12.22.2010

12.22.2010

Dear Parents,

Even though it is a short week, we still have been learning a lot every day! This week we were very excited to change our weather board:

“איך היום בחוץ?” ( How it is today outside?) to winter pictures.

We have been practicing saying the Hebrew word for different clothes by saying a Hebrew sentence: “שחר לובש מעיל" (Shachar is wearing a coat)

“שרונה נועלת מגפיים” (Sharonah is wearin boots) etc.

Hebrew Sentence of the week:

חופשה נעימה"” – Chofsha Ne’ima (Have a nice vacation).

I wish you all חופשה נעימה.

Hebrew workbook:

We started a workbook with the sound Eh. We have already learned the letter : “ע”

After winter break we will start learning how to write Hebrew cursive letters! Everyone is looking forward to begin!

Ariot

This week we continued learning from Ariot 1 and we have already completed 4 stories. We can read all the Hebrew in it! We are doing very well spelling Hebrew words for our “Hachtava” (spelling test). This Monday we went to the computer lab and work on the Ariot I CD-ROM which includes the same stories and activities as in the workbook.

Home work for the vecation:

I’m sending home a practice reading sheet with a combination of letters with all the 4 sounds we have learned so far. Please help your child review by reading it aloud to you. Your child’s reading should be smooth and without mistakes. For your convenience, I’m sending home a similar reading sheet with the pronunciations of the letters on top.

Chofsha Ne emah,

Morah Irit.

12.17.2010

12.17.2010

Dear Parents,

The first grade is getting ready for theחורף (winter)!

We started to learn the Hebrew words for the clothing

we wear in the winter:

This week we played a game that helps us learn to build Hebrew sentences. We started out building Hebrew sentences with only 3 words such as: “" אני שותה שוקו (I’m drinking hot chocolate). We added one word at a time until we can build sentences with 8 words such as:

אני שותה שוקו חם ואוכל פיצה בבית בבוקר (I’m drinking hot chocolate and eating pizza in the morning at home).

Then we made the sentence even longer by adding:
אחרי שאני שותה שוקו חם ואוכל/ת פיצה בבית בבוקר, אני אומר/ת תודה. (After I drink hot chocolate and eat pizza in the morning at home, I say Thank you).
Wow! That’s 11 words in one sentence! First garde are amazing!

Hebrew Sentence of the week:
( בחוץ, בשלג, בבית, בכיתה וכו') כַּיף לִי- Kef Li (I have fun....)
The children had a lot ofכַּיף playing in the שלג (snow).

Hebrew workbook:
We started a workbook with the sound Eh.
We have already learned the letter “ז”

Parashat Hashavua
This Friday you will find in your child’s folder a picture page with a summary of the story of Parashat “וחי” – Vayechi. From our Parasha we learned how important is a tzadik’s blessing.

Ariot
This week we started learning from Ariot 1 and we are already completed up to the middle of the workbook.
We can read all the Hebrew in it! Most of us can also spell the Hebrew words in our “Hachtava” (the spelling test).
Once a week we go to the computer lab and work on the Ariot I CD-ROM which includes the same stories and activities as in the workbook.
We have a lot of כַּיף " “!
Shabbat Shalom,
Morah Irit.

Chanukah week

12.10.2010

Dear Parents,

First Grade Chanukah show was fabulous. I’m very proud of them. Thank you for coming.

Hebrew Sentence of the week:

 כַּמָה נֵרוֹת אֲנַחְנוּ מַדְלִיקִים בַּלַיְלָה הַ.......

(How many candles do we light on the _____ night).

We sang this song every day of Chanukah.

Hebrew workbook:

This week we finished our workbook which teaches about the vowel “Holam” (the long O sound). We learned to spell words with all three of the vowels we have learned (“Ah”, “Ei” and “O”). Next week we will start the next workbook with the sound Eh.

Parashat Hashavua

This Friday you will find in your child’s folder a picture page with a summary of the story of Parashat: “ויגש” – Vayigash. From our Parasha we’ve learned how much it is important to be responsible for our siblings and for our family.

Hagim (Holidays)

This week we had an exciting time celebrating Chanukah!We lit the Chanukiah every day in our classroom. We said the B’racha and sang “Hanerot Halaloo” and “Ma oz tsor” every day. 

We finished two workbooks.  I’m sending home our Tal-Am workbook for Chanukah for you to keep. We also learned new songs and read Hebrew stories for Chanukah. (The books are shown on the back of the festival workbook). We also finished a review workbook in English for Chanukah as well. Please go over the two workbooks and encourage your child to tell you what we have learned!

Notbook: This week we started writing in our Hebrew מחברת  (notebook).

The students are writing all their class work in their notebooks.

Shabbat Shalom,

Morah Irit.

12.3.2010

12.3.2010
Dear Parents,
This week were very exited to change our Hebrew weather board to: היום יש שלג"” – today there is snow.
We got to play in the snow and we took some picture for our Album.

Hebrew Sentence of the week:
אֲנִי אוֹמֵר/אוֹמֶרֶת תוֹדָה עַל...(Ani omer/omeret todah al…)
I’m saying thank you for …..
We learned last week (Thanksgiving week) to say thank you. This week we connected it to our Tefila (prayer). We were focusing on “מודה אני” (Modeh Ani)
Ani= I’m, Modeh= saying thanks.
אני אומרת תודהI would like to say thank you to the PTO for the wonderful bags with the candles, dreidel and gelt for Chanukah.

Hebrew workbook:
This week we continued our workbook which teaches about the vowel “Holam” (the long O sound). We learned to spell words with all three of the vowels we have learned (“Ah”, “Ei” and “O”).

Parashat Hashavua:
This Friday you will find in your child’s folder a picture page with a summary of the story of Parashat: “מקץ” – Mikeitz . We learned how much Yosef was faithful in Hashem. When Paro asked him if he could interpret his dream, Yosef’s answer was that it’s not him, it is Hashem’s interpretation.

Hagim (Holidays):
This week we learned more about חנוכה “Chanukkah.” We got to color our own Chanukiya that I made out of plaster of paris.
In small groups we got to play with סביבון sevivun (dreidel) and we counted how many time it got on "נ" "ג" "ה" "ש":
We learned what these letters stand for.

Ariot: This week we started going to the computer lab and got to learn with the Ariot program on the computer.
We got to read stories listen to songs and practice skills by using games.

Shabbat Shalom,
Morah Irit.

First garde 11.24.2010 חג ההודיה “Thanksgiving.”

11.24.2010

Dear Parents,
this week we learned about חג ההודיה “Thanksgiving.” We found out that even the Hebrew name for a turkey is a meaningful name that connecst to the holiday.
Turkey = תרנגול הודו (Tarnegol hodoo). The word “Hodoo” in Hebrew is another word for thanks. So, what can be better then “Tarnegol Hodoo” to celabrate Thanksgiving.

Hebrew Sentence of the week: כִּי, נֵס גָדוֹל הָיָה! (Ki nes gadol haya) because a big miracle happened. (This is the answer for last week’s sentence: Eight days in Chanukkah. Why?)


Hebrew workbook:
This week we started our workbook which teaches about the vowel “Holam” (the long O sound). We learned to spell words with all three of the vowels we have learned (“Ah”, “Ei” and “O”).


Parashat Hashavua
This Friday you will find in your child’s folder a picture page with a summary of the story of Parashat: “וישב” – Vayeshev . We learned that Yosef’s story happened because Hashem wanted him to end in Egypt and to get into the palace.


Hagim (Holidays)
Each student got a turn to choose something to thank Hashem for.
Here is the list of what the children came up with all in Hebrew!
1B
Zach: “I’m saying thank you for the life” " אני אומר תודה על החיים" -
Madison: “I’m saying thank you for the Shabbat " אני אומרת תודה על השבת" -
Yaakov B: “I’m saying thank you for the food” - "אני אומר תודה על האוכל"
Dvora: “I’m saying thank you for the clothes” - "אני אומרת תודה על הבגדים"
Daniel: “I’m saying thank you for the house "אני אומר תודה על הבית"-
Eliyahu: “I’m saying thank you for the water and the rain” "אני אומר תודה על"- המים והגשם
Tovah: “I’m saying thank you for the good school” "אני אומרת תודה על בית"- הספר הטוב
Ari: “I’m saying thank you for the friends” "אני אומר תודה על החברים"-
Saul: “I’m saying thank for the games” - "אני אומר תודה על המשחקים"
Brandon: “I’m saying thank you for the animals” "אני אומר תודה על החיות"-
Sarah: “I’m saying thank you for the miracles” "אני אומרת תודה על הניסים"


1A
Samuel: “I’m saying thank you for the year and for the Torah” -
"אני אומר תודה על השנה והתורה"
Samson: “I’m saying thank you for the family” "אני אומר תודה על המשפחה" "
Yaki: “I’m saying thank you for getting out of Egypt” -
"אני אומר תודה על יציאת מצרים"
Chaya Shalva: “I’m saying thank you for my parents and my teachers"
אני אומרת תודה על אמא ואבא ועל המורים"”
Channah: “I’m saying thank you for the good people” –
"אני אומרת תודה על האנשים"
Akiva: “I’m saying thank you for the soldiers”- “ "אני אומר תודה על החיילים
Yaakov N. “I’m saying thank you for the jokes”- “"אני אומר תודה על הבדיחות
Yaakov W. “I’m saying thank you for the Holidays”- "אני אומר תודה על החגים
Dani: “I’m saying thank you for health”- “"אני אומר תודה על הבריאות
Michelle: “I’m saying thank you for the synagogue”-
“אני אומרת תודה על בית הכנסת”

I’m sending home the turkey with some of these thank you sentences.
I’m very proud of the first grade work!
Shabbat Shalom,
Morah Irit.

11.19.2010

11.19.2010
Dear Parents,
Thank you for coming for the parent/teacher conferences. It was very nice to share with you my joy teaching your child!
Hebrew Sentence of the week: שְמוֹנָה יָמִים בַּחֲנֻכָּה. לָמָה? (shmonah yamim ba Hanukkah. Lama?) – Eight days in Chanukkah. Why? (Ask your child to sing it to you. Next week you’ll fine the answer.)

Hebrew workbook:
This week we finished our workbook which teaches about the vowel “Hirik” (the long E sound). We learned to spell words with both of the vowels we have learned (Ah and Ei). We learned to follow Hebrew directions by identifying על יד “AL Yad (next to) or מעל “ Me-Al” (above) and “Mi Tachat” (under) from pictures in our workbooks. I’m very proud of everyone! I’m sending home the workbook for you to keep. Please courage your child to go over the unit and read for you the words.

Parashat Hashavua
This Friday you will find in your child’s folder a picture page with a summary of the story of Parashat: “וישלח” – Vayishlach . We learned that Yaakov prepared to meet Esav in 3 ways: 1- Shalom (peace- he send a מתנה present). 2-Tefilah (prayers to Hashem) and 3- Milchamah (war).
-Yaakov returned to the other side of the river to get the small כָּד –Kad (jar) that he had forgotten to take with him. Yaakov teaches us that we need to be responsibility for our things even if it is something not so expensive.

Hagim (Holidays)
We continued learning from our workbook for Chanukah! We learned that we celebrate Chanukkah to remember the great miracles that Hashem did for us during that time. We are saying thank you to Hashem! “תוֹדָה, תוֹדָה אֱלוֹקִים. תוֹדָה עַל הַנִיסִים” (Todah, Todah Elokim. Todah al hanisim,)

Prayer
We are practicing the blessings for lighting the “Chanukiyah” (Chanukah menorah). We have added the song “הַנֵרוֹת הַלָלוּ” (Hanerot Halalu) -the song that we sing after lighting the Chanukiya.

Shabbat Shalom,
Morah Irit.

First garde 11.12.2010

11.12.2010

Dear Parents,
This week we had a very nice time welcoming in the new month of “Kislev”. This “Rosh Chodesh” we received a special treat with lots of “Ribah” (jelly) in it! We also made nice “Happy Chanukah” cards for American Jewish soldiers.
Hebrew Sentence of the week: אֲנִי פֹּה (Ani Po) – I’m here. (While we learned about Chanukah we learned that the letter “Peh” is one of the letters on the dreidle in Israel. It stands for “Po”-“here”.)

Hebrew workbook:
This week we almost finished our workbook with the vowel “Hirik” which sounds like a long E. We are learning to spell words with both of the vowels we have learned (Ah and Ei). We learned to follow Hebrew directions by identifying על יד “AL Yad (next to) or מעל “ Me-Al” (above) and “Mi Tachat” (under) from pictures in our workbooks. I’m very proud of everyone!

Parashat Hashavua
This Friday you will find in their folder a picture page with a summary of the story of Parashat: “ויצא” (Vayeitzei). We learned that the 3 prayer services we say every day were established by each of our forefathers. We also learned the stories of Yaakov’s dream, how Lavan tricked Yaakov into marrying Leah and Rachel as well as the birth of the 12 sons of Yaakov.

Hagim (Holidays)
We started our new work book for Chanukah! We learned the story of Chanukah and we learned the Hebrew words: “Yehudim” (Jews) and “Yevanim” (Greeks).

Prayer
We started to practice the blessing for lighting the “Chanukiyah” (Chanukah menorah).

Shabbat Shalom
Morah Irit.

First grade 11.4.2010

Dear Parents,

The first grade can speak using so many Hebrew words. I’m so impressed!  

This week we practiced Hebrew words that describe different kinds of weather using a special software program on our computer. The children had to choose the type of weather they wanted to watch by asking me in Hebrew for: “Ham”-hot “kar”-cold or “Hamim” –not hot and not cold, the type of

ru ach (strong or not strong) , “sheleg”-snow and “Geshem”-rain. It was a lot of fun.

Hebrew Sentence of the week: קר לִי  (Kar Li) – I’m cold. (I’m going to use it a lot for the next few months.)

Hebrew workbook:

This week we finished our workbook “Mai’ot leot” Part 3!  We reviewed the Aleph-Bet letter names with their sounds and the vowel sound “AH” up to the letter Tav. We also focused on: “Shin” and “sin”. We practiced writing words and placing the dot on the right place. (Shin- on the right Sin-on the left). I’m sending it home for you to keep and review.

We started a new Hoveret (workbook) with the vowel “Hirik” which sounds like a long E. We are learning to spell words with both vowels we have learned (Ah and Ei).

Parashat Hashavua

This Friday you will find in their folder a picture page with a summary of the story of Parashat: “תולדות” (Toldot). We learned that Rivkah had twin boys: Esav and Yaakov. We learn about their differences. We learned the story of how Esav sold the birthright to Yaakov for a bowl of lentil soup.

Prayer

We are doing very well reading and singing to following new prayers: “Baruch Shamar”, “Ashrey” and “Anim zemirot”

Shabbat Shalom

Morah Irit.

10.29.2010

10.29.2010

Dear Parents,

The first grade continues to learn a lot of Hebrew and Hebrew songs.

First grade was amazing when they sang their two Hebrew songs welcoming the special guests on the “Special Person day” on Monday. I’m know you where proud of them when they performed!

I am so proud of them!

Hebrew Sentence of the week: הַ___ עַל-יַד/עַל הַ___

 (Ha_____ Al-yad / Al Ha____) –The______ is next to / on the ______

Hebrew workbook:

This week we have almost finished our workbook “Mai’ot leot” Part 3!  We reviewed the Aleph-Bet letter names with their sounds and the vowel sound “AH” up to the letter Resh. We also focused on the Final letters: “Pay sofit” and “Tzadi sofit”. We practiced writing words and we learned when to use the final letters.

Parashat Hashavua

This Friday you will find in their folder a picture page with a summary of the story of Parashat: “חיי שרה” (Haye Sara). We learned that Sarah died when she was 127 years old and Avraham bought the Ma’arat HaMachpela to bury her. We learned that the word “Ma’ara” means “cave”. We also learned that there are four couples buried there: Adam and Chava, Avraham and Sarah, Yitzchok and Rivkah, Yaakov and Leah. We also learned that Avraham sent Eliezer to find a wife for his son Yitzchok. Eliezer took 10 “gimalim” (“Gamal” means “camel”) and went to Charan, Avraham’s birthplace, to find one. There he finds Rivkah at a well.

Prayer

This week we started to learn the first few lines in the following prayers: “Baruch Shamar”, “Ashrey” and “Anim zemirot”

Shabbat Shalom

Morah Irit.

Friday note 10.22.2010

10.22.2010

Dear Parents,

The first grade continues to learn a lot of Hebrew. I am so proud of them!

We learned a Hebrew song about the Hebrew days of the week. We also learned that we every day we say “Shalom” but on Shabbat we say “Shabbat Shalom”.

Hebrew Sentence of the week: אין לִי  (En Li) –I don’t have.

Hebrew workbook:

This week we started our workbook “Mai’ot leot” Part 3. We reviewed the Aleph-Bet letter names with their sounds and the vowel sound “AH” up to the letter Nun. We also focused on the Final letters: “Mem sofit” and “Nun sofit”. We practice writing words and we learned when to use a final letter.

Parashat Hashavua

This Friday you will find in their folder picture page with a summary of the story of Parashat:  “ וירא” (Va yerah). We learned about two important Mitzvot that our Parasha teaches us about: Hachnasat Orchim and Bikur Cholim. We also learned about other stories from the beginning of the Parasha. Please encourage your child to tell you the stories he/she learned about this Parasha using the pictures on the sheets.

Special story

In your child folder you will find a story named “חלה לשבת” (Hala for Shabbat). Each child had a turn to stand in front of the class and read his/her part. Boys were “אבא” the girls were “חוה”.  This story is a good exercise for Hebrew reading and for practice understanding the word: “אוכל” (O’ chel) – eating.

Please read it again with your child. A child who brings a note from home that he read it will get a “דג” (fish- ask your child to tell you all about our fish).

Shabbat Shalom

Morah Irit.

Friday letter 10.15.2010

10.15.2010

Dear Parents,

The first grade continues to learn a lot of Hebrew. I am so proud of them!

We learned a Hebrew song about the 4 seasons:

חורף (Horef)- winterאביב  (Aviv) – Spring,  קיץ (Kayits)- Summer ,

 סתו   (Stav) -Fall.

 And we can answer the question: “"מה העונה עכשיו? What is the season now?

Hebrew Sentence of the week: יֵש לִי  (Yesh Li) -I have.

Hebrew workbook:

This week we finished our workbook “Mai’ot leot” Part 2. We reviewed the Aleph-Bet letter names with their sounds and the vowel sound “AH” up to the letter Lamed. In their Hebrew folder you will find the complete workbook. Please go over it with your child and encourage him/her to read to you and explain what we have learned.

Parashat Hashavua

This Friday you will find in their folder picture page with a summary of the story of Parashat   לך לך (Lech Lecha). We learned the story of the beginning of Avraham’s journeys. Please encourage your child to tell you the stories he/she learned about this Parasha using the pictures on the sheets.

Special guest:

On Thursday, Israel’s Teacher of the Year - Judith Lewkowicz came to visit in our school. We made a welcome sign saying   "ברוכה הבאה" and we sang a song to her called “Shalom La’ Morah” (Welcome teacher). We felt very good about welcoming a teacher who came all the way from Israel to meet us!

Shabbat Shalom

Morah Irit.

October 4-8

10.8.2010

Dear Parents,

First grade is doing very well. During this week we learned how to ask for things only in Hebrew. We added : I need…. ( “("אני צריך.... (ani tzarich)

to last week’s sentence: May I have please….

We can sing all 7 days of the week in Hebrew.

We started talking about the weather in Hebrew such as “Ham=hot,  Kar=cold and Na im=not to cold and not to hot”

We played a game called “Ham Kar” – it was a lot of fun!

The following are more of the subjects learned:

Hebrew:

This week we learned the Aleph-Bet letter names with their sounds and the “AH” sound up to the letter Yud.

We focused on “ה” in front of a word and “ה” at the end of the word and “ו” as the word “and”.

Please ask your child to explain it to you.

-On Wednesday we were playing with the Ariot Hebrew programon our class computer.

The kids were excited to discover Ariot also on our computer.

Prayer:

We started to use Artscroll Siddur in our Tefillah service. The children are following the words in their  siddurim.

We added one new prayer to our morning prayers:

“En ke elokenu” We love singing it with the music;

We are benching Berkat Hamazon now from the siddur as well.

Parashat Hashavua

Every Friday you will find in the folder the Parasha in pictures, along with a summary. Every week the first graders learn  the main ideas in the weekly Parasha.

Please encourage your child to explain to you what is in Parashat Noach.

We got to watch a movie about Noach and the Ark.

We know Ark= Tevah,  תיבה  flood=Mabool  מבול and rainbow is Keshet.קשת

Shabbat Shalom

Morah Irit.

Chagim

9.29.2010

Dear parents

First grade is doing very well.

I’m sending home to keep our first Tal-Am workbook for the high holyday.

In this Festivals workbook we learned about “Rosh Hashana”, “Sukot” and “Simchat Torah”.

We learned new songs and read Hebrew stories for these festivals.

(The books are shown on the back of the festival workbook).

We almost finished our review workbook in English for Sukkot, Shmini Atseret and Simchat Torah.

We are very exited to finish reading the entire torah on Simchat Torah and start reading it all over again. We are ready to dance and have a real Simcha (joy) with our “Degel” (flag) we made for that special event.

Please don’t forget to take it with you to Bet-Keneset (Synagogue).

חג שמח    !

Happy Holyday.

Morah Irit Karavani

Sukkot

9/21/2010

Dear Parents,

This week we started the unit of Sukkot.

Your child is bringing home a workbook with activities in it.

We learned so far about the Hebrew calendar and we’ve colored the days of the holidays.

We talked about a kosher sukkah and a non- kosher sukkah. What do we need in order to have a kosher one?  Ask your kids!

We got to know the 7 Ushpizin (guests) that coming to visit us in the sukkah on each night of sukkot.

We reviewed the names of the 4 species and we compared each one of them to our body parts:

Lulav= spine

Etrog= heart

Hadas= eye

Aravah= mouth

We also compared it to different kind of people by comparing the taste to people who learn Torah and smell to people who do Mitsvot (good deed)

We will be continuing to learn more about sukkot during “Hol Hamoed” (next week) with more workbook songs and Hebrew books from the Tal –Am unit.

Please look in the backpack, you will find a model sukkah we built and a project about 4 species.  You will also find a Mitzvah checklist in the back of the workbook.  Return it to school on Monday, and your child will get a reward!

Have a good Yom-Tov

Morah Irit

Yom Kippur

Dear Parents,

Thank you for coming to “Meet the Teacher Night”, it was very nice to see you.

This week we were very busy learning all about Yom Kippur.

-We looked at the calendar and we saw that the date is Yud which means 10, and the month is Tishrei.

-We counted 10 days from Rosh Hashanah and now we understand  why these days are called: Aseret Yemei Teshuva” the 10 days of Repentance.

-We learn about Selichot service.

-After Rosh Hashanah ends and before Yom Kippur starts the next notable day is the special Shabbat that has its own name: Shabbat Shuvah ("Sabbath [of] Return") meaning the Sabbath devoted to "teshuva" which means "repentance" in Hebrew.

-We learned about two Mitzvot that we do before the fast.

1 Kaparot

2 Seudah Mafseket, also called the “feast before the fast.” We learned that it is a Mitzvah to eat.

-Yom Kippur is here and we know now exactly what to wear - white clothes like the angels. ( We wear white also because  white is clean and we want to be clean from “mistakes”) and what kind of shoes we can wear. Some people wear a kittel, a white robe-like garment for prayers on Yom Kippur

Five prohibitions of Yom Kippur

1.     No eating

2.     No drinking

3.     No wearing of leather shoes

4.     No bathing or washing

5.     No perfumes or lotions

On Yom Kippur we are praying from a Siddur call “Machzor”

-Yom Kippur is the only day in the year when there are five prayer services. The evening service, containing the Ma'ariv prayer, is widely known as "Kol Nidre", the opening declaration made preceding the prayer. During the daytime, shacharit, musaf (which is recited on Shabbat and all festivals) and mincha are followed, as the sun begins to set, by Ne'ila, which is recited just this once a year.

-In the service there are two main stories we learn.

1 The Kohen Gadol entered the Holy of Holies (Kodesh Hakodashim)  in the center of the Holy Temple (Bet Hamikdash).

2 Jonah and the whale.

-We finish the Yom Kippur Prayer with the sound of the Shofar   - wishing that our prayers will be accepted.

-Right after Bet Knesset (synagogue) we run to start our first Mitzvah - building the sukkah.

-In order to encourage the student to do Mitzvot I’m sending home a Mitzvah checklist to fill in together with your child.

I wish you and your family a Gmar Hatimah Tovah!

Morah Irit Karavani.

A note from Mrs. Sapp:

 Please send to school only  nut free snacks.