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Chumash Curriculum
Students study Chumash an average of four to five periods per week. Our goal is to develop students who are capable of reading Chumash (textual mastery) with understanding. In grade three, students are introduced to the Rashi letters. Goals include: Introduction to Rashi: recognition of Rashi letters, reading and translating of Rashi and understanding the concept of Shealas and Teshuvas Rashi. Chumash is an excellent field in which to introduce Torah as a way of life. It yields many valuable lessons in character perfection that can be integrated in everyday life.
Grade 3
Vayera
Chaya Sara
Toldot
Vayetzei
Criteria for Goal Achievement
- Ability to translate each phrase into English
- Ability to transform Chumash phrases into Hebrew phrases that use contemporary Hebrew grammar and include recognition of tense and person and the "breaking up" of possessives
- Ability to recognize words and phrases out of context
- Ability to identify root (shoresh) of each word
- Ability to converse in Hebrew
- Ability to explain basic concepts, ideas, and mitzvot that are contained within the pesukim.
- Ability to read and translate Rashi's commentary and introduction to concept of question and answer of Rashi
- Ability to answer simple recall questions asked in Hebrew
- Ability to locate in the Chumash answers in Hebrew
Our studies in Chumash will carry us from Parashat Vayera (Avraham and Sarah in the plains of Mamre) through Parashat Vayaitzai (Yaakov's return to Eretz Yisroel). Most of the Perakim will be studies B'iyun (delving within the actual text), while others will be learned less thoroughly. One of the valuable skills our students learn is to "take a posuk apart". They are taught to identify and translate Rosh v'sof hamilah (the beginning and end of a word). The students amass a vocabulary of many shorashim (root words) and their meanings. Skills learned in previous years are reinforced and new skills are mastered. By the end of the year, the children will have a broad base of knowledge in this area, and should be able to translate many pesukim independently.
In Kittah Gimmel we begin the study of Rashi with letter recognition. Eventually the children become familiar with the text and are able to read Rashi without nekudot (vowels). This is a very important skill, one that the children will use throughout their school career. We also emphasize Shealas and Teshuvas Rashi (recognizing Rashi's question and answer).
A strong emphasis is placed on Parashat Hashavua. There are many yediot (required facts) to be found therein, as well as proper middot and hashkafot. To this end, a Parasha booklet is distributed weekly. This booklet contains a synopsis of the actual story of the Parasha in Ivrit. The children are challenged to transpose their skills learned in Chumash and independently complete these sheets. This is a method of "whole learning". Also, within the booklet will be a Dvar Torah, with a question, answer, and a mitzvah or middah to be learned. This trains the children to utilize their problem solving abilities.
Hebrew Language Curriculum
The goal of this curriculum is to develop students capable of basic Hebrew conversation and whose working knowledge of Hebrew forms a firm foundation for the learning of Torah. Also, this curriculum instills in our students an attachment to Israel and its people. Grade 3 utilizes the famous Tal Sela program. In Ivrit, we follow our Tal Sela program. In addition to this program, we will be integrating the "Shaah Shel Menuchah", one of the newest series of publications created by the renowned author, Menucha Fuchs.
In Dikduk (Hebrew grammar), we cover many units- some review and quite a number of new skills. Our Dikduk skills are utilized and reinforced in Chumash and Parasha. Various other units are taught in Hebrew to "round out" the children's knowledge and build up their level of Ivrit.
Criteria for goal Accomplishment
- Ability to correctly write Hebrew sentences and short paragraphs
- Ability to correctly respond orally, in Hebrew, to oral Hebrew questions
- Ability to read Hebrew short stories
Keriah is an important part of our studies. Rabbi Maslaton and Rabbi Elbaz teach and practice with the children many important rules and lessons in Keriah.
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