Homework Help &
Online Resources
Presented by: Kristina Laperle, B.A., M.Ed.
FSLAC, Parent Co-chair
CPF Toronto North, President
Agenda
1. TDSB Homework Policy
2. Types of homework, responsibilities, and expectations
3. Homework Tips
4. Online resources TDSB and Ministry resources
5. Public library resources
6. Canadian Parents for French (CPF) recommended
resources
7. Apps
Please feel free to ask questions at any time.
TDSB Homework Policy
 Available in 13 languages
 Can be found under the TDSB website in the Parents’
section www.tdsb.on.ca/
 Since September 2008: “The policy balances time
required to complete homework with extra curricular
activities scheduled outside of the school day and
activities that support personal and family wellness.”
Types of Homework
 There are four types of commonly assigned homework,
each having a different intended outcome as shown
below.
 Completion
 Practice
 Preparation
 Extension
Homework Policy
 “Homework assignments shall be clearly articulated
and carefully planned…where appropriate, homework
assignments shall be differentiated to reflect the unique
needs of the child.”
 “are designed to require no additional teaching outside
the classroom and are engaging and relevant to
student learning. Students understand what is
expected of them before leaving school.”
Homework: Quantity JK-Gr.3
 JK/SK – “Homework should not be assigned to Kindergarten
students…families are encouraged to engage in early
learning activities such as playing, talking and reading
together in English or in the family’s first language.”
 Grades 1-3 – “There is a strong connection between
reading to or with …children every day in English or in one’s
first language and student achievement. As a result,
homework assigned… shall more often take the form of
reading, playing a variety of games, having discussions and
interactive activities such as building and cooking with the
family.”
Homework: Quantity Gr. 4-6
 In the late Primary and Junior grades, effective
homework may begin to take the form of independent
work. In both cases, homework assigned for
completion, practice, preparation or extension should
be clearly articulated and differentiated to reflect the
unique needs of the child.
 **You and your child’s teacher know your child best. If
you want your child to get additional homework, ask
your child’s teacher for advice.
Roles & Responsibilities
Teachers
 encouraging a partnership with
family and students that
promotes… communication and
supports families in the homework
process;
Students
 ensuring that he/she clearly
understands the homework
assigned, i.e. assignments,
criteria, and timelines, and
asks for clarification or
assistance from the teacher
when not clear regularly
 assigning homework…
appropriate to the student’s age,
developmental level, learning
style, skills and individual needs
 Completing homework in a
timely manner to the best of
his/her ability
 teaching the skills necessary… to
complete the homework and
become successful independent
learners

managing time and
materials, e.g. by bringing
home necessary materials.
Family Responsibilities
 reading in English, French (French Immersion) and/or
the family’s first language throughout the elementary
years of their children’s education
 providing an environment, i.e. workplace, block of
uninterrupted time, usually in the home or in an
alternative setting…for homework to be done
 providing encouragement and appropriate support
without doing the homework for their child
Family Responsibilities
(con’t..)
 providing a healthy balance between homework, cocurricular activities and family commitments
 stopping their child from continuing to complete
homework at bedtime, even if the child is not done
 contacting the classroom teacher if their child is not
consistently able to do the homework by him/herself or
if challenges or questions arise.
Homework tips
 Teachers know most parents don’t speak French and assign
homework that can be done independently
 Homework is often unfinished class work, or just a review of the
classroom work
 Ask your child about the classroom routine
 Discuss homework expectations and what’s ahead with the
teacher
 Stay ahead of the game - know what is being covered in class and
help prepare your child by working with the themes and skills at
home in your first language
 Check your child’s agenda and backpack. Discuss what you find
and what you see posted in and around the classroom with your
child.
“I REALLY don’t understand the
homework.” What do I do?
 Start with a good homework routine in a calm environment – No
DISTRACTIONS!
 Ask the child to “think back”. What did he/she do in class? What
did the teacher say?
 Get the child to call a friend/classmate
 Ensure a good effort is made
 Use a dictionary (avoid website translations of longer phrases and
texts) and online TDSB resources
 Use the agenda to tell the teacher how the homework went
 Encourage your child to talk with the teacher the next day
Expectations:
Dos and DON’Ts
 Do look for progress over time - how is your child is doing
today compared to last week or last month?
 Do encourage your child to explain to you in English what
she is learning or reading, or watching on French TV
 Don’t expect your child to do perfect word for word
translations, even in high-school- translations are not part of
the expectations of the programs
 Don’t compare your child to other children in other classes.
Though the curriculum is the same, concepts may be taught
in a different order
 Don’t worry – NOT knowing French can give you an edge in
getting your child to think for himself!
READING
 Skills transfer -Read with your child in your native language - you
don’t need to read in French – (That’s the students’/teachers’ job)
 Develop a love of reading : Have books available at home, and
visit the library together - Talk and read to your child in your first
language
 Model reading at home – Let your child see you enjoy reading
 Reading is more about reading for meaning and making
connections to experiences and not just about the sounds of
letters, or pronunciation of words – (literacy workshop)
 Most importantly: praise your child to create a pleasant feeling
What if my child’s book is in
French?
 Have the child read the book in French out loud to you
 Have your child explain the story in your native language
 Try to figure out meaning from pictures - Start with the cover
of the book
 Ask a lot of predicting questions and clarifying questions
 “What do you think will happen next?”
 ‘What do you think that means?”
If the book is French, con’t…
 Have your child teach you some French words
 Use word families and context to guess meanings for
unknown words instead of referring to a French
dictionary
 Ask your child why he/she chose the book
 Play word games (count the words, find a word that…)
WRITING & SPELLING
 Keep a French journal (picture + text)
 Write a short storybook for fun
 Copy sentences from a published book and draw your
own pictures
 Do crosswords, word search or other vocabulary &
spelling games – paper, online or app versions
 Play hangman using old vocabulary lists provided by
teachers
SPEAKING & LISTENING
 DVDs- select the French language option. Or, watch a French
movie with the French subtitles on to catch all the vocabulary
 Find apps for your phone or tablet
 Watch TV in French Rogers 12, 13, 130 Bell 112, 115, 137, 145
 listen to French radio: 860 AM, 90.3 FM, 105.1 FM
 Look into French camps
 Get a tutor/babysitter to play in French
 Invite a classmate over and role-play in French, ie. French
restaurant, “Boutique Chez Nous”
Academic Support &
Curriculum Knowledge
Discuss class ‘themes’ in your own language –know the
curriculum and stay ahead
 Visit TDSB website for Curriculum documents and sample
activities www.tdsb.on.ca
 Look for “Overall Expectations” and “Specific Expectations”
 Buy workbooks appropriate to your child’s grade level –
available at Scholastic, Indigo, Sonsuh
 Websites with graded activities (see links under “Elementary
Subjects” on the TDSB library website)
 Make it FUN by adding experiential learning activities at
Toronto’s many attractions
Online Resources & Apps
1. School / TDSB recommended websites
2. Toronto Public Library online resources (eBooks)
3. CPF Recommended websites
2. Apps for SK-Grade 3
3. Apps for grade 3 & up
4. App review site & Other great apps
TDSB/School Library Website
 www.tdsb.on.ca/libraries - The following links on the TDSB Library
website are particularly useful for Elementary School students.
See your “The Inquiry Journey” bookmark for Logins and
Passwords where necessary.
 E-BOOKS > Bookflix
 ELEMENTARY SUBJECTS
 Language > Storyvalues
 Mathematics > Coolmath4kids
 Mathematics > Math Homework Help
 ONLINE DATABASES > OERB (Ontario Educational Resource
Bank)
 IMAGES & MEDIA > Learn360
OERB
Ontario Educational Resource Bank
 Access through the TDSB Libraries website or directly
through https://resources.elearningontario.ca/
 More than 27000 resources & interactive activities in English
and French, many created by teachers!
 Organized by topic, grade, curriculum expectations, learning
style, etc…
 Search tips:
 Use “Browse by Curriculum”, select “grade” and “subject”.
 Do NOT select by “strand” or “French language”. This greatly
limits options
 Kids love “Interactive Learning” under “Resource Filter Types”
on the left side panel.
Learn360 – Great videos!
Access through the TDSB Libraries website or directly
through www.learn360.com
 BROWSE BY: “Subject Area”, “Grade Level”, and/or
“Media Format”
 Search tips:
 Choose your preferred subject area and grade level
 Kids love “Full Videos”
 Video length listed below the video thumbnail
Toronto Public Library
 From the main page go to “Downloads & ebooks”
 Overdrive ebooks & eAudiobooks
 From “Language Collections”
 select “eBooks francais” (over 500 titles)
 “Livres audio francais” (26 titles)
 Tumble Book Library has 40 titles in French
 Select “Language Learning”
CPF Online Resources
Specifically for homework in FRENCH:
 Canadian Parents for French Ontario
 www.cpfont.on.ca -Contains many helpful links, especially
Homework Toolbox & “Yes, you can help!” (listed below)
 Homework Toolbox
 www.fslhomeworktoolbox.ca
 “Yes, you can help!” by the Government of Alberta, Ministry
of Education
 education.alberta.ca/parents/resources/youcanhelp.aspx
FSL Homework Toolbox
www.fslhomeworktoolbox.ca
This website produced by Rainbow DSB based on a
needs assessment survey conducted by CPF with the
financial support of the Ontario Ministry of Education and
the Government of Canada through the Department of
Canadian Heritage.
FSL Homework Toolbox Sections
 Audio files in French
 English video clips demonstrating instructional
strategies
 a reference guide for specific topics
 a list of French language learning websites
 general tips for learning French
 www.fslhomeworktoolbox.ca
Grammar & Spelling
Checker bonpatron.com
 Cut and paste your child’s typed text into the
box
 Mistakes are highlighted in different colours
and explanations are provided in English or
French.
 Hover the cursor over the highlighted text to
see the explanation.
Youtube & Online Videos
Look for themed books, TV shows, movies on
Youtube or Google ‘videos’
 Ex. Grade 3 - NATIVE LIFE & EARLY
SETTLERS
 Little House on the Prairie, Anne of Green
Gables, Dances with Wolves, Pocahontas,
etc…(Check the library)
Recommended Apps for
SK-grade 2
 TFO & Mini-TFO
 iLearnWith (iLW)
 Mind Snacks – French
 Abc! Colors
 Feed me – Francais
 Qui suis-je? Fruits et animaux (matching activities: fruits and
animals)
 Les Comptines de Zoreil (songs with videos)
 TEMBO 4 (stories with or without audio)
Recommended Apps for
Grade 3 and up
 TFO & mini TFO
 Quiz Animo / Brigado Animo (cbc)
 French Vocab Games Lite (full App $3.99)
 Revise ta Conjugaisons
 Letris 4
 Brain Pop & Brain Pop Jr.
 Essentials (beginner adult - vocabulary)
 Le Robert Dixel Mobile (dictionary App)
App review sites &
places to find apps
 edululu.org – app review website by TFO
 Appyfamily.wordpress.com (Under ‘Categories’
choose “French”)
 Check out “Customers also bought” section
 Many of your favourite apps may also be available in
French – check for “Languages” in the “Information”
section of iTunes
The “Plan” for Curriculum
Enrichment at home
 Plan your extra-curricular support time, just like you would
any other activity and put it in your calendar, ie. 1 hr./day, or
Sunday afternoons, or Monday evenings
 Academic Enrichment takes time, like any other extracurricular activity
 Change your subject of focus daily / weekly / monthly
 Let your child choose
 Reward with field trips or educational games
Make it FUN
in English or French!
 Go to the library for books, books with CD, or videos
 Play educational games or apps
 Look for themed books, TV shows, movies or Youtube
videos
 Go on family field trips – Do they do tours in French?
 NATIVE LIFE & EARLY SETTLERS
 Crawford Lake & Conservation Area, Black Creek Pioneer
Village, Royal Ontario Museum, Native Canadian Centre of
Toronto, etc…
 Little House on the Prairie, Anne of Green Gables, Dances with
Wolves, Pocahontas, etc…(Check the library)
Additional ideas
for French practice…
 Look at labels on packages – which French words do you
know?
 FRENCH BONUS TIME  Give an extra 15-20 minutes of
computer games, TV or reading time before bed IF IT’S
DONE IN FRENCH!
 Adult French Classes for you so you can practice together!

 Toronto Public Library – French Storytime and other
programs, and LOTS OF BOOKS, CDs and DVDs!
 French / Bilingual camps for kids
 Exchange programs
Thank you!
Merci!
For more information on FSL
resources for parents, please check
out the following websites:
www.tdsb.on.ca/fslac
&
www.cpf.ca and www.on.cpf.ca