Petits pas, grands bonds! – French Immersion Educators Take Big Leaps Through Collaboration and Learning

Kindergarten to Grade 5 French immersion teachers from across the division recently came together to participate in a dynamic two-part professional learning series titled Petits pas, grands bonds! Led by the divisional Early Years French Immersion Teacher Leadership Team, the series focused on deepening classroom practices in reading and writing instruction—entirely en français.

The sessions offered rich opportunities for educators to collaborate, exchange ideas, and strengthen their French language teaching practices. Teachers explored effective strategies for engaging young learners in literacy, and they co-created resources they could immediately implement in their classrooms.

"With Petits pas, grands bonds!, our goal was to build a space where teachers felt inspired, supported, and connected,” said Sorel Gydé, a curriculum consultant that supports French immersion programming.  

“Voir nos collègues partager, réfléchir ensemble, et repartir avec des idées concrètes pour leur salle de classe—ça, c’était puissant."

Throughout both sessions, the energy was palpable as teachers engaged in thoughtful discussion, hands-on resource development, and reflective practice. This shared professional learning not only strengthened instructional practices but also reinforced a strong sense of community among French immersion educators.

“C’était une expérience incroyablement enrichissante! I left feeling inspired and more confident in how I support my students in both reading and writing,” said Dinah Guillou, a teacher-librarian. “Having the chance to learn from colleagues who understand the realities of French immersion classrooms made all the difference.”

The Early Years French Immersion Teacher Leadership Team looks forward to building on the momentum of Petits pas, grands bonds! and continuing to support excellence in French immersion education across the division.