Curriculum By Grade
Aleph Class: Kindergarten and 1st grade:
Objectives:
We believe that children should begin our program in Kindergarten, as many of them are coming from Jewish pre-schools and thus, an unbroken chain of Jewish enrichment is created. Our goal in the Aleph class is to make our students comfortable in their new learning environment and instill an early sense of pride in being Jewish. Through song, stories, art, and drama, children are given the building blocks of Jewish learning and Hebrew language. We nurture their innate excitement of learning something new and the pure beauty that resides in their souls. You can expect your child to come home singing songs in Hebrew and in English, using Hebrew phrases, and talking to you about Mitzvahs. Our students enthusiastically retell stories from the Torah and will soon be able to put together short Hebrew words.
Curriculum:
- The Aleph class learns a new letter each week and a corresponding Jewish concept or Hebrew word that begins with that letter. Throughout the year, each child with create an "Aleph Bet Book" that will encapsulate these "living letters." Each letter is learned through a special art project. Occasionally, vowels will be introduced so that students can benefit from "whole learning" and put small words together. We do not, however, expect children in the Aleph class to read.
- Each day begins with a "Jewish Circle Time;" prayer, the giving of Tzedakah (charity) and songs in Hebrew and English. Students have a chance to tell the class about something good they have done during the week and we sing a special Mitzvah song for each child.
- Each day includes a hands-on activity in Jewish life such as learning to make Challah, say the appropriate blessing on food, or light a Menorah.
- After a short snack and free time, stories from Torah or Jewish history come alive for our students through dramatic storytelling, puppets, or songs.
- Holidays are taught through art and song, and inspirational stories.
- A fun brochure on the letter of the day goes home each week to reinforce the letter learned and some of the accompanying concepts.
Bet Class: 1st and 2nd graders
Objectives:
Students in the Bet class build on their letter recognition to include more vowels, complex letter combinations, and begin reading. As their confidence builds, we introduce Hebrew phrases and students are expected to answer in Hebrew. Our primary goal is to continue to nourish their pride in being Jewish, their love for Israel, and their desire to connect to G‑d through doing Mitzvahs. Character development is a major part of the Bet class curriculum and individual children are recognized every week with sticker charts and prizes.
Curriculum:
- As they did in the Aleph class, students begin their day with spirited prayers and songs in Hebrew and in English. Most new prayers are taught through song and motions and time is spent discussing the meanings of the Hebrew words.
- Students in the Bet class begin reading short words from the very first day and continue to develop more sophisticated letter/vowel combinations. A colorful book is used to promote letter/vowel recognition. Our goal in the Bet Class in to solidify our students ability to accurately identify letters and vowels and to begin the reading process. We believe that it takes two classes per week to develop reading fluency.
- In addition to weekly discussions of the Torah portion and new and exciting Bible stories, monthly themes reinforce concepts that were introduced in the Aleph Class. Students spend time learning about Israel and about specific Mitzvot like Kosher, Shabbat, and Mezuzah.
- Our hands-on curriculum ensures that students learn the "How To's" of Jewish life, including synagogue participation and Mitzvahs we do at home.
- Holidays are taught through art and music and special theme days.
Gimmel Class: 2nd and 3rd graders
Objectives:
When students reach the Gimmel Class, they join our older division and begin coming twice a week. To ensure a smooth transition, the Gimmel class is kept somewhat separate from the older classes while still participating in special programs such as "Parsha Pizza" on Thursdays. Although our Gimmel students are given the opportunity to choose some of their classes, Hebrew classes are given every Tuesday and Thursday. During this crucial year of Hebrew School, Hebrew reading is solidified and students build fluency and accuracy with lots of practice. In the Gimmel class, students are introduced to more in-depth Torah study where they are taught the lessons of the stories and they become more meaningful to them.
Curriculum:
- Gimmel students begin learning longer prayers and are each given a Siddur (prayer-book) midyear in a special Siddur Party. As prayers are taught, discussions of their meaning make them more relevant.
- Our Hebrew curriculum is taught by Rabbi Moshe, using cutting edge materials from Israel to teach accurate and fluent reading. Students spend time reading each day in pairs and with Rabbi Moshe so that individual progress is monitored closely. Our Hebrew curriculum is modeled after the successful "Ulpan" style of teaching, a total immersion program. Much of the Hebrew lesson is conducted solely in Hebrew and students learn to respond to simple questions.
- Holidays, Jewish life, Mitzvahs, and Torah are taught through monthly themes, taught through art, drama, and song.
Daled - Zayin: Grades 3rd-7th grades
Objectives:
In our older division, our goal is to continue to inspire and challenge our students and to nourish their souls in a warm and spirited learning atmosphere. While continuing to build reading fluency, we also want to enlarge their base of Jewish knowledge, especially their ability to practice as Jews. We want them to learn more prayers in Hebrew, introduce them to text study, and provide an open learning environment for stimulating and provocative discussions.
Methods:
A. Students choose classes and teachers:
We believe that children will only listen to an answer if they are interested in the question. Rather than impose a set curriculum on our students, we allow children in our older division to choose their own courses from a menu of class choices. Class choices are determined by the overall 7 year curriculum that is attached.
B. Multi-level classes
Since each child learns differently, we believe that students should be grouped by interest, ability, and style of learning, rather than grade level. At Chabad Hebrew School, students can choose topics that interest them and will learn in a multi-level (two or three grade span) environment. We believe that children learn from doing and that frontal teaching does not work in an after-school setting. Our students learn through engaging their artistic abilities or by an actual hands-on lesson. For example, we teach blessings on foods, through Jewish Holiday cooking, and Shabbat through art. When our students learn life-cycle events such as a Bris, they get on a van and attend one.
C. Ulpan Hebrew/Total immersion language program
Our Hebrew Language curriculum is based on the belief in integrated learning. Our approach is "whole language,” a seamless style of learning where everything comes together for the child. Our curriculum depends on the "ULPAN" style of learning, where students are immersed in a full two hours of Hebrew language each week. During this intense course, offered each semester, children will be spoken to only in Hebrew and stories and songs will be introduced in Hebrew. Once a child's reading is established in the Gimmel Class, he/she does not have to take Hebrew language each semester. When, they are motivated to learn more Hebrew, our students will have the option of choosing to study "Ulpan" Hebrew with Rabbi Moshe in a multi-level classroom. In order to maintain reading fluency, all students will read for a portion of every school day, no matter which classes they choose. However, when a child is ready, he/she can make great strides in a total immersion program. Students can choose to return to the "Ulpan Hebrew class as often as they wish.