Madame Yak

I've been teaching grades 4 - 8 core French in Ontario, Canada for over 10 years, and before that, visual art and English in upper grades. I've also written a young adult novel (Signs of Martha, 2011) published by Great Plains Publications, and have published a number of short stories and illustrations.

I love using visual support to build language skills. I appreciate the communicative approach to language learning too, where students learn through authentic opinions and experiences. Language-learning through visual arts and drama also engages diverse learners and opens more windows into French and French culture.

Moon Beam Children's Book Award for writing (2011), for novel Signs of Martha.

Visual Arts/English at University of Waterloo, Ontario; Humber School for Writers; additional qualifications in French, Special Education and Visual Arts and English as a Second Language

Other big interests? Two beautiful (of course) grown-up kids, Alice the poodle, yoga, reading graphic novels and drawing and drawing and drawing!