NOM:
Madame Pierrette (Tori Byrd)
ÉCOLE:
Sarah Rawson Smith Elementary
CLASSE:
French - 2nd Grade & 4th Grade
TÉLÉPHONE DE L'ÉCOLE:
404-802-3850 (Prim. Campus) / 404-802-3880 (Int. Campus)
My name is Mrs. Byrd and my persona is "Madame Pierrette" in French class.
It's a privilege to enter my seventh year of working with the wonderful
children and families of Sarah Smith. I started out at The Galloway
School in 2001, went to Towns Elementary in Bankhead in 2004, then taught
English in three elementary schools in France for a year. I finally found my
way back home...and here I am at the lovely SARAH R. SMITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
It's great to be at a place where foreign language instruction is truly
valued as a gateway into our global society. The students' young minds are so
ripe and eager to receive all the knowledge and skills we tranfer to them.
This school year, I have the pleasure of teaching second grade again and
fourth grade, which have become two of my favorites. I love the units on
pizza, travels across Québec and devising plans to support endangered
animals...just to name a few. I can't wait to get to know each of you and
your families. Here's to a successful and enjoyable school year!
*Facts About Me*
- I graduated from the University of NC at Chapel Hill.
- I started out doing Public Relations for a small agency in metro Atlanta,
until I recognized my calling and passion -- French education.
- I learned to speak French in high school, college and by periodically
spending time in France over the last 15 years.
The students at Sarah Smith receive French instruction every day for 30
minutes in grades one through five. We have a communicative program that is
based 98 percent in the target language. So, from the moment the kids enter
my classroom (or when I enter the 2nd grade classrooms with my cart), until
the time I leave, the children usually hear only French, and are strongly
encouraged to speak French themselves. Because the students are immersed in
the language every day, they truly have an amazing comprehension level and
develop productive language skills more naturally.
Atlanta Public Schools is one of the few systems in the country that has an
articulated K-12 foreign language program. That means that students who
begin a language in kindergarten and continue a long sequence through high
school actually have a chance to become fluent in a foreign language.
What an incredible opportunity!