Aleph – First Year – Tuesday (Kaufman)

12/17: 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 reviewed all past letters, vowels and key words in the yellow box and reading the Vowel Hint Rule on page 45.
  3. Our class started lesson ten with Hebrew letters VAV and VET “saying sound” is V for both and Silent vowel (:).            
  4. We read ALOUD page 47 using the “favorites” game. (Remind them to use their “pointer finger”).
  5. We worked on “building the Hebrew Words” on page 46 and page 48 “Sound Check” and “Starry Night” with a partner.
  6. I checked students practicing writing letters/words page 47.
  7. Students made key word flashcards on MITZVAH (Mitzvah- good deed) and HAVDALAH (Havdalah- separation). 
  8. Reviewed the Chanukah Blessings.
  9. Students were with other Kitah’s and Rabbi Prass for “A surprise pizza dinner”.
  10. Lihitaot (good-bye)! Chanukah Sameach & have a restful break.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Please remember Tzedukah.
  2. Work on Clue to Quest on page 44.
  3. Read Aloud on page 47 to an adult and have them fill out your “shopping list form”.
  4. 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. This will be very helpful with your “shopping list” sign off sheet.

    12/10: 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.
    2. We reviewed all past letters, vowels and keywords in the yellow box on page 45. Circling the ones we don’t know.
    3. Our class started to review past lessons one-nine, with all Hebrew letters and vowels with their “saying sounds”.          
    4. Students reviewed “flashcards and saying sounds” with partners.
    5. Students played “ around the world” with the Pictionary section page 95 with all the keywords.
    6. Students took their Hebrew names and the Hebrew letters and wrote on Die Cuts of Hebrew letters.
    7. We closed the session by joining all of the other classes to play Hebrew-Thru-Movement, Chanukah Style, led by Rabbi Prass.
    8. Lihitaot (good-bye)!

    Homework to be completed by next class:

    1. Parents, you can help your child even if they don’t know Hebrew, since the   English is on the back of the flashcards.
    2. Start reviewing your Hebrew letters and vowels, Key Words with their “saying sounds” we have covered so far.
    3. (Parents, the student is coming home with a homework sign-off sheet). 

    12/3: Today in class we worked on:

    1. 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.
    2. We reviewed all past letters, vowels and key words from Lesson one-yellow box page 40.
    3. Our class started lesson nine with Hebrew letters TAV and TET both with the “saying sounds” is T.               
    4. We read ALOUD page 41-42 using the “favorites” game. (Remind them to use their “pointer finger”).
    5. Students worked hard on worked hard on writing out the letters and words on page 41.
    6. Students made flashcards for two Keywords TALLIT (Tallit) and TORAH (Torah).
    7. Students worked with a partner on pages 43 “colors galore” .
    8. Our class was with the other Kitot and Rabbi Prass for Hebrew thru Movement. We added on new verbs and vocabulary centered around Chanukah.
    9. Lihitaot (good-bye)!

    Homework to be completed by next class:

    1. Please remember tzedakah.
    2. Work on Clue to Quest on page 44.
    3. Read Aloud on pages 41-42, to an adult and have them fill out your “shopping list form”.
    4. 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. This will be very helpful with your “shopping list” sign off sheet.

    11/19: Today in class we worked on:

    1. We began the afternoon with an all-school T’Fillah with Rabbi Bellows leading us.
    2. We reviewed all past letters, vowels and key words from Lesson one-yellow box page 35.
    3. Our class started lesson eight with Hebrew letter RESH with the “saying sound” is R and vowel AY.                  
    4. We read ALOUD page 36-37 using the “favorites” game. (Remind them to use their “pointer finger”).
    5. Students worked hard on worked hard on writing out the letters and words on page 37.
    6. Students made flashcards for two Keywords REGEL (leg) and BEITSA (egg).
    7. Students worked with a partner on pages 38 “Picture This” and page 39 “ Odd Letter Out”.
    8. Our class was with the other Kitot and Rabbi Bellows for Hebrew thru Movement.
    9. Lihitaot (good-bye)!

    Homework to be completed by next class:

    1. Please remember tzedakah.
    2. Work on Clue to Quest on page 39.
    3. Read Aloud on pages 36-37, to an adult and have them fill out your “shopping list form”.
    4. 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. This will be very helpful with your “shopping list” sign off sheet.

    11/12: Today in class we worked on:

    1. 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 Awesone 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.
    2. We reviewed all past letters, vowels and key words from Lesson one-yellow box page 30.
    3. Our class started lesson seven with Hebrew letters TZADI and FINAL TZADI. Both with the “saying sound” TS.             
    4. We read ALOUD page 30-31 using the “favorites” game. (Remind them to use their “pointer finger”).
    5. Students worked hard on worked hard on writing out the letters and words on page 31.
    6. Students made flashcards for two Keywords Matza (matza) and Mitz (juice).
    7. Students worked with a partner on pages 32 “Write Letter” and page 33 Sound Check.
    8. 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.
    9. Lihitaot (good-bye)!

    Homework to be completed by next class:

    1. Please remember tzedakah.
    2. Work on Clue to Quest on page 34.
    3. Read Aloud to an adult and have them fill out your “shopping list form”.
    4. 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. This will be very helpful with your “shopping list” sign off sheet.

    11/5: Today in class we worked on:

    1. 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. Rabbi Prass also connected this to the word(s) of the week “derech eretz”, and how our political climate is one demonstration of how we need more “derech eretz” Ask your student to explain it to you.
    2. We reviewed all past letters, vowels and key words from Lesson one-yellow box page 25.
    3. Our class started lesson six with Hebrew vowels: EE “saying sound”.   
    4. We read ALOUD page 26 using the “favorites” game. (Remind them to use their “pointer finger”).
    5. We read about the new vowel hint EE in two different forms page 25-26.
    6. Students worked with a partner on pages 27 Sound Bite and Odd Work Out on page 28.
    7. Students made key word flashcards EMA (mother) and BIMAH (bimah- stage).
    8. Then we joined the entire school for Hebrew Thru Movement led by Rabbi Prass and Ben G. Rabbi Prass introduced some new Ivrit vocabulary for body parts.
    9. Lihitaot (good-bye)!

    Homework to be completed by next class:

    1. Work on Clue to Quest on page 29.
    2. Read Aloud to an adult and have them fill out your “shopping list form”.
    3. 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. This will be very helpful with your “shopping list” sign off sheet

    10/29: Today in class we worked on:

    1. School began with an all-school Tefillah and the 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. We reviewed all past letters, vowels, and keywords from Lesson one-yellow box page 21.
    3. Our class started lesson five with Hebrew letter: GIMEL “saying sound” (G), and the EH vowel
    4. We read ALOUD pages 22-23 using the “favorites” game. (Remind them to use their “pointer finger”).
    5. We read about the new vowel EH in two different forms page 21. 
    6. I checked students practicing writing letters/words page 23.
    7. Students worked with a partner on pages 22 Sound Advice and page 24 Help the Rain Get to Israel.
    8. Students made keyword flashcards GEMSHEM (rain) and SHEMESH ( sun) and the new vowel EH.
    9. Next, 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. Finally, the students had an opportunity to taste a piece of the Etrog. Most of our students like its taste.
    10. Lihitaot (good-bye)!

    Homework to be completed by next class:

    1. Please remember tzedakah.
    2. Work on Clue to Quest on page 24.
    3. Read Aloud to an adult and have them fill out your “shopping list form”.
    4. 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. This will be very helpful with your “shopping list” sign off sheet.

    10/22: Today in Class we worked on:

    1. We enjoyed all-school T’Fillah with Rabbi Prass.  He showed us his ‘collection’ of an etrog from CBA over the last 18 Sukkot.  We also talked about the sounds and sights of sukkot from day 1 – day 8.
    2. Students participated with the BET class outside to enjoy Hebrew Through Movement.  There we talked about what we can do and feel with our eyes, mouths backs, and heart.  We shook the etrog/lulav and the teaching that they symbolism the human heart, eyes, mouth, and spine.
    3. We reviewed all past letters, vowels and keywords from Lesson one-yellow box page 17.
    4. Our class started lesson four with Hebrew letters: YUD “saying sound” (Y) and HAY “saying sound” H.            
    5. We read ALOUD pages 17-18 using the “favorites” game. (Remind them to use their “pointer finger”).
    6. We worked on Same Sound page 18 and Sound Check on page 19. 
    7. I checked students practicing writing letters/words page 19.
    8. We made dictionary pages for all Hebrew letters and vowels from lesson 3 and lesson 4 and check-off on our Aleph-Bet “countdown list”.
    9. Students made keyword flashcards on HAY ( The) and YAD ( hand) 
    10. Lihitaot (good-bye)!

    Homework to be completed by next class:

    1. Please remember tzedakah.
    2. Work on Clue to Quest on page 16.
    3. Read Aloud to an adult and have them fill out your “shopping list form”.
    4. 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. This will be very helpful with your “shopping list” sign off sheet.

    10/15: Today in Class we worked on:

    1. Today, the students gathered in the sanctuary with Rabbi Prass for tefillah.  We talked about WHY we need to find some moments for joy.  We connected this to our upcoming holiday of Sukkot, which is called our time of joy.
    2. Have your child show you the game Aleph Shuffle we played to show them how to read Hebrew (right to left).
    3. Aleph students participated with the BET class outside to enjoy Hebrew Through Movement.  
    4. Today we continued to learn lesson Three; we looked at the yellow box on page 13, two Hebrew letters: LAMED (L-sound), DALET- (D-sound), and vowel ( OH sound). 
    5. We read about the letter Hint about OH vowel sound on page 14.
    6. We read ALOUD the lines on pages 13-14 using the “favorites” game.
    7. Students made flashcards for the Key Words on page 13.  SHALOM (hello, good-bye and peace) and ADOM(red).
    8. Students worked hard on writing out Hebrew letters on page 15 and “The “write word”.
    9. Students worked in pairs on page 16 “Rhyme Time”.
    10. Lihitaot (good-bye)!

    Homework to be completed by next class:

    1. Please remember tzedakah.
    2. Work on Clue to Quest on page 16.
    3. Read Aloud to an adult and have them fill out your “shopping list form”.
    4. 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. This will be very helpful with your “shopping list” sign off sheet.

    10/8: Today in class we worked on:

    1. We began in an all-school t’fillah with Rabbi Prass during which we honored the memories of the 1200 people killed in the Hamas terror attack in Israel on Oct 7, 2023 and prayed for the release of the 100+ hostages still being held in Gaza.  We listened to songs of hope, emphasizing the resilience of the Jewish people.
    2. Have your child show you the game Aleph Shuffle we played to show them how to read Hebrew (right to left).
    3. Students participated with the BET class outside to enjoy Hebrew Through Movement.  
    4. Today we continued to learn lesson Two; we looked at the yellow box on page 9, three Hebrew letters: BET (B-sound), AYIN- (silent-no sound), and ALEF ( no sound). 
    5. We read about the letter Hint about Alef & Ayin on page 9.
    6. We read ALOUD the lines on pages 10-11 using the “favorites” game.
    7. Students made flashcards for the Key Words on page 9.  ABBA (father) and AM(nation).
    8. Students worked hard on writing out Hebrew letters on page 11 and page 12 “Sound off”.
    9. Lihitaot (good-bye)!

    Homework to be completed by next class:

    1. Please remember tzedakah.
    2. 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. This will be very helpful with your “shopping list” sign off sheet.

    9/24: Today in class we worked on:

    1. 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.
    2. Have your child show you the game Aleph Shuffle we played to show them how to read Hebrew (right to left).
    3. Today we continued to learn lesson one; we looked at the yellow box on page 5, three Hebrew letters: MEM (m-sound), SHIN- (sh-sound), and FINAL MEM ( m- sound) which is found at the end of the word. We learned three vowels, the” saying sound “ AH, found under the letter. 
    4. We read ALOUD the lines on pages 6-7 using the “favorites” game.
    5. Students made flashcards for the Key Words on page 5.  
    6. We ended class with the entire Hebrew school coming together for Hebrew Through Movement led by Rabbi Prass, and one of our own Daled students, Ben G.  We also heard the calls of the Shofar in celebration of Elul, the month leading up to Rosh Hashanah and the other High Holy Days.
    7. Lihitaot (good-bye)!

    Homework to be completed by next class:

    1. Parents, you can help your child even if they don’t know Hebrew, since the English is on the back of the flashcards.
    2. Please remember tzedakah.
    3. Bring in your pocket folder; sharpened pencil, colored pencils, or markers, and the rest of your supplies.
    4. Please look at your new Aleph book and look at pages 5 for new letters and vowels.
    5. 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. This will be very helpful with your “shopping list” sign off sheet.

    9/17: Today in class we worked on:

    1. It was wonderful to have your children in my class. This is going to be a fun and exciting year.
    2. We began with an all-school assembly.  The 2 older grades (daled & gimmel) shared 3 things that are helpful to learn Hebrew and 3 things that used to make them nervous about learning Hebrew. 
    3. Have your child show you the game Aleph Shuffle we played to show them how to read Hebrew (right to left).
    4. Today we learned three Hebrew letters: MEM (m-sound), SHIN- (sh-sound), and FINAL MEM ( m- sound) which is found at the end of the word. We learned three vowels, the” saying sound “ AH, found under the letter. 
    5. We read ALOUD pages 6-7 using the “favorites” game.
    6. We ended the session with all school assembly to do Hebrew Thru Movement.  Our kitah daled 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 almost perfect attendance at Hebrew school! We also sounded the shofar in celebration of this month of Elul.
    7. Lihitaot (good-bye)!

    Homework to be completed by next class:

    1. Parents, you can help your child even if they don’t know Hebrew, since the English is on the back of the flashcards.
    2. Please remember tzedakah.
    3. Bring in your pocket folder; sharpened pencil, colored pencils, or markers, and the rest of your supplies.
    4. Please look at your new Aleph book and look at page 5 for new letters and vowels.