Nancy Wise, Ph.D.
@fiedconsulting.bsky.social
French Immersion Educational Consultant & Reading Researcher
Pinned
Our French Immersion Community on Bluesky is growing! Thanks to all of you for joining. Please reach out to FI researchers, parents & caregivers, school principals, VPs, teachers, and support staff. We need a place where we can come together to discuss FI topics of interest to all of us.
BREAKING NEWS! Dyslexia Canada now has a dedicated space on its website for French Immersion families with children who have #reading difficulties or diagnosed reading disabilities like #dyslexia. Check out the FAQs that address concerns often raised by families. dyslexiacanada.org/support/fren...
French Immersion - Dyslexia Canada
Families often have important questions about how learning to read in French, and sometimes in both French and English at the same time, affects their child’s
dyslexiacanada.org
January 14, 2026 at 1:20 AM
BREAKING NEWS! Dyslexia Canada now has a dedicated space on its website for French Immersion families with children who have #reading difficulties or diagnosed reading disabilities like #dyslexia. Check out the FAQs that address concerns often raised by families. dyslexiacanada.org/support/fren...
Is dual language learning too difficult for children with special education needs? Dr. Fred Genesee weighs in on this podcast, “Dispelling the Myths of French as a Second Language and Special Needs Learning:” podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/f...
Episode 9: Dispelling the Myths of FSL and Special Needs Learning
Podcast Episode · “French Footprints: FSL in the Early Years” · 2025-07-21 · 26m
podcasts.apple.com
October 23, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Is dual language learning too difficult for children with special education needs? Dr. Fred Genesee weighs in on this podcast, “Dispelling the Myths of French as a Second Language and Special Needs Learning:” podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/f...
Study finds that beliefs that limit biliteracy for students with reading disabilities are unjustified: www.researchgate.net/publication/...
(PDF) Biliteracy for bilingual children with reading impairment
PDF | On Sep 25, 2025, Dianne Macdonald and others published Biliteracy for bilingual children with reading impairment | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate
www.researchgate.net
October 22, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Study finds that beliefs that limit biliteracy for students with reading disabilities are unjustified: www.researchgate.net/publication/...
To identify FRENCH IMMERSION students with reading disabilities or impairments, assessment should include tests of word reading accuracy and fluency in both English and French: www.researchgate.net/publication/...
A 3-year longitudinal investigation of the overlap and stability of English and French word reading difficulties in French immersion children | Request PDF
Request PDF | A 3-year longitudinal investigation of the overlap and stability of English and French word reading difficulties in French immersion children | Extensive research has demonstrated the im...
www.researchgate.net
June 12, 2025 at 12:19 PM
To identify FRENCH IMMERSION students with reading disabilities or impairments, assessment should include tests of word reading accuracy and fluency in both English and French: www.researchgate.net/publication/...
In 2019, I was invited by Kathryn Garforth, Ph.D., founder of Garforth Education, to write this guest post: www.garfortheducation.com/french-immer...
May 15, 2025 at 12:22 PM
In 2019, I was invited by Kathryn Garforth, Ph.D., founder of Garforth Education, to write this guest post: www.garfortheducation.com/french-immer...
Just finished a presentation for the ALCDSB entitled “Including All Learners in French Immersion.” By sharing research evidence, I tried to debunk the belief that FI is ‘unsuitable’ for struggling readers, multilingual learners, & students with developmental disabilities. 🤓
May 8, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Just finished a presentation for the ALCDSB entitled “Including All Learners in French Immersion.” By sharing research evidence, I tried to debunk the belief that FI is ‘unsuitable’ for struggling readers, multilingual learners, & students with developmental disabilities. 🤓
This new Parent Handbook was created by the team at Dyslexia Canada with parents in mind - those with children who are struggling with reading in the English program & in French immersion. Download it here: drive.google.com/file/d/1HB0o...
April 27, 2025 at 2:47 PM
This new Parent Handbook was created by the team at Dyslexia Canada with parents in mind - those with children who are struggling with reading in the English program & in French immersion. Download it here: drive.google.com/file/d/1HB0o...
On this, National French Immersion Day, we should celebrate the progress that’s been made to support at-risk readers in the immersion program! We now have standardized screening tools in French & English that can identify at-risk readers early on. We also have French structured literacy programs,
April 23, 2025 at 11:56 PM
On this, National French Immersion Day, we should celebrate the progress that’s been made to support at-risk readers in the immersion program! We now have standardized screening tools in French & English that can identify at-risk readers early on. We also have French structured literacy programs,
I’m attending IDA Ontario‘s Navigating Dyslexia Family Conference. Who else is planning to attend? Let’s connect!
April 21, 2025 at 9:49 PM
I’m attending IDA Ontario‘s Navigating Dyslexia Family Conference. Who else is planning to attend? Let’s connect!
This 2025 paper identifies key approaches to make Canada’s French immersion program more inclusive: era.library.ualberta.ca/items/761d1b...
FI Leave Here Tomorrow: Improving... | ERA
This paper presents a synthesis of the literature on inclusion in French immersion (FI) programs in Canada from the last 20 years. A lens...
era.library.ualberta.ca
April 15, 2025 at 8:17 PM
This 2025 paper identifies key approaches to make Canada’s French immersion program more inclusive: era.library.ualberta.ca/items/761d1b...
An excellent episode! I would have liked @j-metsala.bsky.social to include the frustrations of families of struggling readers in French immersion, reported during the Ontario Human Rights Commission Inquiry. So many said their kids were refused support of any kind (pp. 100, 336).
📢 New episode with Jamie Metsala dedicated to all reading advocates! Math next! Why are some provinces still using ineffective methods to teach reading?
❌Pitfalls of balanced literacy
📖 Structured literacy
📢 Ontario’s Right to Read report
🛠️ How to advocate
open.spotify.com/episode/15GB...
❌Pitfalls of balanced literacy
📖 Structured literacy
📢 Ontario’s Right to Read report
🛠️ How to advocate
open.spotify.com/episode/15GB...
How advocacy is changing reading instruction with Jamie Metsala (Ep 43)
Chalk & Talk · Episode
open.spotify.com
March 23, 2025 at 3:20 PM
An excellent episode! I would have liked @j-metsala.bsky.social to include the frustrations of families of struggling readers in French immersion, reported during the Ontario Human Rights Commission Inquiry. So many said their kids were refused support of any kind (pp. 100, 336).
Dr. Sarah Fedoration joins Global News to discuss the benefits of immersion programs and why they’re such a great choice for families. She also debunks many of the misconceptions about immersion programs: globalnews.ca/video/110904...
Ask the Educator: Benefits of registering your child in immersion programs | Watch News Videos Online
Watch Ask the Educator: Benefits of registering your child in immersion programs Video Online, on GlobalNews.ca
globalnews.ca
March 21, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Dr. Sarah Fedoration joins Global News to discuss the benefits of immersion programs and why they’re such a great choice for families. She also debunks many of the misconceptions about immersion programs: globalnews.ca/video/110904...
Link for teachers: carletonu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
March 12, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Link for teachers: carletonu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Link for parents: carletonu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
March 12, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Link for parents: carletonu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Check out the Featured Article in Réflexions by Dr. Tamara Sorenson Duncan and colleagues entitled, "Research Summary: Including Students with Additional Learning Needs in French Immersion."
A new issue of Réflexions magazine is available! 📖 Un nouveau numéro du magazine Réflexions est disponible!
Theme: Inclusive Language Education • Thème : L’enseignement inclusif des langues
Read it here / Lisez-le ici : www.caslt.org/en/media/ref...
#langchat #langsky #edusky
Theme: Inclusive Language Education • Thème : L’enseignement inclusif des langues
Read it here / Lisez-le ici : www.caslt.org/en/media/ref...
#langchat #langsky #edusky
February 25, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Check out the Featured Article in Réflexions by Dr. Tamara Sorenson Duncan and colleagues entitled, "Research Summary: Including Students with Additional Learning Needs in French Immersion."
Bilingualism: Fact vs. Fiction
January 5, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Bilingualism: Fact vs. Fiction
Cammarata & Fedoration’s article (2024) focuses on student retention in FRENCH IMMERSION. The authors underscore the impact of attrition on the sustainability of FI & offer recommendations to reduce attrition during transition periods from Gr.3 to Gr.4, Gr.6 to Gr.7, & middle school to high school.
December 6, 2024 at 5:42 PM
Cammarata & Fedoration’s article (2024) focuses on student retention in FRENCH IMMERSION. The authors underscore the impact of attrition on the sustainability of FI & offer recommendations to reduce attrition during transition periods from Gr.3 to Gr.4, Gr.6 to Gr.7, & middle school to high school.
Reposted by Nancy Wise, Ph.D.
1. “Multilingual learners in Canadian French immersion programs: Looking back and moving forward”
In this literature review, I synthesize recent scholarship with multilingual learners in French immersion programs and propose new areas for future research.
In this literature review, I synthesize recent scholarship with multilingual learners in French immersion programs and propose new areas for future research.
Multilingual Learners in Canadian French Immersion Programs: Looking Back and Moving Forward | The Canadian Modern Language Review
French immersion (FI) programs in Canada have historically served predominantly Canadian-born, English-speaking students and families in their endeavour to learn both of the country’s official languages, French and English. However, FI programs are becoming increasingly culturally and linguistically diverse as a result of increased global migration to Canada, and many newcomer, multilingual families are interested in providing official-language bilingual education opportunities for their children. The present article is a hybrid literature review and reflection article pertaining to multilingual learners in FI programs. The first section presents a synthesis of post-millennial research (2000-present) according to the following four areas of inquiry: (a) language education policy, (b) educator perspectives, (c) motivation, and (d) achievement. Subsequently, the second section introduces two emerging areas for future research: (a) intersections of race, migration, and language; and (b) plurilingual education. The article seeks not only to summarize recent research with respect to multilingual learners in FI programs but also to set the stage for important and timely areas of future research and to promote more inclusive and equitable FI programs in Canada.
utppublishing.com
December 5, 2024 at 5:27 PM
1. “Multilingual learners in Canadian French immersion programs: Looking back and moving forward”
In this literature review, I synthesize recent scholarship with multilingual learners in French immersion programs and propose new areas for future research.
In this literature review, I synthesize recent scholarship with multilingual learners in French immersion programs and propose new areas for future research.
New FRENCH IMMERSION research (Shakory, 2024): In order to ensure accuracy of a “struggling reader” identification, reading difficulties should be continually assessed & monitored in L1 (English) & L2 (French), as reading difficulties manifest earlier in the L1. utoronto.scholaris.ca/server/api/c...
utoronto.scholaris.ca
December 5, 2024 at 1:19 PM
New FRENCH IMMERSION research (Shakory, 2024): In order to ensure accuracy of a “struggling reader” identification, reading difficulties should be continually assessed & monitored in L1 (English) & L2 (French), as reading difficulties manifest earlier in the L1. utoronto.scholaris.ca/server/api/c...
Welcoming French immersion researchers to our French Immersion Community Starter Pack! Please join us!
Amye Kenall, VP Product, Data & Analytics Hub, Digital Science, said: “Bluesky has become a favored social media channel for research communications professionals and academics. Indeed, in our own research we found over 22% of researchers were using Bluesky over any other social media channel."
December 4, 2024 at 12:38 AM
Welcoming French immersion researchers to our French Immersion Community Starter Pack! Please join us!
“Will my FRENCH IMMERSION dyslexic child struggle to learn to read in both French and English?” Parents often pose this question prior to withdrawing their child from the FI program, hoping that a switch to English will be the answer. This is rarely the case. www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/life...
Dyslexia, Bilingualism, and Learning a Second Language
Dyslexia is the most common learning disability. Yet we know very little about it when two or more languages are involved.
www.psychologytoday.com
November 29, 2024 at 12:49 PM
“Will my FRENCH IMMERSION dyslexic child struggle to learn to read in both French and English?” Parents often pose this question prior to withdrawing their child from the FI program, hoping that a switch to English will be the answer. This is rarely the case. www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/life...
Our French Immersion Community on Bluesky is growing! Thanks to all of you for joining. Please reach out to FI researchers, parents & caregivers, school principals, VPs, teachers, and support staff. We need a place where we can come together to discuss FI topics of interest to all of us.
November 27, 2024 at 12:47 PM
Our French Immersion Community on Bluesky is growing! Thanks to all of you for joining. Please reach out to FI researchers, parents & caregivers, school principals, VPs, teachers, and support staff. We need a place where we can come together to discuss FI topics of interest to all of us.