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Curriculum
The Primary Department
The early years of a child's Jewish education are a time for experiencing and growing, a time for encountering the many beautiful sights, sounds, smells and tastes of Judaism.
In these formative years, we at SHIR AMI seek to develop and nurture favorable attitudes and happy associations with Jewish living. We do this through a curriculum geared toward the children experiencing and enjoying the cycle of the Jewish year and the delightful variety of Jewish life.
We are using new materials created specifically for young learners by leading Jewish educators . They are designed to introduce the students to basic information about our Holidays and customs and to prepare them for, and facilitate, their successful study of Hebrew in later years.
The GAN (Kindergarten) utilizes colorful booklets in a series entitled: "Let's Discover The Holidays." Through photographs, lively artwork, playful activities and clear large print text students will be able to understand the concepts and information, even before they can read. The folders bring each holiday to life, and the simple retelling of the story, the introduction of key holiday objects, rituals and vocabulary, all reinforce the information in a way that is engaging to a young child. Each family will receive a text, The Jewish Holiday Home Companion, to encourage continuation of holiday learning and observance in the home. GAN students are also introduced to our Jewish school, learn the importance of TZEDAKAH and are taught to recognize some of the Hebrew letter shapes.
In the ALEF class (First Grade) we will be using new materials from Joel Grishaver's company Torah Aura, which contain three elements. "The Alef Celebration Lessons" are full-color booklets on the themes of family, synagogue and holidays. Each introduces the central vocabulary, practices and meanings of the most important of Jewish celebrations. Some of the subjects include: MISHPACHA (family), the TORAH, Synagogue People, TIKKUN OLAM (repairing the world), Saying the SHEMA, and, of course, the major holidays. The second part of the ALEF curriculum is a series of booklets for Hebrew letter recognition and Jewish vocabulary building called "Now I Know My ALEF-BET." Each lesson contains a picture of an object beginning with the letter of the week and a large image of the letter. Inside are photographs of other objects and important words also beginning with the letter, as well as activities to reinforce the learning of the letter and the key vocabulary. Finally, the ALEF curriculum includes Parent Education Folders which give parents the information their children are learning as well as suggestions for home learning, activities and exercises to do together.
ALEF class is also when children experience the ceremony of Consecration, which takes place on EREV SIMCHAT TORAH. This beautiful and special ceremony marks the official beginning of a child's formal study of Judaism. Children receive a blessing from the Rabbi and Cantor, as well as their own small TORAH.
In the BET class (Second Grade), there are three new curricular elements from Joel Grishaver's Torah Aura Productions. The curriculum revolves around the new Pre-Primer The Alphabet From ALEF to TAV. Each lesson begins with a beautiful photograph of a letter puppet (which children may wish to recreate at home). Engaging activities help students review the letters and vocabulary, drill and discriminate between the increasing number of letters they have learned, and practice their writing. The Hebrew vowels and the final letters are introduced in this text as well. The second element of the BET curriculum is the text Jewish Values from ALEF to TAV. Based on the Hebrew letter of the week, these colorful booklets begin with a Jewish value that corresponds to the new letter introduced. The value is illustrated through a story taken from the Bible, Rabbinic or Chassidic writings, or from Jewish folklore. Discussion questions and exercises reinforce the values, some of which include: EMUNAH (faith), G'MILUT CHASADIM (deeds of lovingkindness), LASHON HARAH (evil speech), TALMUD TORAH (study) and many others. The third element of the BET curriculum is the text: The Bible From ALEF to TAV. Here again the Hebrew letter introduced in the morning's class is used in several words in a Bible story. Each story is accompanied by beautiful illustrations and told in language appropriate for second graders. A special section in the back of the book provides parents with ideas for parallel study, as well as Midrashic and Rabbinic commentary and sources for further study.
GIMMEL (Third Grade) students attend Religious School twice per week. They will take a beginning look at the Bible through stories they can read themselves with pleasure and which provide them with a growing sense of who they are. We begin to help the children understand and distinguish between history on the one hand and folk tales, or Midrash, on the other. We teach that both are valid and important sources for Jewish wisdom.
Hebrew instruction in the GIMMEL class is taught in a separate period. The emphasis for Hebrew in the GIMMEL class is on putting the letters and vowels together correctly and reading with accuracy. GIMMEL students will be able to read many blessings and a few of the important short prayers by the end of the year.
Third graders will also discuss and learn about Jewish concepts of God and holiness. The text Partners With God, provides children with a Jewish vocabulary for thinking and talking about God using traditional stories, photographs and colorful illustrations. Children will learn what it means to live as a Jew and to be God's Partner, and they will be able to begin a personal search for their own understanding of God and Jewish spirituality.
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