Seven-Year Curriculum

Seven-Year Curriculum

Chabad of the NorthShore

Hebrew Schools

Introduction:

Chabad Hebrew Schools offers a fully developed curriculum, enhanced with a Jewish arts program, field trips, Holiday workshops, and opportunities for family learning. The following is a curriculum outline that spans the seven years a child is learning at Chabad. 

We believe that children will only listen to an answer if they are interested in the question.  Thus, our older division can choose from several sections of the following curriculum each semester.   Our innovative curriculum is based on our belief in integrated learning.  Children do not learn well when presented with material in cut up segments.  Our approach is a seamless style of learning where everything comes together for the child.  For example, when a child chooses to learn about Kosher, he/she is in a class that will explore this Mitzvah with provocative discussion, engage students with art projects, a field trip to a grocery store, a cooking session, and songs about Kosher.  For this time period, a child's time is not divided for small sessions in Hebrew or holidays, rather it is dedicated fully to the subject at hand.  For this reason, students in our older division, grades 3-7, will not have one set teacher but will benefit from learning from varied teachers in a multi-level classroom.

Some of the following topics will be covered more than once throughout the seven years, as we believe children can learn about Judaism on many different levels.  However, care is taken to present subjects in a new way, with varied techniques.  Every year, our innovative teaching allows us to present Jewish themes to all of our students and to concentrate on character development through Jewish texts and values.  For example, when teaching the Jewish value of Chessed, or kindness to others, teachers will integrate this message into every subject, from Hebrew language to Biblical texts. 

Our integrated curriculum assures that throughout the years at Chabad Hebrew School, your child will receive a solid foundation in the following areas of Jewish life:

A.  Hebrew Language:

Our Hebrew Language curriculum is based on the belief in integrated learning.  Children do not learn well when presented with material in cut up segments.  Our approach is "whole language,” a seamless style of learning where everything comes together for the child.  We do not believe that learning Hebrew for a section of each day can achieve the fluency that we demand in our students.  Rather, 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.

We believe that reading Hebrew at home is a vital part of your child's success at Hebrew School.  Therefore, we have created an incentive based "Hebrew Club" for students in classes Gimmel-Zayin.  Students will bring home Hebrew stories to read with parents, friends, or siblings.  They will then have the option of coming to Hebrew School a little early, between 3:15-3:30, to read to their teachers, get prizes, and drink hot chocolate! 

B.   Holidays - Around the Jewish Year

•    Shabbat
•   High Holidays
•    Major Holidays:  Sukkot, Shavuot, Passover, Purim, Chanukah, Simachat Torah
• Minor Holidays:  Tu'Bshvat, Lag Baomer, Pesach Sheni
•  Modern Holidays:  Israel Independence Day, Holocaust memorial day,    Yom Hazikaron (in memory of soldiers who died in defense of Israel)
•  Fast Days:   Tisha Ba'av,  Tzom Gedaliah, 17th day of Tammuz

Starting with the most basic of Jewish holy days, Shabbat, children will be exposed to an experiential approach to learning about Jewish holidays.  In congruence with our belief in integrated learning, we believe that children must learn about holidays as they are celebrated.  Beginning in the Aleph class, students begin learning about upcoming holidays weeks in advance.  Learning is supplemented by special art projects, how-to demonstrations, the study of special prayers and blessings, and fun cooking sessions.  In our older division, students participate in special family learning days on once-monthly Sunday mornings where holidays are brought to life for all ages.  Our older students are also offered the opportunity to explore major and minor holidays in depth in classes offered throughout the years.  These classes give students an opportunity to learn about the history, lessons, and meaning of individual holidays at a slower pace.

C.  Text study  - Tanach, Mishnah, Hagadah and More

Torah study is a critical part of the Hebrew School experience.  We believe that children should know the stories that led to the creation of a Jewish people and be inspired by their lessons.  Each week, students in all classes discuss the Torah portion of the week.  In the older division, students enjoy "Parsha Pizza" each Thursday where they hear the stories and their lessons, answer questions and enjoy pizza or other snacks.  Each Hebrew School student will receive a weekly newsletter that will have a Torah portion summery, questions, and commentary.  We believe that children should become intimately familiar with biblical characters, calling them by their Hebrew names and understanding their contributions to our people.  As our students mature, they will be given opportunities for simple text study in Chumash/Bible and Navi/prophets.  This study, in the original Hebrew, will give them the tools to explore more complicated texts in our Bet Midrash High program and later in their lives.

Our sacred texts encapsulate all of Jewish life, with its history, its value system, and its richness of character.  To give our students a taste of this tradition, we offer students in our older division classes in text study, with an emphasis on building language skills and instilling a sense of being part of the "People of the Book."  All study is presented in the Chassidic tradition of finding meaning and relevance in ancient texts.  These classes are full of provocative discussion in an open and stimulating learning environment.

Character Development

• Lessons in interpersonal relationships from the Torah
• Learning our value system from Pirkai Avot/Ethics of our Fathers
• Instilling kindness, consideration, respect, and tolerance

Teaching Jewish values and developing character is an ongoing goal and one we take very seriously at Chabad.  Each month, different character traits are focused on in all classes. Younger students may bring home "Mitzvah charts" for parents to assist in this area.  Older students will explore the lessons from the Torah, from various parts of Talmud, and from Jewish history.  We believe that children learn most from personal example and that is why our staff is so vital to the success of Chabad Hebrew School.  Our teachers are chosen for their warmth, their acceptance of varied learning styles, their spirit, and their kindness

Kabbalah/Jewish mysticism

• What makes me Jewish?
• What is a soul?
• Where is G‑d?  Who is G‑d?
• Why am I here?
• What is the purpose of Mitzvahs?
• Why is being Jewish important?

At Chabad Hebrew School,, we believe that even children as young as 5 can learn about the essence of Judaism:  being connected to G‑d and finding spirituality in a material world.  We begin discussion about G‑d, or Hashem as we call the source of all life, in the Aleph class.  Our goal is to make children aware of the dual nature of their being and of the power of their spirit and soul.  In addition to provocative discussions, we believe that a connection to G‑d comes from prayer, from the doing of Mitzvahs, and in service of others.

Synagogue Life

All of the above are taught through advanced Judaic art projects, field trips to Touro Synagogue in Newport, RI and others, a visit by a Jewish scribe, and a trip to the local Mikvah.  Jewish life cycles are offered in the older division in an exciting on-site learning program.  For example, students learn about a Bris in-depth, and then attend one locally. 

F.  Israel and Jewish History