French Afterschool Immersion Program
For Rising 1st Graders


Our new French afterschool program blends academic rigor with child-centered joy. Designed for 1st graders, it builds fluency in reading, writing, and speaking—all aligned with the French National Education curriculum. The program is open to children in both bilingual and English-speaking schools.


This program is ideal for children with prior French exposure—graduates of immersion preschools, students currently enrolled in bilingual or dual-language programs, or French-speaking families seeking additional support. It is not suited for beginners or first-time French learners.


Program Highlights

  • 100% French immersion

  • Created by a certified French teacher

  • Small groups + progressive educators

  • Specialized daily classes: writing, theater, STEM, visual arts, & more

  • Homework support (in French or English)

  • Play-based immersion from 4:45–6:00pm

  • Prepares for French 2nd Grade or supports a long-term bilingual path


Curriculum

This program follows the French national curriculum for CP (1st grade), with a focus on:

  • Oral Comprehension & Expression: turn-taking, articulation, active listening, storytelling

  • Reading: phonemic awareness, decoding, fluency, and comprehension

  • Writing: copying and composing short texts, punctuation, sentence structure

  • Grammar: verb conjugation (present tense), gender/number agreement, sentence types

  • Vocabulary: thematic word study, synonyms/antonyms, idiomatic expressions

  • Cultural Knowledge: Francophone holidays, songs, and classroom routines


Teacher Leadership

The program is designed by Rebecca Courty, a certified teacher from the French Ministry of Education with extensive experience in bilingual education. Rebecca brings warmth, creativity, and academic rigor to every lesson, ensuring each child receives highly personalized instruction.


Long-Term Progression

This program is the first step in a long-term plan for extended French education at Smith Street.

  • Year 1 (CP / Grade 1): Foundations in literacy, oral fluency, and grammar

  • Year 2 (CE1 / Grade 2): Deeper reading comprehension, writing fluency, cross-disciplinary work

  • Year 3+: Advanced grammar, creative writing, research-based projects, Francophone cultural studies


Why Choose Smith Street vs. CNED?

Teaching Approach

Us: Playful + structured, child-centered
CNED: Academically focused, less tailored


Curriculum

Us: Aligned with French National Curriculum, adapted for U.S. learners
CNED: Rigid national scope, little flexibility


Class Size

Us: Small groups, personalized attention
CNED: Larger cohorts or remote/self-paced


Community

Us: Warm, local, relationship-based
CNED: External, formal, less connected


Immersion Style

Us: Daily live interaction, rich social language
CNED: Often worksheet- or screen-based


Schedule & Tuition

3:15–4:15pm
Specialized Class (rotating by day)

4:15–4:45pm
Homework Help

4:45–6:00pm
Immersion Play in French

Minimum Enrollment: 3 Days/Week

5 Days/Week: $12,750
4 Days/Week (Mon–Thurs): $10,200
3 Days/Week: $7,650


Please email us with any questions.