ES Curriculum

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Elementary School Curriculum

Elementary School Years
Our General Studies curriculum is a sequentially based program which follows California State Framework as our guide. As our students progress through grade level instruction they master skills in reading fluency and comprehension, writing techniques and composition, including grammatical and vocabulary skills. They also gain a strong understanding of math facts as the fundamentals of those skills are set into place. Students are equipped with those tools to master upper level math concepts as they move through levels and grades. Our students explore the many sciences in order to form a well rounded understanding of their world. Throughout, we challenge our students to think critically as well as engage them in thoughtful, open discussions. Where possible, subjects are integrated and woven together for a meaningful and relevant understanding.

Over the course of the Elementary and Middle School students will work in seven main areas: T’filah (prayer), Chumash (written Torah), Mishna/Talmud (oral Torah), Jewish Law, Prophets, Parshat HaShavua (weekly Torah Portion) and Hebrew language. The curriculum is constructed as a ladder where each grade continues to the next step.

T'Filah (Prayer)
Students “daven”, pray, daily. Each class says selected t’filot (prayers) based on their grade level ability and understanding. Throughout the year, more and more t’filot are added. We incorporate the explanations of the t’filot so that students can be educated as to what they are saying, inspired by the meanings and ultimately daven with “kavanah” – enthusiasm from the heart! Most of the davening is through song. In honor of Shabbat, certain t’filot are recited with different “Shabbat” melodies.

Torah
By the end of the 8th grade students will:

Learn the books of – Bereshit (Genesis), Sh’mot (Exodus), and B’midbar (Numbers)

They will learn:
• to read text
• to read and interpret Rashi
• identify main ideas in a Pasuk
• identify roots of words
• identify prefixes and suffixes

Oral Torah (Mishnah/Talmud)
By the end of the 8th grade students will:

• Learn sections of Masechet Brachot, (Tractate of Blessings), Bava Mitzia, Elu Mitziot (laws of lost objects) , Hamafkid (laws of borrowing)
• Be familiar with the Sages from the times of the Sanhedrin – Amoraim, Tanaim

Beginning in 4th grade through 8th grade students learns Mishna (the Oral Torah), Navi (the Prophets) and Dinim (Jewish Laws and Observances). By the end of 8th grade students realize how the Oral Torah is connected with and relates to the Written Torah. Learn how the Oral Torah was past down through the generations.

Navi
By the end of the 8th grade students will:

Learn the books of – Yehoshua (Joshua), Shoftim (Judges), Shmuel (Samuel I and II) Alef and Bet, Melachim (Kings)
They will learn:
• to read text
• to read and interpret Rashi
• identify main ideas in a Pasuk

Parshat Hashavuah - The Weekly Torah Reading
Students learn about the Torah portion of the week, extrapolating the values that are imparted in it. The learning is based on the student’s level of understanding. Relevance to daily life is stressed.

Hebrew Language
There are four skills of language that are taught – Reading; Speaking; Writing; and Listening. Students learn these skills using texts based on various grade levels.

• Grades 1 – 3 use Tal Am
• Grades 4 – 5 use Chaverim B’Ivrit
• Grades 6 – 8 use Neta program

By the end of 8th grade students will:

• Demonstrate a gradual progress in competence towards fluency and precision in Hebrew reading, speaking, writing and listening
• Be exposed to many historical layers of Hebrew as they are integrated into the various units of the curriculum
• Develop linguistic ability in Hebrew based on knowledge and proficiency in the language
• Be able to take an academic class where the language of instruction is in Hebrew

First Grade
First grade is a very exciting year for children. They have spent the previous year learning the foundations of reading and are now ready to use their skills to learn about the world around them. As they practice reading skills they discover that words have patterns. Once they can recognize the pattern they can read more and more words! In so doing, students build vocabulary, and comprehension. This is then integrated into other parts of the curriculum.

The Judaic curriculum teaches Torah through traditional sources, stories, songs activities, etc. The students learn about Parshat HaShavua, T’filah, Shabbat, Chagim (the Holidays), Mitzvot (Torah Precepts), and various other Jewish laws, customs and values in an age appropriate and developmentally appropriate level. All are geared to enhance a child’s Jewish identity.

1st grade students will:

• Further develop reading comprehension, and fluency
• Enhance vocabulary and knowledge of sight and high frequency words, word families and word patterns
• Write sentences, narratives and stories
• Identify to specific parts of grammar including a “noun, pronoun, adjective, verb as well as punctuation
• Work on number operations (adding and subtracting through the number “20” working towards adding and subtracting 2 digit numbers
• Know place values to “100”, estimations, data collections
• Know how to tell time
• Know money values
• Observe and experiment with scientific topics
• Know about parts of history and geography as they analyze calendared holidays
• Know the stories in Parshiot Berashit and Noach (without the text). Their year will culminate in a Siddur Presentation.
• Know the meaning, significance and traditional method of celebrating Chagim; They will apply these and other mitzvot such as the laws of Honoring parents, teachers, etc to their lives
• Develop Hebrew language skills through, vocabulary, reading, oral comprehension

Second Grade
Second grade is an empowering year because children become more proficient in language arts and math skills. They learn to read with more fluency and comprehension, achieve a deeper understanding of grammatical rules and they continue to develop their writing skills using adjectives and verbs for fun stories. Additionally, students are introduced to the concept of a”research paper” as they explore topics in social studies and science. Math continues growing as students work on addition and subtraction, fractions, weights and graphing to name a few concepts covered.

In 2nd grade students learn those skills to recognize chapters and verses as an introduction to the Chumash (the Written Torah). They gain a general knowledge of the narrative, while becoming familiar with Pasukim (verses), vocabulary and roots of words.

2nd grade students will:

• Continue to develop reading fluency and comprehension
• Be introduced to concept of a research paper
• Utilize grammatical rules to enhance writing abilities
• Continue spelling and phonics practice
• Continue working on addition and subtraction facts
• Continue reinforcement of previously taught math concepts
• Be introduced to number regrouping, place values and 3 digit numbers
• Be introduced to fractions
• Learn about life cycles and habitats of plants, animals
• Observe and experiment with other scientific topics
• Learn Parshiot Lech Lecha and Vayera. Students will learn basic skills of finding a “Pasuk Perek.” Their year will culminate in a Chumash celebration.
• Learn the laws and customs of Holidays, the mitzvah of “Guarding your Tongue”, and learn the translation and meaning of Birkat HaMazon – blessings before a meal
• Continue to develop reading fluency and comprehension in Hebrew

Third Grade
Students continue perfecting their skills as they begin to read, analyze and write about novels they read in class. Math concepts are continued to be developed at a more challenging level of thinking. Additionally, students formally discover the world and its surrounding parts.

3rd grade: Students are introduced to and learn how to decode Rashi. Additionally, students continue working on Pasukim and vocabulary and story line of the Parshiot.

3rd grade students will:
• Read and respond to grade appropriate literature selections, Orally or in writing
• Read and write reports on novels read in class
• Write complete, coherent and organized sentence paragraph
• Define and write a “narrative, expository and descriptive” paper
• Further practice math facts skills in addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, place values.
• Explore social studies, geographical and science concepts on the world, the oceans, and the solar system
• – Learn Parsha Chayei Sara, Toldot and Vayetze. Students will learn to decode and parse Rashi’s commentary.
• Deepen their learning of the laws and customs of the holidays, explore the laws of Shabbat, blessings before meals. Students will learn blessing Borei Nefashot, (after meal blessing when full Birkat HaMazon, Grace after meals, is not recited)
• Continue to develop reading fluency and comprehension in Hebrew

Fourth Grade
“Reading” is renamed to “Literature” as students refine their reading, writing, vocabulary and grammatical skills to include novels, book reports, and independent reading. Cursive is primarily used is students’ work. Math includes place value, division and basic foundations of algebraic reasoning, and geometry. Previously learned concepts will be continued and expounded on. The social sciences are explored through physical, life and earth science topics. Students also learn about California history in an in- depth investigation.

Beginning in 4th grade students learn Oral Torah (Mishna/Talmud), and Navi, (Prophets). Mishna interconnects with all of the other subjects taught for an enriching and inspiring learning experience. By the end of 8th grade students understand how the Oral Torah is connected with and relates to the Written Torah.

4th grade students will:

• Read assigned novels as well as those based on student interests
• Complete in depth book reports , and independent reading
• Learn basics of writing a five paragraph essay using correct mechanics of writing
• Read and analyze poetry
• Use research books including a dictionary and thesaurus
• Research California history in detail
• Work in physical, life and earth sciences
• Learn from Parshat Vayeshlach to the end of Sefer Bereshit.
• Learn the purpose, method and structure of the Mishnah through selected mishnayot
• Begin learning the book of Yehoshua, (Joshua)
• Continue learning laws of Holidays and Shabbat; begin learning the meaning of T’filah
• Continue to enhance language skills as they advance. Students begin the Hebrew series Chaverim B’ivrit.