Gesher and Nitzanim (Pre-K and Kindergarten)
Our youngest students enjoy weekly Torah stories and Hebrew songs. They learn prayers and join our Alef and Bet classes in weekly Tefillah. They practice blessings for foods, Shabbat and holidays. Holiday stories and rituals are learned through the “Jewish and Me” holiday booklets as well as through crafts, songs, games and role play. Nitzanim students learn to recognize their Hebrew letters through the colorful pamphlets of “Let’s Discover the Alef Bet.” When they have reached their final letter, they turn to “Reading Readiness,” a pre-primer. This provides them with a strong foundation for the Alef class.
Alef (First grade)
Alef students begin to read with our Hebrew Primer “Ready, Set, Alef Bet.” They learn the Hebrew vowels and blending vowels and letters. By the end of the year they are reading sight words and 2-3 syllable words. Vocabulary focuses on Jewish ritual objects (Torah, tallit, yad) and holiday terms (Shofar, shamash, lulav). They pray with the Bet class using the early childhood siddur with a wide range of prayers including Shemah/Ve’ahavta and the first paragraph of Amidah. The Alef curriculum uses colorful, engaging pamphlets for Torah, Israel, holidays and values. Torah stories include the Parasha and the stories of Samson, Ruth, David and Solomon. They learn Jewish values of Derech Eretz, feeding the hungry, welcoming guests and more. Our Israel material covers the symbols of Israel (flag, menorah, Hatikvah).
Materials are supplemented with games, crafts, songs and online Jewish platforms with Parasha videos, reading practice and holiday review.
We welcome parents to the class for a Tu Bishvat seder with songs, dancing and activities.
Bet (Second grade)
Our Bet students learn Hebrew reading rules with “Alef Bet Quest”, enabling them to read 3-4 syllable words and expanding their vocabulary to tefillah words. They pray with the Alef class and perfect their Amidah and Aleynu prayers as well as an introduction to Torah service. For Torah study, Bet uses “The Child’s Bible” with expanded stories that include Cain and Abel and the sacrifice of Isaac. A game book reinforces the concepts. The Bet class learns how a Torah is written, the parts of the scroll and ritual objects in a synagogue. Their Israel studies focus on Israeli geography, The Knesset, and the diversity of people in Israel.
Our Bet students culminate the year with Bet consecration where parents are invited to a presentation of what they have accomplished in song and story.
Gimel (Third grade)
Gimel students reinforce their Hebrew reading skills with a classroom workbook called Tiyulim and expand their sight words with Tefillah (prayer) vocabulary. They use the “Explorer’s Bible” to study Parasha stories from Genesis and Exodus. Tefillah is held with the Dalet class and led by Rabbi Stecker. Gimel is an important year for developing prayer skills, including Ashrei and Kedushah. They are preparing for their “Siddur Play” where they perform a selection of prayers and Israeli songs for their parents. They are presented with a siddur inscribed by their parents. They also go home with a portfolio of their work from the entire year. It includes artwork and worksheets for holidays, Torah stories and more.
Dalet (Fourth grade)
Dalet students continue to reinforce their Hebrew reading skills by practicing Tefillah words and learning new vocabulary such as days of the week and months of the year. Special learning units in Kashrut and Shabbat allow students to engage in hands-on activities to further understand the rituals. Torah study expands to stories of the prophets with “A Child’s Bible-Lessons from the prophets.” Dalet students are introduced to the Shoah in an age-appropriate manner and learn about Israel through the “Welcome to Israel” book. They explore different areas of Israel and its people. Parents are invited to join us for a Purim workshop where they join their child in making Hamentaschen, doing a craft project and watching a video of the Purim story performed by the students.
Hay (Fifth grade) and Vav (Sixth grade)
Our Hay and Vav students are in a departmentalized program. They rotate classrooms for each subject and have 3 teachers and reading specialists. They pray together weekly with the Rabbi and learn Trope (Torah Chanting) with our cantor. Their curriculum includes holidays and prayers (Kiddush, Birkat Hamazon and the Torah service), conversational Hebrew, and an in- depth study of Torah (Genesis for Hay and Exodus for Vav). Moments in Jewish history and current events are discussed and debated. Israel studies are taught with the use of the textbook, ”Modern Israel Experience” which uses Google Earth to explore places in Israel. The history of the modern state of Israel as well as the Arab/Israeli conflict are discussed in an age- appropriate manner. The students have use of 2 smart boards to access online platforms for Hebrew practice and Israel studies. Hay students also learn about Jewish lifecycle events (Brit Milah, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, wedding and funeral). Parents are invited to a student presentation of a lifecycle event, such as a Jewish wedding. Vav students learn about Jewish artifacts (Kiddush cup, Mezuzah, Ketubah…) and choose one from their family. They interview a family member to discover the story behind the artifact and present their findings at our “Vav Heritage Fair.”
Seventh Grade – B’nai Mitzvah Program
Our new B’nai mitzvah program for seventh graders was designed to meet the needs of your children in this milestone year. It combines the curriculum developed by “Moving Traditions” to help pre-teens navigate this life stage with programming specific to the needs of our families. The highlights of the program include the following:
– Tefillah Lab with Hazzan Shamash – learn to lead synagogue prayer services.
– Mitzvah project – plan and execute a mitzvah project that aligns with the student’s interests and Jewish values.
– Israel studies – Dive into Israeli culture, history and geography.
– Holocaust studies and Jewish history with Rabbi Schweber – preparing for the TIGN Yom Ha’shoah service.
– In-depth Family Heritage Project – Explore and connect with your family history.
– Hebrew Reading Lab – reading skills with a focus on Torah service.
– Holiday review and celebrations.
– The new B-Mitzvah curriculum from Moving Traditions uses discussion topics and activities to explore pre-teen topics such as: What is prayer? What does it mean to become a teen? Fitting in and standing out, Posting, Exploring Jewish identity and more.
Our students meet twice a week Tuesday and Thursday 5:30 – 7:30 pm
The students may buy a snack or food for minimal cost and enjoy game room activities and socializing during the break.
If you have any questions about the TIGN Religious School curriculum, please contact Connie Reichman, Director of Education (516-482-7800 ext. 1110)
