Hebrew/ Judaic Studies Curriculum

Shalom School’s Hebrew/Judaic Studies curriculum is the key that opens the students’ hearts to the knowledge of being Jewish, the devotion to Israel and the love of Hebrew, as a biblical as well as modern language. The Hebrew/Judaic Studies program at the School emphasizes uniting the Hebrew language with Judaic studies thereby strengthening the student’s feeling of connection between the cultural and linguistic aspect of the Hebrew language. In addition, writing and speaking tasks are inter-related to each child’s world.

Every student has his/her own learning pace. The School provides the resources and unique individual programs that match the students’ abilities and needs.

From preschool through sixth grade, every Hebrew lesson is taught in Hebrew. Hebrew posters and colorful bulletin boards are in every classroom as part of the school-wide curriculum.

Students are divided into clusters based on their interests and skill level. The program that is presented at each grade level builds upon the previous year’s curriculum. It uses the text and topics of each level to teach structural linguistic and syntactical skills while moving each student to the next level of proficiency.

Shalom School’s Hebrew/Judaic Studies program is literature based. Students at each grade level are provided with stories matched to their interest and skill level. Through the stories, grammar and vocabulary instruction, and celebration of the holidays, students learn Hebrew and learn about Israel’s history. Through this instruction, students develop the ability to communicate in another language and acquire the four fundamental language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. A literature-based program allows the curriculum to stay the same for all students while modifying the assignments to meet the individual needs of each and every student.

As a Jewish Community Day School we recognize that our students and their families reflect a range of perspectives on Torah. As a community school, we concentrate our study on the content and meaning of the text. 

Kindergarten

Kindergarten students learn Hebrew through Jewish songs and Torah stories which center around Shabbat, Jewish holidays, Jewish values, and Israel. This integrated curriculum lays the foundation for the Tal Am program that follows in grades One through Four.

First - Fourth Grades

Hebrew and Judaic Studies are integrated through the Tal Am program. Tal Am is a Modern Hebrew text specifically designed to help young children become fluent in conversational Hebrew over time while learning about Jewish holidays and concepts from both ancient and contemporary perspectives. Torah is incorporated as well, with differing levels of exploration and study dependent upon the grade level.

Fifth Grade

Hebrew is taught in small groups to a mixture of fifth and sixth graders. The groups are based on the students experience and accomplishments with the conversational and mechanical aspects of the language.
Fifth grade students focus on time and geographical locations around the world. Through the textbook and its stories students will follow the travel of children their age to Israel. They will learn to relate the text to their own lives.

In Judaic Studies the Fifth Graders have a strong emphasis on text study. As the students become skilled at navigating the Tanakh (Jewish Bible), they begin to see the connections from text to another and the various ways to approach text study itself.

Sixth Grade

The students’ curriculum centers on Israel. The students are exposed to different writing genres including poetry, biblical text and short stories. Through the writings, the students explore many places and historical times in Israel. The vocabulary comes from modern Israeli culture, as well as vocabulary from nature and history. The texts offer practical vocabulary for those traveling in Israel today. In Judaic Studies, the students explore the causes and history of anti-Semitism and the “Shoah” (Holocaust). In addition, they study the rise of Nationalism and the Age of Enlightenment and their impact on Israel.