The primary purpose of our Kindergarten Program is to promote a lifelong love of learning. Our goal is to guide the children on this journey, with love, enthusiasm, confidence and excitement.

Parasha Curriculum

Our Parasha curriculum encompasses Sefarim Bereshit through Bamidbar. Throughout the week, we explore the storyline and\or significant theme relating to the Parasha. The children learn valuable lessons about the character, Midot and good deeds preformed by our forefathers and how to apply them to their daily lives. Important Mitzvot are introduced to the children at an age appropriate level of understanding. Individually illustrated Parasha sheets serve as a springboard for discussion at the Shabbat table. Periodically, the children bring home Mitzvah projects and games that relate to the Parasha.

Chagim Curriculum

The Jewish calendar is filled with beautiful holidays and opportunities to teach our traditions and laws. The storyline and history of each Chag are presented in a clear and engaging manner. Lively songs, exciting games and creative projects serve to enhance our love of Torah and Mitzvot. An awareness of our deep connection the land of Israel is conveyed throughout the year. The students are able to recognize the map of Israel, its topography, individual cities and basic culture. Our study of Israel culminates with the celebration of Yom Ha'atzmaut and Yom Yerushalayim during the month of Iyar.

Hebrew Language Curriculum

The Kindergarten Ivrit curriculum is based on the Board of Jewish Education (BJE) Aleh Hebrew Language Program. Stories, games and other enjoyable activities are utilized to immerse our students in a Hebrew speaking environment. At this grade level our students become familiar with relevant Hebrew vocabulary and basic sentence structure in masculine and feminine forms.

Keriah\Aleph Bet Curriculum

Recognition of Hebrew letters and their sounds are a primary goal for each child. Teachers address their students’ varied learning styles through daily use of Hebrew literacy/Aleph Bet Centers. This insures a hands-on, quality literacy experience for our young readers. In addition, a one-on-one approach with classroom and specialized Keriah teachers assures mastery of skills for all.

Literacy

The Kindergarten literacy curriculum is based on the Balanced Literacy philosophy.

Components include:

• Direct Phonics Instruction
• Phonemic Awareness
• Read Aloud
• Shared Reading
• Guided Reading
• Independent Reading
• Modeled Writing
• Shared Writing/Interactive Writing
• Independent Writing

Early Literacy Concepts:

• Name recognition
• Hearing words in sentences
• Directionality in print (left to right, top to bottom progression)
• Print conventions (including the use of simple punctuation, such as periods, question marks, and exclamation points in reading and writing)
• Comprehension strategies

Phonological Awareness:

• Rhymes
• Syllabication
• Isolating Beginning Sounds
• Isolating Medial Sounds
• Isolating Final Sounds
• Blending Sounds in Sequence
• Deleting and Adding Sounds
• Onsets and Rhymes

Letter Knowledge:

• Recognizing all letters-capital and lowercase
• Sound/symbol relationships-all letters, capital and lowercase, including short vowel sounds
• Correct letter formation (Handwriting Without Tears)
• Decoding (reading) and Encoding (spelling) CVC words
• Sight Words/High Frequency Words-decoding and encoding (reading and writing). Based on Fountas & Pinnell and Houghton Mifflin.
• Word Attack Strategies (e.g., chunking, using contextual clues, etc.)

Language Arts

Phonics:

• Phonics and decoding skills
• Sound and letter patterns
• Word structure and analysis
• Meaning relationships
• Context clues
• Vocabulary building

Comprehension:

• Strategies and skills
• Critical thinking

Handwriting:

• Developmental based curriculum using all modalities
• Writing manuscript letters, capital and lower case

Math

Number sense and computation:

• Count by to 100
• Count by 5's and 10's
• Reads and writes numbers to 100
• Adds and subtracts to 10

Fractions:

• Identifies fractional parts of a whole
• Finds half of a set

Money:

• Identifies and knows the value of coins
• Selects coins for a given amount

Geometry:

• Identifies and describes geometric shapes
• Identifies left and right
• First, last and middle

Measurement:

• Identifies calendar and date
• Identifies months of the year and days of the week
• Tell time to the hour
• Compares objects

Patterns:

• Identifies missing shape in a pattern
• Identifies missing number in a sequence

Science:

• Plants and Animals
• Weather / seasons
• Health and Nutrition
• Our Environment

Social Studies:

• Observance of special holidays
• Families, friends and self awareness
• School, and places in our community

Programs:

• Israel Awareness Programs
• "Letter Day" events
• Rosh Chodesh programs
• Holiday Assembly Programs
• Kindergarten Buddy Breakfast
• Siyum Alef Bet
• Kindergarten Graduation
• Class Trips