Teaching French Phonics with Paul et Suzanne Série 1
By Apprentissage Illimité | Published: 2026-10-28
Category: How-to Guides
Learn how to use Paul et Suzanne Série 1 to teach French phonics in preschool and kindergarten. Step-by-step activities for French immersion classrooms.
Quick Answer
Start with Paul et Suzanne Série 1 to introduce French phonics through playful, story-based activities that build sound awareness and reading readiness.
Why Paul et Suzanne Série 1 works for phonics
The box set of 10 non-levelled books is designed for preschool and kindergarten learners, making it a natural fit for early phonics instruction. Because the stories are engaging and not tied to a strict level, you can use them flexibly to target specific French sounds without worrying about reading level mismatches.
The included audio version supports phonemic awareness by letting children hear correct pronunciation while following along. This is especially helpful in immersion classrooms where consistent sound modeling is key.
Trade-off: Non-levelled books vs. structured readers
Unlike levelled readers, Paul et Suzanne Série 1 does not follow a predetermined progression of sounds. You will need to select books that contain the target sounds or adapt your own sequence. This gives you freedom but requires a bit of planning.
5 Steps to Teach French Phonics with Paul et Suzanne
- Choose a target sound: Select one French sound (like 'ou' or 'ch') and pick a Paul et Suzanne book that features it. Skim the text to confirm the sound appears often. Check the book before class so you know the sound appears enough times.
- Introduce the sound with audio: Play the audio version first and ask children to raise their hands when they hear the target sound. This builds auditory discrimination. Pause frequently to let children repeat the sound aloud.
- Echo reading: Read a page, then have children repeat after you, emphasizing the target sound. Use the book's illustrations to reinforce meaning. Don't correct every mistake; focus on the target sound only.
- Sound hunt: Give each child a small card with the target sound. As you reread the book, they hold up the card when they hear the sound. This keeps everyone active. For beginners, use only one sound per session.
- Create a sound chart: After reading, list words from the book that contain the target sound on a class chart. Add drawings to help children remember. Revisit the chart in later lessons to reinforce retention.
Product Spotlight
- Paul et Suzanne - Série 1 - Le lecteur en éveil - Thème 2 - Les activités de Paul et Suzanne - Box set of 10 books: This box set includes 10 non-levelled books with an audio version, designed for preschool and kindergarten learners. The audio support and flexible structure make it easy to target specific French sounds while keeping young learners engaged.
Paul et Suzanne - Série 1 - Le lecteur en éveil - Thème 2 - Les activités de Paul et Suzanne - Box set of 10 books
