Nine pages to help students review the HOWs and WHYs of the subjuntive.

Print two sets of these cards on printable business card sheets for an instant MEMORY GAME. Or run one set for "group work" cue cards. Or use them as flash cards. Or run one card for every student and have them find their "twin" / "triplets" by travelling around the room asking "Quel temps fait-il?" Or . . . This is an updated resource. Two years ago, I took the original “Quel temps fait-il?” card set down until I could find the time to create optional “windy” and “sunny” cards that might please everyone. (Do you think that I may be a procrastinator?) I’ve also updated the graphics.

These message cards are just little ice-breakers. They look a bit like QR codes until you raise them to eye level and read the “magical messages” from bottom (indicated by a number) to top.  Decades ago, these things took me forever and a day to draw by hand. But then I could legitimately challenge my students to draw a message of their own. Nowadays, I use the computer so they just take forever. However, I’ve lost the moral authority to launch my drawing challenge. But the “wow” moment when a student actually sees the message still makes it worthwhile. If you print your magical messages on card stock you can also use them as little reward records. Once my students accumulate ten stickers or stamps on the back of their magic message card, they redeem the card for a small treat or a bonus point on a future test.

Challenge your students to use their words with these Halloween, Diwali, Eid and Kwanzaa puzzles. Because the Hannukah Scribblescrabble has been available as a free resource for years, I've added a Thanksgiving Scribblescrabble for good measure. You'll find it in the second file. Unlike Scrabble players, Scribblescrabblers can choose which letters to use for each of their turns. As in Scrabble, however, they will score the most points with the strategic placement of those letters. You may ask your students to incorporate a thematic vocabulary list or to play using general vocabulary only. Either way, they will be engaged! In fact, very competitive students tend to want to play every possible open square. This file includes English, French and Spanish versions for of each grid and a blank grid for those of you teaching other languages.

IMHO, the old-fashioned practice of writing out conjugations for verb mastery still works academic wonders. But it is a much maligned approach so I’m always looking for ways to camouflage it as fun. This “MOTDOKU (sudoku) du subjonctif" is a review of the formation of the present subjunctive of DEVOIR dressed up as a sudoku puzzle. To be sure that it’s the kind of thing you want, download the free MOTDOKU du subjonctif (vouloir): https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/le-sudoku-du-subjonctif-vouloir-6160677

IMHO, the old-fashioned practice of writing out vocabulary for mastery still works academic wonders. But it is a much maligned approach so I’m always looking for ways to camouflage it as fun. As students solve these 3 MOTDOKUS (word sudokus) they will inadvertently “write out” the 15 “expressions avoir” listed below: to be thirsty - avoir soif to be hungry - avoir faim to be cold - avoir froid to be hot - avoir chaud to be wrong - avoir tort to be right - avoir raison to be sick - avoir mal to be x years old - avoir x ans to need - avoir besoin de to be ashamed - avoir honte to be sleepy - avoir sommeil to be afraid - avoir peur to have the giggles - avoir le fou rire to be lucky - avoir de la chance to feel like, to want - avoir envie de To see if MOTDOKU6? games are right for your students, try the free MOTDOKU6 (Noël) resource: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/motdoku6-no-l-11448787

This file includes • my Dr. & Mrs. van der Tramp poster • alternate Dr. & Mrs. van der Tramp mnemonics • a mini-lesson on verbs conjugated with être and their agreement with their subjects • Dr. & Mrs. van der Tramp exercises • The Transformers: a mini-lesson on “special snowflake” van der Tramp verbs and when they revert to the AVOIR auxiliary.

Les quinze expressions - avoir - illustrées - sont: to be thirsty - avoir soif, to be hungry - avoir faim, to be cold - avoir froid, to be hot - avoir chaud, to be wrong - avoir tort, to be right - avoir raison, to be sick - avoir mal, to be x years old - avoir x ans, to need - avoir besoin de, to be ashamed - avoir honte, to be sleepy - avoir sommeil, to be afraid - avoir peur, to be slap happy - avoir le fou rire, to be lucky - avoir de la chance, to feel like, to want - avoir envie de, J’espère que vous en serez vachement content! Click here for the free activity, ‘Let’s get to the bottom of LES EXPRESSIONS AVOIR’, to solidify the concept in an entertaining way: http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Les-expressions-avoir-a-review-game-6312195/

The latest update of this 38-page resource includes a tutorial on how to make regular and irregular adjectives agree with nouns and several activities and exercises to reinforce the concept. The topics covered include: • regular adjectives and • irregular adjectives including adjectives ending in: - é - e - eux - if - el - en - on - er • beau, bon, nouveau, vieux • BANGS adjectives • adjectives that change meaning when they change position • adjectives of colour • possessive adjectives • demonstrative adjectives les adjectifs possessifs “meilleur versus mieux” I’ve also included one of my favourite, most playful activities, " la vente aux enchères (des adjectifs de personnalité)" , a playful approach to mastering French adjectives

Imagic After your students have solved the Imagic (visual crossword) puzzle, challeng them to make a little Imagic of their own. Broken Words In this virtual race, players have to reconstitute and recopy words that have been broken into pieces and scattered over the game grid. Students may play individually or in pairs. The words in this puzzle are: 1 hero 2 honour 3 prayer 4 silence 5 bugle 6 poppies 7 service 8 weapon 9 courage 10 parade 11 battle 12 defend I’ve included a suggestion for extending the lesson for this activity.

A simple, visual introduction to these demonstrative pronouns wrapped in gentle humour. The lesson ends with a challenge to students to create similar visual comparisons for ‘ceux-ci ou ceux-là’ and ‘celles-ci ou celles-là’. I’d enjoy hearing about what your students produce.

"Trouvé" is a game inspired by Spot it™ or Dobble™. There is one matching expression between any two cards. "Trouvé" encourages students to concentrate, to read attentively and to pronounce the thematic vocabulary carefully. Included are a "how to play" guide and a deck of 54 cards to be printed on card stock, laminated and cut out. "Trouvé" est un jeu inspiré par Spot it™ou Dobble™. Il y a toujours une expression identique entre deux cartes. "Trouvé' encouragera vos étudiants à se concentrer, à lire attentivement et à bien prononcer le vocabulaire thématique. The grade levels will vary depending on whether your programme is in core, immersion or first-language French.

Où sont les trésors cachés? (les verbes ER) works well as a full-class, teacher-directed game or as a small group activity. After the fun of the oral treasure hunt, you can also assign coordinates to create an instant written assignment to reinforce the correct conjugation of the verbs. You’ll find that even reluctant learners will be motivated to listen carefully and the promise of “treasure” tends to generate enthusiastic oral participation as well. My answer key is for “le présent” and “le passé composé” but the game works for virtually every verb tense and even the subjunctive mood. I’m proud to say that, globally, this game has been downloaded over 6000 times. OÙ SONT LES TRÉSORS game sheets also are available for the following verbs and themes: Les verbes IR Les verbes RE Les verbes ER, IR and RE ÊTRE et AVOIR Les expressions AVOIR (3 game sheets) DEVOIR, VOULOIR et POUVOIR FAIRE, PRENDRE, METTRE OUVRIR, DÉCOUVRIR, SORTIR, PARTIR SAVOIR, CONNAÎTRE et RECONNAÎTRE Les verbes conjugués avec ÊTRE Les verbes PRONOMINAUX) The 10 premium games bundled. Enter “Où sont” in the search window of my shop to find them: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/Carlav

If you use Scrabble or Bananagrams in your Language Arts or Modern Languages classroom, these floor tiles for Scrabble (roughly 8" square) will add another perspective to the proceedings. The tile count officially required for Scrabble games in English, French, German, Spanish and Dutch are included. Run the tiles off, laminate them, push the desks to the walls - or, better yet, go outside to the playing field - and enjoy some serious play! (The "W" layout has been redone.)

"Let's get to the bottom (or top) of 'LES EXPRESSIONS AVOIR "is a competitive, repetitive game that will help your students to listen 'actively' and to master the expressions through the process of osmosis. It tends to generate very enthusiastic participation!

This Easter “How Touching” puzzle is a bit like Boggle. This is a five-minute filler for English teachers. I’ve included mini B & W puzzle grids for teachers who are trying to cut back on photocopy costs.

Looking for a relaxed way to get your students to learn a bit about each other? Here’s an alternative to the traditional “What I did on my summer vacation?” assignment. This chatterbox (fortune teller) prompts your students to talk about their summer experiences with some serious and some not-so-serious questions. (I’ve included two versions, one using British spellings and one using American spellings.) Enjoy your new school year, everyone!

This is a guided writing activity in which students assume the identity of Lady Gaga or a member of BTS and describe her/his day. The focus is the use of pronominal verbs. There are separate handouts for le présent and le passé composé for both the Lady and BTS. Of course, the same sheets will work for Drake, Adele, Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Calvin, Hobbes, the principal of your school, and so forth. (It was high time to update this file. Lady Gaga has stood the test of time. One Direction, not so much!)

This little crossword puzzle complements my “Trouvé (Les vêtements)” card game. The puzzle uses the same symbols found in the "Trouvé" game, which focusses on oral practice, to provide a simple, written element to further the lesson. It also works as a quick, stand-alone activity for anyone presenting a unit on “les vêtements". The vocabulary includes des baskets (f.) des bottes (f.) un chandail de hockey un chandail un chapeau des chaussettes (f.) des chaussures (f.) une chemise une cravate des gants (m.) un imperméable un jean une jupe des mitaines (f.) un pantalon une robe un sac à dos des sous-vêtements (m.) un survêtement un sweat à capuche un tee-shirt Trouvé (Les vêtements), a game like Spot It™, is available here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/trouv-les-v-tements-11232726

In this virtual race, players have to reconstitute and recopy words that have been broken down into syllables and scattered over the game grid. Students may play individually or in pairs. The words in this puzzle are: 1 horreur (f.) 2 chaudron (m.) 3 grimoire (m.) 4 squelette (m.) 5 fantôme (m.) 6 hanté 7 sorcier (m.) 8 zombie (m.) 9 citrouille (f.) 10 cercueil (m.) 11 balai (m.) 12 souris (f.) L’intrus: peur