suitable for French as a First Language, Immersion, Extended and advanced Core French students, it can be played at many grade levels.

Les quinze expressions - avoir - illustrées - sont: to be thirsty - avoir soif, to be hungry - avoir faim, to be cold - avoir froid, to be hot - avoir chaud, to be wrong - avoir tort, to be right - avoir raison, to be sick - avoir mal, to be x years old - avoir x ans, to need - avoir besoin de, to be ashamed - avoir honte, to be sleepy - avoir sommeil, to be afraid - avoir peur, to be slap happy - avoir le fou rire, to be lucky - avoir de la chance, to feel like, to want - avoir envie de, J’espère que vous en serez vachement content! Click here for the free activity, ‘Let’s get to the bottom of LES EXPRESSIONS AVOIR’, to solidify the concept in an entertaining way: http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Les-expressions-avoir-a-review-game-6312195/

The latest update of this 38-page resource includes a tutorial on how to make regular and irregular adjectives agree with nouns and several activities and exercises to reinforce the concept. The topics covered include: • regular adjectives and • irregular adjectives including adjectives ending in: - é - e - eux - if - el - en - on - er • beau, bon, nouveau, vieux • BANGS adjectives • adjectives that change meaning when they change position • adjectives of colour • possessive adjectives • demonstrative adjectives les adjectifs possessifs “meilleur versus mieux” I’ve also included one of my favourite, most playful activities, " la vente aux enchères (des adjectifs de personnalité)" , a playful approach to mastering French adjectives

If you are looking for an enjoyable, collaborative, hands-on cultural project,may I recommend Joel Henriques' Paper City Paris?

If you use Scrabble or Bananagrams in your Language Arts or Modern Languages classroom, these floor tiles for Scrabble (roughly 8" square) will add another perspective to the proceedings. The tile count officially required for Scrabble games in English, French, German, Spanish and Dutch are included. Run the tiles off, laminate them, push the desks to the walls - or, better yet, go outside to the playing field - and enjoy some serious play! (The "W" layout has been redone.)

This Easter “How Touching” puzzle is a bit like Boggle. This is a five-minute filler for English teachers. I’ve included mini B & W puzzle grids for teachers who are trying to cut back on photocopy costs.

Looking for a relaxed way to get your students to learn a bit about each other? Here’s an alternative to the traditional “What I did on my summer vacation?” assignment. This chatterbox (fortune teller) prompts your students to talk about their summer experiences with some serious and some not-so-serious questions. (I’ve included two versions, one using British spellings and one using American spellings.) Enjoy your new school year, everyone!

Les résolutions du Père Noël 2024 is an exemplar of a New Year’s activity. I couldn’t resist making a list of resolutions on behalf of Petit Papa Noël. It will give your students some ideas, a laugh or two (I hope) and an opportunity to try their hand by filling in resolutions 2 and 1. Note: This is not a new resource but an update of the resolutions that I’ve been posting since 2012.

This variation on the old SNAKES AND LADDERS board game will ease your students (and you!) back into work mode. It requires students to read, listen, and pronounce carefully in French. And to be creative! Voici le bon vieux jeu de société, SERPENTS ET ÉCHELLES, réinventé pour adoucir la rentrée (qui arrive toujours trop vite pour les enfants . . . et les profs). Le jeu demande aux étudiants de lire et écouter attentivement, de bien prononcer les textes et de faire preuve de créativité!