Aleph – First Year – Wednesday (Wilgus)

5/7: Today in class we worked on:

  1. Today was a big day!
  2. Today, all the students gathered in the sanctuary, with Rabbi Prass, for Tefillah. The students recited the counting of the Omer. Today is the twenty third day.  In addition, Rabbi Prass opened the t’fillah asking what have they done that they are proud of? Why is it important to be proud?  He then connected this to May being Jewish Heritage/pride month and the avot v’imahot.
  3. We then returned to class for our year-end assessment on our Hebrew skills. Students reviewed vocabulary, letter sounds, reading, and vowels. We will have the scores for our next class to go over.
  4. We then joined Rabbi Prass outside for a fun session of Hebrew Thru Movement.
  5. In addition, since this is teacher appreciation week, Rabbi Prass presented the morim (teacher) and madrichim appreciation gifts which many parents contributed to, and the education committee organized.  Todah to all who helped with this.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1.  Keep practicing your reading aloud in your book and complete any exercises you have not yet completed.
     

4/30: Today in class we worked on:

  1. What a big day! We started with an all school tefillah led by Rabbi Bellows.
  2. We learned the Aleph-Bet song, and took turns leading it.
  3. We then got out our whiteboards and broke into groups of 2 to practice our letters, vowels, and vocabulary. We took turns calling out letters and vowels and writing them, trading back and forth several times.
  4. We then played a game with the vocabulary that we have learned this year for stickers.
  5. All of these will be on our year-end assessment next week.
  6. Learned about Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut with Rabbi Bellows

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Continue practicing your Aleph-Bet.
  2. Each student was provided a page with all of the letters and vowels on it to practice this week.
  3. At the back of your textbook is a list of our vocabulary words that we learned this week.
  4. Please practice every day with both the aleph-bet letters and vowels, and the words.
  5. Keep practicing the aleph-bet song, because that will help remember the letters, too!

4/23: Today in class we worked on:

  1. School began with Rabbi Prass leading an all school Tefillah. He asked the group how they tell time.  They had some serious and fun answers.  Then Rabbi Prass reminded us that we can tell time by what our prayers are, specifically our Gevurot prayer which changes after Passover.
  2. Then we had an assessment to see how well we are learning our Hebrew. Students were asked the names of letters and sounds of vowels. Students did pretty well, and we can see where we need to do some more work as a class, and where students can benefit by working with their flashcards and books at home.
  3. After the assessment, we scored it together, then spent the rest of the time reviewing letters with flash cards in a game.
  4. The entire Hebrew school gathered in the sanctuary with Rabbi Prass to hear about Yom HaShoah which occurs 4/23-4/24. Rabbi Prass asked what they remembered from the Yom Hashoah station this past Sunday, and it was impressive how much they internalized. Then we stood and heard the sirens that go off in Israel to mark the moment of silence on Yom Hashoah in this Youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hDeSZoRglw. Ask your student what do the Israelis do during the moment of silence?

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Please be sure to complete any exercises you have not done in your text book.
  2. Practice reading Hebrew aloud at least 10 minutes a day and work with your flash cards to reinforce the names and sounds of the Hebrew letters.

4/16: Today in class we worked on:

  1. What a busy day!
  2. Today, the entire school gathered in the sanctuary, with Rabbi Prass, for Tefillah. He asked them “What counts for them?” and “How do you show that it counts?” They learned that the 50 days between Passover and Shavuot is the counting of the Omer. Today is the second day.  It is a reminder to make everyday count.
  3. Then we reviewed our flashcards for letters and vowels. We learned new vowel sounds in chapter 19 and practiced them, and then learned how to pronounce the ‘o’ and ‘oo’ vowels with a yud following them in our last chapter – chapter 20!! Way to go everyone!
  4. The Hebrew school students gathered in the sanctuary with Rabbi Prass. He explained more about the Omer and the traditions around when not to and when to cut hair during the Omer.  He also talked about the upcoming Lag B’Omer event to raise money for childhood cancer through St. Balderick’s.  He showed them videos of past school participants sharing their motivation for participating in the event.  There is information on the Congregational Website, school newsletter, and CBA Facebook group. It’s a fun time, for a very worthy cause.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Please complete the exercises in chapters 19 and 20.
  2. Practice reading at least 10 minutes a day. Please focus on your letter and vowel sounds this week – we will be having an assessment next week so practice makes perfect!

4/9: Today in class we worked on:

  1. What a busy day!
  2. School began with Rabbi Prass leading an all-school Tefillah. He reminded all of us that celebrating Passover is work for the adults preparing, so he asked, “What can you do to dial down the stress of Passover Prep, and dial up the joy?”  The learners had lots of great answers.  Then Rabbi Prass reminded us that the work is worth it and connected this point to our prayer the avot v’imahot, and how Passover is a connection to our tradition.  He also connected it to our prayer the gevurot, how each of us has a special power to “Dial up the joy”
  3. We then learned 2 new letters – fay & final fay – as well as a new rule for vowels. We practiced reading our new letters for a bit.
  4. Then we practiced for today’s model Seder. Our class was chosen to do the 4 Questions for the Seder and did a special quiz game to choose the correct ones, then led the other students in the full Four Questions.
  5. Their work was also recorded and uploaded to the CBA Youtube account and emailed it to all Wednesday parents to see. It is currently kept private, by being “Unlisted”, only people with the video link can view it. Please enjoy and ask your child about it.
  6. Rabbi Prass gave us all a treat when we left!

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Finish the exercises in chapter 18. Read Hebrew out loud at least 10 minutes each day, including practicing the 4 Questions. Practice writing our new letters in your Machberet.
  2. Have a great Seder!

4/2: Today in class we worked on:

  1. What a busy day!
  2. School began with Rabbi Prass leading an all school Tefillah. He started the t’fillah asking us, on the count of three to all whisper a special place we went to over spring break.  They he asked us why is it important to go to different/special/unique places? We then talked about how the Hebrew word for place, HaMakom, is also a name for God.  We then connected that to our Keduasha prayer, about calling out special things.
  3. We then learned special rules in Hebrew: How chet at the end of a word can read “ach”, and how a vav can sometimes be a letter AND a vowel at the same time! Such superpowers!
  4. We then worked on our presentation for next week’s Model Seder. Alef has been assigned the Four Questions and we have put together a special program to remember what they mean!
  5. Our session concluded with Rabbi Prass leading the entire school in practicing the 4 questions in preparation for the Passover Seder.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Finish the exercises in Chapter 17 and practice reading all the words in the chapter, remembering our new rules.
  2. Read Hebrew aloud at least 10 minutes a day.
  3. Practice reading the Four Questions aloud to get ready for Passover!

3/19: Today in class we worked on:

  1. Today was a busy day!
  2. School began with Rabbi Prass leading an all school Tefillah. Rabbi Prass asked the learners “what is your superpower of giving happiness during spring break?” and “How will you marbeem b’simcha (increase happiness) for someone else over Spring Break?”  We then talked about how that is a strength liked what is talked about in the Gevurot prayer.
  3. Then we learned two new letters and a new vowel combination – the nun and final nun, which make the “nnnn” sound, and the combo kamatz, yud, & final chaf, which makes the sounds ‘ehchah.’
  4. We practiced reading then started a new project! Our school model seder will be two weeks after we return from break, and each class has a part to lead. Third grade is responsible for the Four Questions! While students should learn to read them, we will be doing a special game show edition, giving other students the opportunity to pick the correct answers. We will work on this when we return to class.
  5. We ended Hebrew today with Hebrew through movement, which is always a lot of fun!   We concluded with an all school Hebrew thru Movement led by Rabbi Prass focusing on our word of the week, Megillah where certain students had the change to tell us “their Megillah”

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Please complete all the pages in our current chapter, including practicing reading aloud at least 10 minutes each day.
  2. Practice with your flashcards so you can identify the sounds of each letter quickly – 5-10 minutes a day. Practice writing your new letters in your machberet.
  3. Be sure to practice reading the 4 Questions! Have a good break.

3/12: Today in class we worked on:

  1. What a busy day!
  2. Today, the students gathered in the sanctuary, with Rabbi Prass, for Tefillah. As it is still Adar, and we are told that when Adar enters, joy increases,, Rabbi Prass asked, what is something that has made you laugh or smile this month. We then began our t’fillah, “Adonai sefatai t’ftach, God open our lips” so that we can joyous things.
  3. Then we practiced our words from the Megillah.
  4. Then we learned a new letter and vowel – the pey and the yud with a patach that makes an eye sound. We practiced reading and learned two new key words – mishpacha (family) and chai (life).
  5. Each Wednesday Hebrew School Student was given a portion of the Purim Megillah, Esther Chapter 2:1 -6.  Aleph was given 1 word, Bet 2 words, Gimmel 3 words, Daled & Hey 4 words. They practiced in their respective kitot for the last 2 weeks and today they lined up and read from the actual megillah which has a different font, and has no vowels,  just like in the Torah scroll.   
  6. We then joined Rabbi Prass and the rest of the school to read from the Megillat Esther for Purim.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Finish the exercises in our chapter.
  2. Read Hebrew aloud, at least 10 minutes each day, practicing in chapters we have already completed to refresh those letters as needed.
  3. Work with your flashcards at least 5 minutes each day, and write a page of the pey in your machberet.

3/5: Today in class we worked on:

  1. Today was a busy day!
  2. Today, the students gathered in the sanctuary, with Rabbi Prass, for Tefillah. We looked at the words of the week “marbeem b’simcha” increasing joy in this Hebrew month of Adar.  Rabbi Prass asked us why do we need to increase joy now?  We related that to the gevuorot prayer, and how the ability to increase joy is a strength and superpower.
  3. We then received a special sheet of words from the Megillat Esther for Purim that we will read together. Each student has been assigned a word to read from the Megillah next week.
  4. We then moved on to chapter 14 in our textbook and learned three new letters that all make the “ch” sound (not like in English – this is the hard h sound made when clearing your throat).
  5. We practiced reading and identifying the new letters, then practiced our words for the Megillah reading.
  6. We joined Rabbi Prass and the rest of the students to do a run thru of the Megillah reading, which gave students an opportunity to read from the Megillah Chapter 2 without vowels!

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Complete the exercises in Chapter 14. Practice reading Hebrew aloud, including your new letters, for at least 10 minutes a day.
  2. Practice your letters and their sounds with your flash cards every day!
  3. Practice your word for the Megillah, and practice writing your new letters in your machberet.

2/26: Today in class we worked on:

  1. Today, the entire school gathered in the sanctuary, with Rabbi Prass, for Tefillah. Rabbi Prass asked what is something they like to put on and why?  Students shared some lovely answers.  Then he explained how many Jews like to put on a kippah. Students are still wearing kippot. It’s been a nice thing so see.
  2. We started with our ritual of asking each student how they are feeling in Hebrew and answering in Hebrew.
  3. New letters! The last chapter we did was sin/samech We are moving on today to learn two new ones!   Students did the exercises in the chapter. 
  4. Today, the students received the words they will be reading from the Megillat Esther. Each student in Kitah aleph received 1 word to read.
  5. We ended Hebrew today with Rabbi Prass talking about the Bibas family. Then each student was given an orange balloon and asked to write a message to the Bibas family on the balloon.  While they wrote we listened to this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=wId08EiSIkA&fbclid=IwY2xjawIrLKRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHbfrppFiMkRySArZU48RRZcNYdfYVec-BYZem5HyjAP8g0l4fzSfre9qNA_aem_N8zMxdioHjMnuvI7GMbn7Q  They were given the option of taking their balloon home or releasing it outside.  Ask your student about this.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Practice reading aloud at least 10 minutes each day, and do one page in their machberet with each new letter.
  2. Any exercises not finished in class are to be done at home. Practice with flash cards at home for letter recognition.

2/19: Today in class we worked on:

  1. Today was a busy day.
  2. We started with Rabbi Prass at an all-school tefilah, where he introduced students to wearing kippot during tefilot. Rabbi Prass explained that one reason why we were asking all to wear kippot is to try something you wouldn’t otherwise try unless the adults requested.  Then he led a conversation around the question, “Why do you wear team swag/logos? What does it say about YOU?”  As always our learners had great things to offer.
  3. Then we reviewed our letters and practiced writing with our white boards, both letters and words, learning some of the rules for words in Hebrew.
  4. We then joined Rabbi Prass and the rest of the alef – daled students for a conversation about the release of Israeli hostages that has been going on and is expected to continue. We learned about the custom of redeeming the captive, which is central to Judaism and said a special prayer for those still waiting to be released.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Practice reading Hebrew aloud at least 10 minutes each day.
  2. Practice your letters with your flash cards, and concentrate some on the final letters and their forms.

2/5: Today in class we worked on:

  1. We began with an all-school t’fillah led by Rabbi Prass. Rabbi Prass asked us who are creators/makers we like/respect and why? He then pointed out that in the Aleinu prayer, we see the words לְיוֹצֵר בְּרֵאשִׁית (God, the Creator of all things).  We are praising God because God creates all things.
  2. We then reviewed our past letters and learned 2 nesw letters – sin and samech – and a new vowel – the shoorook, which makes an ooo sound.
  3. We worked together reading new words and practiced writing our letters.
  4. We ended the session with all school Hebrew Thru Movement led by Rabbi Prass.  He introduced new words for Tu Bishvat.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Read Hebrew aloud at least 10 minutes every day. Complete the exercises in this chapter.
  2. Practice writing our new letters in your machberet.

1/29: Today in class we worked on:

  1. School began with Rabbi Prass leading Tefillah. Rabbi always discusses an aspect of one of the prayers we say.  Today we looked at the Aleinu, and how the 4th line uses the word mishpachot as tribes. Rabbi Prass asked us for examples of good and bad mishpachot in our lives.  Then he showed us how the aleinu thanks God for putting us with the good families and tribes.
  2. Then we learned 2 new letters – samech and sin, which both make ‘sss’ sounds – and learned how the tzayray vowel (two horizontal dots) can make an ‘ay’ sound outside of Israel, and an ‘eh’ sound in Israel.
  3. We practiced reading with our new and old letters and worked together in our text book.
  4. We ended Hebrew today with Rabbi Prass explaining some important facts about Israel, and how perceptions can be misrepresented to fit certain agendas. He then told us about some incorrect displays at Stevenson High School’s World Fair this past weekend which seemed to be ignored by the school’s administration.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Practice reading Hebrew aloud at least 10 minutes each day.
  2. Complete all the exercises in your book for this chapter.
  3. Practice writing a page of each of your new letters in your machberet and make sure you have flash cards for our new letters. 
  4. Keep up the great work!

1/22: Today in class we worked on:

  1. Today we started with a special tefillah with Rabbi Prass learning about the release of three of the Israeli hostages from Hamas this past weekend and saw a video of the reunion of one of the women with their family.
  2. We then reviewed the letters we learned last week and reviewed what we have done so far.
  3. We practiced reading and played Hebrew Cadoor Regel (football) to get in some more practice, getting ready to learn new letters next week!
  4. We then joined Rabbi Prass and the rest of the school for a fun Hebrew Through Movement.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Practice reading Hebrew aloud at least 5 to 10 minutes a day. Please focus on pages 41-49 for Hebrew practice and complete the exercises through p 49. Be sure to practice writing all of the letters we have learned in your machberet.
  2. Stay warm!

1/15: Today in class we worked on:

  1. Today we started with an all-school tefilah with Rabbi Bellows.
  2. Then we reviewed the letters and key words we have learned so far this year, and moved on to chapter 10, learning 2 new letters and a new vowel!!
  3. We practiced reading the new letters and vowel together, and then played a short game of Hebrew football (cadoor regel!).
  4. We ended the day with Hebrew Through Movement with Rabbi Prass.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Finish the exercises in Chapter 10.
  2. Read Hebrew aloud at least 5-10 minutes a day.
  3. Practice with your flash cards, including the new letters.
  4.  Do a page of our new letters, vet and vav, in your machberet.

1/8: Today in class we worked on:

  1. Today was a busy first day back from break!
  2. Today, the students gathered in the sanctuary, with Rabbi Prass, for tefillah. Rabbi Prass asked everyone to share, on the count of 3, something special they did over winter break.  Then he asked them to share how they talked about that special thing.  The students shared some lovely answers.  Then we talked about how our prayer the kedusha comes from a story in the Bible where the angels talk about special or holy things.
  3. Then we reviewed what we have learned so far in letters and vowels.
  4. Then we learned TWO new letters – tet and tav, which are critical to spelling Tallit and Torah.
  5. We practiced reading with our new letters and did an exercise in our books focusing on vowel sounds with the different levels.
  6. We went out to look at a tallit to see how it is made and learned that it is mentioned in the V’ahavtah that we say after the Shma.
  7. We then joined Rabbi Prass and the school for Hebrew Through Movement and learned new words!

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Practice reading aloud at least 5 minutes every day. Finish any pages in Chapter 9 that you did not complete in class. Be sure to made flash cards for our new letters!

12/18: Today in class we worked on:

  1. Today, the students gathered in the sanctuary, with Rabbi Prass, for tefillah. He pointed out that at this time of year in Chicago, the amount of sunlight is less and less, and asked the students what they do to feel the light and find the light.  They shared some lovely ideas.  He pointed out that one source of light for all of us is how much the students are able to participate more and more confidently in our t’fillah.
  2. We then reviewed the letters and vowels we have learned this year and practiced last week’s letter and vowel by reading aloud.
  3. We did some of the exercises in the Resh chapter together, and wrote letters on the board in a game.
  4. We then joined Rabbi Prass for a surprise Pizza Dinner (!) with the rest of the school to celebrate the end of our first semester together.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. During break, please be sure to practice reading Hebrew aloud at least 10 minutes a day (you can do it in the car when travelling to different places!). 
  2. Please make sure you have finished all of the exercises in your book up through the “Resh” chapter. Practice writing your letters in your machberet, and practice with your letter flash cards. We have more letters to learn when we come back!
  3. Have a great break and Chanukah!

12/11: Today in class we worked on:

  1. School began with an all school Tefiilah led by Rabbi Prass.  He started asking us who and what makes you feel safe? We then looked at our prayer avot v’imahot, and how the last line talks about God being the “Shield of Abraham and the Help of Sarah”, or in other words make us feel safe.  We also talked about how the Maccabees fought to make our ancestors feel safe.  The 7th graders have started helping our class to make sure we know where we are in the sidur!
  2. Then we reviewed all the letters and vowels we have learned so far and learned 2 new ones! We learned the resh (rrrrrr) and the tzaray (vowel makes ayyyyy sound)! Then we practiced reading with them and did a quick turn with our white boards to review writing the letters.
  3. We closed the session by joining all of the other classes to play Hebrew-Thru-Movement, Chanukah Style, led by Rabbi Prass.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Complete the exercises in our new chapter. Practice writing at least one page in your machberet the letters tzadi, resh, final tzadi, and others you want to include.
  2. Make sure to practice reading aloud in Hebrew at least 10 minutes a day – it will make a difference!

12/4: Today in class we worked on:

  1. Today was a good day!
  2. School began with an all-school Tefillah.  Rabbi Prass asked the students “What is something positive you caused to happen over Thanksgiving?” and “What is something good you did?” The students provided many excellent answers and examples to further our learning.  We then connected this to the gevuorot prayer and specifically the word “mechaye” which means “the one who causes..” and talked about the good things mentioned in the prayer.
  3. After tefilah we reviewed what we have learned so far – so much! Students obviously practiced reading over their break.
  4. Then we learned a new letter – tzadi – which can be hard to pronounce, but is so important. It gives us words like tzedakah, mitzvah, matzah, and maybe most importantly pizza!
  5. We practiced reading and writing the tzadi both in its regular and final forms, learned a song about different parts of the body in Hebrew.
  6. Aleph, bet, gimmel, daled classes ended in the sanctuary for Hebrew Through Movement with the other classes. Rabbi Prass brought out a hanukkiah, and he explained the difference between that and a menorah. Ask your student what the difference is. We also added on new verbs and vocabulary centered around Chanukah.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Complete the exercises in our latest chapter, and write a page in your machberet with the different tzadi forms – remember, the final is NOT a ‘y’!
  2. Practice reading aloud from your book at least 5-10 minutes a day.

11/20: Today in class we worked on:

  1. Today we started with Rabbi Prass for tefilot and learned about hacarat hatov, looking for the good things in the world around us, and how it so important, perhaps easier, and so very more needed in the world.
  2. We then reviewed the many letters and vowels we have learned so far this year, practicing our writing and using flash cards.
  3. We learned a new vowel this week – the chirik which makes the ‘ee’ sound and can sometimes have a yud with it and sometimes not. We also learned that a heh at the beginning of a word means ‘the’. We practiced reading with our new vowel as a class – great job! Students are very generous and helpful of their classmates when reading.
  4. We then joined the rest of the classes and Rabbi Prass for Hebrew thru Movement, where we continued to learn the Hebrew words for parts of the body, including an all-school “Head, shoulders, knees and toes”

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Please complete the exercises in chapter 5 in your Hebrew book. Continue to read Hebrew aloud for at least 5-10 minutes a day and practice writing the letters you have learned in your machberet. Make a flashcard for the chirik and keep practicing with them.
  2. Have a great Thanksgiving!

11/13: Today in class we worked on:

  1. Today was a busy class.
  2. School began with an all-school Tefillah. Rabbi Prass led a discussion, asking the students how the word awesome can have both positive and negative attributes. Our students presented many thoughtful ideas and understood the complexities of the question.  He then pointed out that the word Hanorah, or Awesome One is in the Avot V’imahot prayer, and teaches us to praise those awesome things which are positive, holy, and beautiful.  We also talked about the word of the week, “eezoon” which means balance, and we shared the good and challenging things in our lives which balance our days.
  3. The reviewed the letters we have learned so far.
  4. We learned a new letter and vowel, and learned that a hey at the beginning of a word means ‘the’. We practiced reading with all of our letters and vowels, including the new ones and worked in our textbooks.
  5. Then we joined the entire Hebrew school for Hebrew thru movement, where we reviewed the words we learned last week, the body part words, by playing “Simon Says” and sharing personal “human tricks” in Hebrew to reinforce these words.
  6. What a great day!

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Continue to read Hebrew aloud for at least 5-10 minutes a day, using your textbook to practice. Complete the exercises in chapter 5.
  2. Practice writing at least one line of heys in your machberet, and complete new flash cards for the hey and segol (eh vowel) and practice with them. Great job!

11/6: Today in class we worked on:

  1. Today was a busy day.
  2. School began with an all school Tefillah and a Rabbi led discussion about who is the stronger person, someone who is kind or someone who is mean. Our students presented many thoughtful ideas and understood the complexities of the question. Rabbi Prass connected this to the prayer in our amidah, the gevurot, which means strength.  It praises the type of strength which helps others, and gives several specifics.
  3. Then we worked on reviewing the letters and vowels we have learned so far. We played a game with our whiteboards with writing the letters, then learned two new ones – yud and hey! We practiced reading and played a bit of Hebrew football – the students are simply amazing and so excited to learn.
  4. We ended the day with Rabbi Prass and Hebrew Thru Movement, where students learned different words for the body and played Hebrew Simon Says.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Continue to read Hebrew aloud at least 10 minutes a day and finish the exercises in chapter 4 with yud and hey. Practice writing another page in your machberet for the new letters.

10/30: Today in class we worked on:

  1. School began with an all-school Tefillah and a Rabbi led discussion asking the learners how they tell time.  They had an amazing variety of answers.  We then learned how Jewish prayer also helps us tell time including in our Gevurot prayer where the words change during the summer and the winter.
  2. Today we learned 2 new letters and a new vowel! Students learned lamed & dalet, and cholom (oh) vowel, and practiced reading them with the previously learned letters – such a great job they did!
  3. Had the opportunity to see the Torah up close with Rabbi Prass! Kitah aleph & Bet joined Rabbi Prass in the sanctuary for a discussion on Simchat Torah, and coming close to inspect the Torah scroll and ask questions about it. Students even got to see some of the letters they have learned written in the Torah!  Finally, the students had an opportunity to taste a piece of the Etrog.
  4. Great job!

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Finish the exercises in our new chapter.
  2. Practice reading Hebrew aloud at least 10 minutes a day.
  3. Write one new page in your machberet of the new letters.
  4. Practice with your flash cards we made – both the letters and the new word ones.

10/9: Today in class we worked on:

  1. Today we reviewed all six letters and three Hebrew vowels we have learned.
  2. We practiced writing with individual dry erase boards, we filled out flash cards to practice our letters, and practiced reading parts of Chapter 1 and 2 in our Hebrew books.
  3. We had a special tefillah with Rabbi Prass about the 1 year anniversary of October 7th, watching beautiful music videos showing the peace that Israel works to achieve for us all

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Read Hebrew aloud for at least 5 minutes a day.
  2. Be sure to complete all the exercises in Chapters 1 and 2 if any are not done.
  3. Practice writing 2 lines for each letter you have learned in your Machberet, and practice your letters using your flash cards. We will learn new letters next week!!

9/25: Today in class we worked on:

  1. We started with an all- school Tefillah led by Rabbi Prass.  We discussed What is something precious you were given? And how do you ‘handle it differently’ knowing it is precious? Why is Jewish prayer/t’fillah a gift? We also heard the shofar in celebration of the Jewish month of Elul.
  2. We then learned three new Hebrew letters!
  3. Aleph and bet joined Rabbi Prass outside for Hebrew through Movement
  4. We then spent some time writing our new letters in chalk on the sidewalk.
  5. We went inside and practiced reading and writing our new letters together – students did an amazing job!

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Practice reading Hebrew out loud at least 5 minutes a day.
  2. Finish the first 3 pages in your Hebrew book if you have not.
  3. Practice writing each of the six letters you have learned in your Machberet – one line per letter at least.
  4. You can practice your reading with this link if you need help in your pronunciation. https://www.behrmanhouse.com/abq/abq.html

9/18: Today in class we worked on:

  1. We had a great day today.
  2. Participated in an all school Tefillah led by Rabbi Prass.  We shared ‘noises’ that distract us and things that help us quiet and focus our brains.  We talked about how t’fillah is one Jewish language/tool for quieting and focus.
  3. We identified how everyone was feeling and learned new Hebrew words for that.
  4. Then we joined Rabbi Prass and kitah bet outside for Hebrew through Movement and for hearing the sound of the shofar for Elul.
  5. We came back inside and reviewed the Hebrew letters and vowels we learned last week bypracticing reading aloud and playing Hebrew football.
  6. We created our own flash cards with our index cards (if you haven’t brought some, please do for the next class). Students are to practice identifying the letters, vowels, and sounds with the flash cards at home during the week.
  7. Great job!

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Practice reading Hebrew aloud at least 5 minutes each day using your textbook and flashcards. Complete the last page of chapter 1 by coloring in the identified spaces as directed.
  2. We have a special webpage to help us with our reading! You can click at the following link and click on our current chapter to read along and hear how certain sounds are formed. https://www.behrmanhouse.com/abq/abq.html

9/11: Today in class we worked on:

  1. What a wonderful first day of class!
  2. We began with an al- school assembly.  The 2 older grades (daled & hey) shared 3 things that are helpful to learn Hebrew and 3 things that used to make them nervous about learning Hebrew.  We also lit a yizkor candle to remember the victims of 9/11.  We also sounded the shofar in celebration of this month of Elul.
  3. We learned 3 Hebrew letters, learned that some letters like to put on different clothes at the end of a word (kinda like our parents who change out of work clothes at the end of the day!) and only show up at the end of a word.
  4. We learned three vowels and learned that vowels often appear below the letters in Hebrew.
  5. We practiced reading and combining our letters and vowels. And we practiced writing our letters.
  6. Students also received a Machberet (notebook) to practice writing their Hebrew, which has a list of all the Hebrew letters and vowels on the back.
  7. We ended the session with all school assembly to do Hebrew Thru Movement.  Our kitah hey students helped lead it.  Parents were invited for this first session so they could meet the teachers. It was great to see so many parents and to have perfect attendance at Hebrew school!
  8. Thank you for a great day!

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Complete the last 2 pages in chapter 1 of your Hebrew Book. Practice reading the words in Chapter one out loud at least 10 minutes a day.
  2. Please bring some index cards to class going forward so we can make flash cards as we learn the letters and vowels.