Curriculum Overview
Choosing French immersion does not mean choosing between strong academics and bilingualism — at L'Etoile du Nord, your child receives both.
Curriculum Overview
At L’Étoile du Nord French Immersion, we follow the Minnesota Academic Standards while delivering instruction primarily in French. Our curriculum is intentionally selected to support both strong academic achievement and bilingual language development.
Our school offers a one-way immersion program that follows a 90:10 immersion language immersion model. English instruction begins in 2nd grade. At each subsequent grade level, the amount of instruction in English is increased so that by fifth grade, students are taught 65% in the partner language and 35% in English. Students in 5th grade complete a language proficiency test to provide feedback on their progress in French.
In the early grades, students learn to read and write in French using Son au Graphe, a structured literacy program that explicitly teaches phonics, spelling patterns, and sound-symbol relationships. This systematic approach helps students build strong decoding skills, reading fluency, and spelling accuracy in French. Instruction is explicit, sequential, and designed to ensure that all learners develop a solid literacy foundation.
To learn more about Son au Graphe, click the button below:
English Literacy
When English literacy is introduced, we use UFLI (University of Florida Literacy Institute) Foundations, a highly regarded structured phonics program grounded in the science of reading. UFLI provides clear, step-by-step instruction in sound patterns, decoding strategies, and word reading. This ensures students transfer their strong literacy skills from French into English effectively and confidently.
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Mathematics
For mathematics instruction in French, we use JUMP Math, a research-based program known for building deep conceptual understanding through carefully sequenced lessons. JUMP Math breaks complex concepts into manageable steps while maintaining high expectations for all students. This approach helps students develop confidence, strong number sense, and problem-solving skills — all while learning mathematical vocabulary in French.
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Pre-K Curriculum
Developed by Saint Paul Public Schools teachers and specialists, Discovering Our World is a comprehensive, play-based curriculum designed to spark curiosity and support early academic and social-emotional growth. Through hands-on inquiry and thematic units, students investigate real-world concepts—such as patterns in nature and community roles—while building foundational skills in literacy and math. This approach integrates seamlessly with specialized programs (like French Immersion) and other subjects, ensuring that learning is connected, meaningful, and responsive to the diverse needs of every young learner.
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What This Means for Your Child
Because we use structured, research-based programs in literacy and mathematics, your child will:
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Build strong reading foundations in French through explicit phonics instruction
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Develop transferable literacy skills that support English reading success
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Strengthen problem-solving and number sense in mathematics
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Learn academic vocabulary in two languages
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Grow in confidence as a bilingual learner
Our carefully sequenced curriculum ensures that students are not left to “figure it out” on their own. Skills are taught clearly, practiced intentionally, and reinforced over time. This helps all learners — including those who may need additional support — succeed in an immersion setting.
By the time students move into upper elementary, they are not only meeting grade-level expectations — they are doing so while functioning academically in two languages.
Grade-Level Curriculum Goals
Below you will find some key goals in the areas of Literacy, Math, Science, and Social Studies that students learn at each grade level.
- Pre-K (ages 4-5)
- Kindergarten (ages 5-6)
- First Grade (ages 6-7)
- second Grade (ages 7-8)
- third Grade (ages 8-9)
- fourth Grade (ages 9-10)
- fifth Grade (ages 10-11)