 Shalom School Curriculum
The Shalom School provides a warm, creative and participatory learning
environment in which students explore their Jewish identity while they learn.
Students acquire Hebrew reading skill, celebrate holidays and develop an
understanding and a love for the Torah and Israel, the Jewish homeland.
We encourage students to:
- Participate in synagogue life and Jewish youth organizations
- Practice Jewish ethics and values
- Recite blessings and prayers regularly in Temple Prayer Services and at home
- Identify proudly with the Jewish People
- Acknowledge and appreciate the world as a gift from God
Curriculum Subjects include:
- Torah (Five Books of Moses)
- Jewish History
- Holidays
- Hebrew
- Tefillah (Prayer)
- Israel
- Mitzvot (Obligations)
Methodology
Classes are curriculum-based and they include an experiential approach toward learning.
Whenever students are able to "learn by doing", teachers give them the opportunity.
For example, Partner-reading is a technique where students read to one another in Hebrew,
correcting each other along the way! Whole group instruction is balanced by group-work
which allows students to foster working relationships. Motivation is included in terms
of initiatives e.g. earning a prize upon the completion of the monthly Hebrew reading
calendar; team play to review material learned and performing parts in the Student-led
services. Music, art, drama and cooking are incorporated into class lessons in order to
reach children with varying learning-styles! In addition, Grades Four through Seven enjoy
a weekly school service where they practice prayers learned in class.
Class Descriptions
Preschool (Gan) A monthly ninety-minute parent/child class session for children age 3-5.
Join our dynamic and experienced public school teacher for a fun and
participatory introduction to Judaism. Topics include: Jewish Holidays,
Bible stories and mitzvoth (obligations). Each class includes a parent/child
art project that can be brought home with pride!
Kindergarten/Grade One (Gan Yeladim/Kitah Alef)
A weekly two-hour Sunday class for children age 5-7. An introduction to
Hebrew letters and key vocabulary words is a topic of study in addition to
the Torah stories read in Let's Discover the Bible. Jewish Holidays are
discussed according to the Jewish calendar. Arts and crafts and music are
incorporated in the weekly routine. Children enjoy a snack of challah and
grape juice as they reinforce the ritual blessings for the Sabbath. Our
Kindergarten and Grade One Students have a lot of fun learning in the
K/1 Classroom!
Grade 2/Grade 3 (Kitah Bet/Kitah Gimel)
Children age seven to nine participate in a weekly two-hour Sunday class.
Jewish holidays, Torah stories, Hebrew, Prayer and Mitzvot are subjects
studied. Spirituality is explored using Let's Talk About God booklets.
Students continue to build Hebrew-reading skills using Shalom Alef Bet (Gr. 2)
and Shalom U'vracha (Gr. 3). The Reading Readiness and Primer volumes provide
a multitude of reinforcing exercises and games to involve the children. A Gr. 2/3
highlight is the Student-led Shabbat Evening Service where classes lead the
Congregation in prayer.
Grade 4 (Kitah Dalet)
Children age nine to ten meet on Sunday and Thursday for two hours per class
session. Mitzvot lessons are expanded with The Mensch Handbook which students
read in class. Discussion is centered on ethical behavior and acts of kindness.
Torah, Holidays, Prayer and Hebrew are subjects that are covered in a participatory
manner. Through songs, games and group activities, learning is social and interactive.
A weekly school-wide "Kabbalat Shabbat" service welcomes in the Sabbath, providing students
the opportunity to practice and improve prayers learned in class. Students lead the
Congregation in a Shabbat morning service that includes prayers that students will recite
upon becoming Bar/Bat Mitzvah.
Grade 5 (Kitah Hey)
Children age ten to eleven meet twice weekly on Sunday and Thursday for two
hours per session. Students learn Hebrew using the textbook Hineini, a
prayer-oriented curriculum that focuses on reading and comprehension of key
prayers that are found in the Shabbat Service. Other topics of study
include: Israel, Torah and Hebrew Conversation. Holidays are reviewed and
celebrated according to the Jewish calendar. Reading, discussion and games are
methods of instruction in Kitah Hey. Students enjoy a weekly Thursday school-wide
service where they take turns leading prayers.
Grade 6/Grade 7 (Kitah Vav/Kitah Zayin)
Children age eleven to thirteen meet twice weekly on Sunday and Thursday for
two hours per session until they begin B'nai Mitzvah tutoring. At that time,
classes are held on Thursday only for those who are being tutored.
Individual tutoring sessions are held on Sunday. Students are engaged in
discussion of their Life Cycle text, Time of Our Lives where they explore the
significance of Jewish milestones from Birth to B'nai Mitzvah and beyond. B'nai Mitzvah
is a focal point as students discuss what is involved in reaching this stage of life and
what are the Temple expectations for B'nai Mitzvah students. A greater understanding of
the Shabbat prayers and the ability to lead them are goals that are set for our
Kitah Vav/Zayin Class. Participation in Temple Services is an expectation of
the B'nai Mitzvah students in addition to their Student-led Shabbat morning
service held in the Spring. In addition, students participate in field trips
to local sites to enrich their understanding of the Jewish community.
Grades 8, 9, 10
High school students participate in a weekly two-hour class session at Temple
Shir Tikvah in Winchester. Our school's participation in a larger pool of
Jewish high school students has been an exciting experience! New friendships
are being forged in a creative and energetic program of Jewish studies that
includes a song session with the Temple Cantor, a pizza dinner by Grade and a
variety of interesting elective offerings. International Jewish cooking,
Jews in the Media, Photography through a "Jewish lens" and Talmud with the
Temple Rabbi are courses that are currently offered to our students who are
among 54 high school age students.
No matter where your child is in their Jewish development, we have a
program to help them toward an appreciation for Judaism!
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