Dear Parents,
My name is Shaina Silverman and I
will be your child’s lead Hebrew teacher for the upcoming school year in
Kindergarten. This letter will provide you with an overview of our curriculum
so that you can understand and participate in your child’s learning experience.
Actively participating in your child’s learning process is extremely beneficial
to him/her. I will update this blog several times weekly and I will provide you
with simple strategies you can use during everyday interactions with your child
in order to reinforce our curriculum.
In terms of our daily schedule, it
is important to establish a consistent yet flexible daily routine because it
provides children with emotional stability and security. We allow for a variety
of types of activities such as circle time, Hebrew based centers, and whole
group Hebrew literacy and conversational skills practice. In my class, children
remain happy and interested in the routine, and feel comfortable knowing what
is expected of them. I will have our daily schedule hanging up both outside and
inside our classroom.
We will engage in a hands-on
Hebrew reading curriculum. We will review letter sounds and nekudot (vowels)
and focus on blending them together. As we gain more skills, we will practice,
reinforce and introduce more challenging blends through multi-sensory
activities that appeal to and engage every type of learner.
In addition to our
Hebrew reading curriculum, we will also participate in an “Ivrit B’Ivrit”
(exclusively Hebrew) conversational program in 20-minute sessions several times
weekly, which includes songs, stories and Hebrew flash cards. Songs
and finger play promotes phonological awareness, which in turn helps with
developing conversational skills. Singing songs also appeals to our auditory
learners, which helps us create a more diverse learning experience. Using
skills that are familiar to our students supports their success.
I look forward to a wonderful year
of growing, learning and sharing with your child. If you have any questions,
please do not hesitate to contact me by phoning the school or by sending an
email to ssilverman@tdshouston.org.
Sincerely,
Morah Shaina Silverman
