Bet – Second Year – Tuesday (Rogin)

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. Since this was the day before Winter Break, and out next holiday of Hanukkah, the students learned the difference between the Israeli dreidel, and the dreidels used in the rest of the world. Ask you student to explain the difference.
  3. The class split into two groups for some highly spirited games of dreidel! They used chocolate coins, as opposed to real cesef (money).
  4. The students gathered in the main area for a festive Hanukkah dinner of pizza. A good time was had by all.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Please have your student work on the handout I sent home with them. These are the vocabulary words through chapter 5. If you do not know Hebrew, ask your student to translate the English words into Hebrew. This should be a fun way to help your student to remember the words. Asking the for English translation is useful, if you or a family member feels comfortable reading Hebrew,
  2. ***Review the Alef-Bet and Nikkud (Vowel markings). Your student should have flash cards from last year. Please encourage them to review the Alef-Bet and Nikkud for a few minutes each day.***

12/10: Today in class we worked on:

  1. Today, the students gathered in the sanctuary, with Rabbi Prass, for tefillah. Rabbi Prass asked the students about what makes them feel safe, and what they are happy to have, as opposed to wishing for something. 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. Ask your student what they thought.
  2. The students took another Alef-Bet assessment quiz. We went over the answers. The daghesh (small dot) in letters like כ ב פ are the letters that seem to cause a bit of confusion.
  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. Please have your student read the story at the beginning of chapter five on pages 36-37.
  2. ***Review the Alef-Bet and Nikkud (Vowel markings). Your student should have flash cards from last year. Please encourage them to review the Alef-Bet and Nikkud for a few minutes each day.***

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 completed chapter four in our sefer, and then began the vocabulary for chapter five. The students are reading very well. Vocabulary retention is as important as reading. Encourage your student to review their vocabulary words.
  3. The students gathered back in the sanctuary for Hebrew Through Movement. 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. Please have your student read the story at the beginning of chapter five.
  2. ***Review the Alef-Bet and Nikkud (Vowel markings). Your student should have flash cards from last year. Please encourage them to review the Alef-Bet and Nikkud for a few minutes each day.***

11/19: Today in class we worked on:

  1. Today, the entire school gathered in the sanctuary, with Rabbi Bellows, for tefillah.
  2. We finished chapter four in our sefer. The students are reading very well. Vocabulary is very important, so please help your student review their vocabulary for chapters 1-4. Each chapter highlights the new words under the section Milon.
  3. The students gathered back in the sanctuary for Hebrew Through Movement. Each kitah (class) had the opportunity to lead. It was a very lively session!
  4. Have a safe, joyous Thanksgiving!

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Please have your student read the story on pages 28 and 29 in their sefer.
  2. ***Review the Alef-Bet and Nikkud (Vowel markings). Your student should have flash cards from last year. Please encourage them to review the Alef-Bet and Nikkud for a few minutes each day.***

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 did a complete vocabulary review for all the words we have learned so far.
  3. We started the reading for chapter 4. Please have your student finish reading the story, on pages 28 & 29, for next week.
  4. 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.

*****IMPORTANT***** Please make sure that your student leaves all secular reading books, snacks, etc… at home, or in the car. Thank you so much! Comfort items are fine.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Please have your student read the story on pages 28 and 29 in their sefer.
  2. ***Review the Alef-Bet and Nikkud (Vowel markings). Your student should have flash cards from last year. Please encourage them to review the Alef-Bet and Nikkud for a few minutes each day.***

11/5: Today in class we worked on:

  1. Today, the students gathered in the sanctuary, with Rabbi Prass, for tefillah. Rabbi Prass explained what the phrase derech eretz means. Ask your student to explain it to you. We all should try to follow this.
  2. We went over the homework. These were the checkpoints for chapters 1-3.
  3. We started the vocabulary for chapter 4. Today had a lot of geshem. Ask you student what geshem means. I heard some great reading in Ivrit.
  4. The students gathered back in the sanctuary for Hebrew Through Movement. Rabbi Prass introduced some new Ivrit vocabulary for body parts.

*****IMPORTANT***** Please make sure that your student leaves all secular reading books, snacks, etc… at home, or in the car. Thank you so much! Comfort items are fine.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Please have your student read the story on pages 27 and 28 in their sefer.
  2. ***Review the Alef-Bet and Nikkud (Vowel markings). Your student should have flashcards from last year. Please encourage them to review the Alef-Bet and Nikkud for a few minutes each day.***

10/29: Today in class we worked on:

  1. Today, all the students gathered in the sanctuary with Rabbi Prass for tefillah. Rabbi Prass explained to the students how you can tell time through tefillah. Ask your student how that is.
  2. We did a vocabulary review for chapters one through three. 
  3. Aleph & Bet students gathered in the sanctuary to see the Torah. Rabbi Prass explained what the Torah is, and how it is read. Students who were interested, got to taste the etrog. Ask your student if it was sweet or sour.
  4. We continued with chapter three in our sefer. I heard some nice reading in Ivrit!

*****IMPORTANT***** Please make sure that your student leaves all secular reading books, snacks, etc… at home, or in the car. Thank you so much! Comfort items are fine.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Please have your student complete the Check Points in the book, on pages 26 & 27. If they get stuck, remind them that all the answers are in chapters 1-3.
  2. ***Review the Alef-Bet and Nikkud (Vowel markings). Your student should have flashcards from last year. Please encourage them to review the Alef-Bet and Nikkud for a few minutes each day.***

10/22: Today in class we worked on:

  1. Today, the students gathered in the sanctuary with Rabbi Prass for tefillah. Rabbi Prass gave an explanation about the lulav and etrog.  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. We did a vocabulary review for chapter two, did the homework that was due today, and learned the new vocabulary for chapter three.
  3. The students gathered in the sukkah to take turns shaking the lulav while holding the etrog. Ask your student what the lulav sounds like while being shaken.
  4. We began chapter three in our sefer. I heard some good reading in Ivrit!

*****IMPORTANT***** Please make sure that your student leaves all secular reading books a home, or in the car. Thank you so much!

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. ***Review the Alef-Bet and Nikkud (Vowel markings). Your student should have flash cards from last year. Please encourage them to review the Alef-Bet and Nikkud for a few minutes each day.***

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. We did a vocabulary review for chapter one and learned the new vocabulary for chapter two.
  3. We began chapter two in our sefer. I heard some very nice reading in Ivrit! 4. Kitah Bet & Kitah Aleph went outside for Hebrew thru movement with Rabbi Prass.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. ***Review the Alef-Bet and Nikkud (Vowel markings). Your student should have flashcards from last year. Please encourage them to review the Alef-Bet and Nikkud for a few minutes each day.***
  2. The students should finish the work on pages 12 & 13 in their main sefer. All the answers can be found in the book. If your student gets stuck. We will go over the homework next session.

10/8: Today in class we worked on:

  1. Today, the entire school gathered in the sanctuary with Rabbi Prass for a memorial for the October 7 victims and hostages.
  2. The students had their first official Alef-Bet quiz. I saw some good scores. Please, have your student work with their Alef-Bet flash cards from last year. If you cannot find them, there are some nice ones available from Amazon or we can email you another set which you can have at home.
  3. The students worked on two practice sheets, dealing with the Alef-Bet. To have a strong foundation for learning vocabulary and reading, it is imperative to know the Alef-Bet and Nikkud.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. ***Review the Alef-Bet and Nikkud (Vowel markings). Your student should have flash cards from last year. Please encourage them to review the Alef-Bet and Nikkud for a few minutes each day.***
  2. The students should finish the work sheets at home.

9/24: Today in class we worked on:

  1. We had a productive 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 started class with a few basic, but very important rules of shva. This is the vowel marking which is either silent, or makes sound like the I in the word hit.
  4. We started reading in our sefer. Ask your student if they remember the word for mouse. (It’s achbar.)
  5. 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.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. ***Review the Alef-Bet and Nikkud (Vowel markings). Your student should have flash cards from last year. Please encourage them to review the Alef-Bet and Nikkud for a few minutes each day.***

9/17: Today in class we worked on:

  1. 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. 
  2. We had a fun opening session. We introduced ourselves to each other. I explained how I like to have class proceed.
  3. Respect one other and respect your morah. Do not speak when others are speaking.
  4. Remember to bring your Ivrit folder, pencil, and sefer to each session.
  5. Always try to do your best, but remember I am here to help.
  6. I use many Hebrew words while teaching and will always translate in the beginning.
  7. The students took an Alef-Bet and Nikkud quiz. This is just to let me know how much they remembered from last year. It was a long summer.
  8. 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.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Review the Alef-Bet and Nikkud (Vowel markings). Your student should have flash cards from last year. Please encourage them to review the Alef-Bet and Nikkud for a few minutes each day.