Rainbow Board produces FSL resources for parents and students in Ontario

Rainbow District School Board Chair Tyler Campbell launched the new www.FSLHomeworkToolbox.ca website at Alexander Public School where he had an opportunity to chat with Grade 8 French Immersion student Trehnae Chartrand-Rajotte and parent Shawna Rajotte. Rainbow District School Board produced the website, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, for parents and students across Ontario. “As leaders in learning, we are delighted to have developed a website of exceptional resources for French as a Second Language,” said Rainbow District School Board Chair Tyler Campbell. “Our educators welcomed the opportunity to share their expertise with teachers, students and parents in schools across Ontario, bringing learning to life through the dynamic medium of the Internet.”



Lesleigh Dye, Superintendent of Schools with Rainbow District School Board, explores the new www.FSLHomeworkToolbox.ca website with Hayley McKibbon, a Grade 8 French Immersion student at Alexander Public School. Rainbow District School Board produced the website, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, for parents and students across Ontario.

Parent and teacher Barb Jeffrey enjoys the new www.FSLHomeworkToolbox.ca website with son Adam, a Grade 8 French Immersion student at Alexander Public School. Rainbow District School Board produced the website, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, for parents and students across Ontario.

Rainbow District School Board, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, has produced a dynamic new website of French as a Second Language (FSL) resources for parents and students across Ontario. The website was made possible through the financial support of the Ontario Ministry of Education and the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage.

The website – www.FSLHomeworkToolbox.ca – supports parents who have children in a French Immersion (FI) program and wish to assist them with homework in French. It is also a resource for FI students who require an accessible user-friendly reference tool to help with homework. Learners and educators in other FSL programs will also find it useful.

“As leaders in learning, we are delighted to have developed a website of exceptional resources for French as a Second Language,” said Rainbow District School Board Chair Tyler Campbell. “Our educators welcomed the opportunity to share their expertise with teachers, students and parents in schools across Ontario, bringing learning to life through the dynamic medium of the Internet.”

The website features audio files in French and English, video clips demonstrating instructional strategies, a reference guide for specific topics, a list of French language learning websites and glossaries, general tips for learning French, tips for completing homework, learning skills and work habits, frequently asked questions, and popular French books and music.

French Immersion, which provides an intensive second language learning experience, immerses students in the French language. Students also participate in cultural activities. Core French, offered daily as part of the regular English program in Rainbow Schools beginning in Grade 1, develops basic communication skills in French and an understanding of the nature of the language.

“Both programs are designed for English speaking parents so they can support their children in school,” said Norm Blaseg, Director of Education for Rainbow District School Board. “Over the years, parents have told us that these resources would be of great value to them and their children. I commend the team of educators from Rainbow Schools and the Ministry of Education who worked diligently over the past year to compile the information for the website. Their efforts will benefit all students in Ontario for years to come and will further engage parents in their child’s learning of a second language.”

He added: “Research has shown that knowledge of a second language strengthens first-language acquisition and that the ability to speak two or more languages enhances reasoning, problem-solving and creative-thinking skills. Learning a second language not only reinforces students’ ability to communicate, but also develops their capacity to understand and respect other cultures. It also gives students access to greater educational and career opportunities, and offers a competitive advantage in the marketplace.”

The interactive website, which builds on the popular “Boîte à outils” that was launched by Rainbow District School Board two years ago, features the pronunciation of more than 300 words and expressions in 16 categories – everyday language, expressions, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, pronouns, transition expressions and prepositions, conjunctions, punctuation and capitalization, emotions, French pronunciation, computer terminology, true cognates, fossilized errors, websites and top picks.

The “look and listen” section of the website features video clips on instructional strategies to support students reading at home, writing at home and doing math at home. Students and parents will also meet FSL mascots Pierre-Oh and Pierrette “qui parlent français”. These whimsical characters make learning a second language fun, particularly for children in younger grades.

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Media Contact:

Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,

Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,

Rainbow District School Board, 705-674-3171, ext. 7217.