12.15.11

Please don’t forget to come and see the 1^st grade recite the ברכות (blessings) for lighting the Hanukiyah and perform a play about the Hanukkah story! Our Hanukah performance will be next Tuesday in the school shul.

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: There are eight days of Hanukkah. Why?)

Hagim (Holidays):
We colored our own chart of the blessings for lighting the Chanukiyah. This chart is shaped like  a"סביבון" (driedel)/ Please use it for Chanukah and put it on the fridge for a decoration.
We have almost finished learning our Tal –At workbook for חנוכה Hanukkah! Every day we also practice asking:
כַּמָה נֵרוֹת אנחנו מַדְלִיקִים בַּלַיְלָה הַ____  (“How many candles do we light on the _____ night?”)
After we say each number, we light the Chanukiyah with the right number of candles.
In this way we practice the blessings for lighting the “Chanukiyah” (Chanukah menorah) and the song “הַנֵרוֹת הַלָלוּ” (Hanerot Halalu) -the song that we sing after lighting the Chanukiya as well.
We have also started a new workbook in English that teaches the students even more details about Chanukkah. I’m will send both workbooks B”H home on Wednesday with all the other art work we did (a chanukiyah, a sevivon box and the sevivon blessing.)

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 began learning the story of Yosef and his brothers and how Yosef was sold down to Egypt. We learned that Yosef is called a “Tzadik” because he always trusted in Hashem. He was able to keep his emotions inside himself and trust that Hashem had a special plan for him.  We learned that all the fights between Yosef and his brothers happened because Hashem wanted him to go to Egypt in order to save everyone from the terrible famine that would come.

Hebrew workbook:
This week we finished the workbook that teaches about the vowel sound “Segol” and “Tsereh”. We learned to spell words with all four of the vowels we have learned (“Ah”, “Ei” ,“O” and “Eh”). We also started learning the last vowel sound “Shoorook” sound “OO”.

First Grade Album:
We are working on a special album that reviews all the material we are learning in “Tal-Am” curriculum. Please send to school two of the following pictures (4”x6”):
1. A picture of the outside of your child’s house.
2. A picture of your child’s family (a group picture of as many members of the family as possible).
These pictures are very important for our learning in the class! You can e-mail me the picture and I will print it.
The due date is right after the winter break!


Coming after winter break:
I will be teaching a new unit on Hebrew script letters.
I will be adding a new weekly Hebrew homework and vocabulary test.
I will be starting a new unit on home & family (this is why the students need pictures of their home and family!)

Shabbat Shalom and have a great winter break!
Morah Irit

12.9.11

This week we learned more about חנוכה “Chanukkah.” We got to color our own Chanukiya that I made out of plaster of paris. We also made a “Sevivon” (Dreidel).

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 find the answer.)

Hagim (Holidays):
We continued learning from our workbook for Hanukkah! 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,)

Since Hanukkah is not going to be during school time we are pretending that Hanukkah is right now and we are lighting the candle every day. In this way we get to practice the blessings for lighting the “Chanukiyah” (Chanukah menorah) and the song “הַנֵרוֹת הַלָלוּ” (Hanerot Halalu) -the song that we sing after lighting the Chanukiya.

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.

The “Asherey” Homework:

I’m very pleased to see that some of the students chose to participate in this activity.

I’m sorry if I wasn’t clear enough, but the signature paper need to come back in the Hebrew folder on Monday only after it is all signed! (only after your child read it to you at least nine times on a diffrent days).

First Grade Album:

We are working on a special album that includes all the subjects we are learning in “Tal-Am”. Please send to school (soon is better  - the latest time is after winter break).

two of the following pictures (4”x6”)

1. A picture of the outside of your child’s house.

2. A picture of your child’s family (a group picture of as many members of the family as possible).

These pictures are very important for our learning in the class!

You can Email me the picture and I will print it.

Shabbat Shalom, Morah Irit

12.2.11

Dear parents
This week we were busy studying about Chanukah.

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).

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 the Chanukah story. We learned the song: “Todah Elokim, Todah al Hanisim” (thank you G-d, thank you for the miracles.

Ariot: 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.

Hebrew workbook:
This week we continued our workbook which teaches about the vowel “Segol” and “Tsereh” (the short E sound). We learned to spell words with all four of the vowels we have learned (“Ah”, “Ei” ,“O” and “Eh”).

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.


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

Shabbat Shalom
Morah Irit.

11.18.11

בס"ד

כ"א בחודש חשון

Dear Parents,

Thank you for coming for the parent/teacher conferences. It was very nice to share with you my joy teaching your child!

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 will 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 will have a lot of כַּיף " “!


Our Hebrew workbook:

This week we finished learning about the vowel “Holam” the long O sound).  We have learned to spell words using all three of the vowels we have covered so far: “Ah”, “Ei” and “O”.

We started a workbook with the sound Eh.

I’m very proud of everyone’s accomplishments! I am sending home the workbook for you to keep. Please encourage your child to go over the unit with you and read all the words.

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.

 Shabbat Shalom,

Morah irit Karavani

Firrt grade 11.11.11

First grade is doing very well. Last week we learn how to ask for things only in Hebrew. We can now ask for a pencil, an eraser or our work book! We can even ask to go to get a drink water or to go to the restroom. We always start asking politely by saying: “ אפשר בבקשה....” (May I please.)  Please ask your child to ask you for things in Hebrew. I am sure you will be amazed at how much Hebrew your child can use!

Here are some things we learned this week:
Our Hebrew workbook:
This week we learned about the vowel “Holam” the long O sound) and we learned our letters up to the letter “ פּו  "(. We have learned to spell words using all three of the vowels we have covered so far: “Ah”, “Ei” and “O”.

A Special story
In your child’s folder you will find a story called: “מה יש בכיתה שלי” (What is in my classroom). Each child wrote down in his/her book the items we have in our class in Hebrew. They also learned to change these words from the singular to the plural form. This story served as a good exercise for your child’s Hebrew reading and for practicing their vocabulary as well. Please review this story with your child. If your child brings a note from home that he/she read it with you will get a “דג” (fish)!  Ask your child to tell you all about our fish! The children love to get the fish.

Ariot:
On Wednesday we played together using the “Ariot”  Hebrew program on in our class computer.

The kids were so excited to use the Ariot Hebrew games and exercises on our computer!

 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:  Hachnasat Orchim and Bikur Cholim. The children also learned the story of how Avraham argued with Hashem to save the evil cities of Sodom and Amorah. They also learned the story of how  Lot was saved and what happed to his wife. Please encourage your child to tell you the stories he/she learned using the pictures on the sheets.

Reading home work for רשות (optional assignment):
We have finished reading the entire “Ashrei” psalm and we are now practicing singing it together. I recommend that you practice reading a few lines from this psalm every night with your child to help him/her become more familiar with the words.  I’m putting a page with the “Mizmor” and a chart for you to complete in your child’s folder. Please return it to school when you have filled it in and your child will receive a prize!  I hope your child will enjoy this reading program. I know that the benefits will be incredible!

Shabbat Shalom,
Morah Irit Karavani.

Reading home work for רשות (optional assignment):

אשרי יושבי ביתך

אַשְׁרֵי יוֹשְׁבֵי בֵיתֶךָ עוֹד יְהַלְלוּךָ סֶּלָה. (תהלים פד, ה)

אַשְׁרֵי הָעָם שֶׁכָּכָה לּוֹ אַשְׁרֵי הָעָם שֶׁה' אֱלֹהָיו. (תהלים קמד, טו)

תְּהִלָּה לְדָוִד,

אֲרוֹמִמְךָ אֱלוֹהַי הַמֶּלֶךְ וַאֲבָרֲכָה שִׁמְךָ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד.

בְּכָל יוֹם אֲבָרֲכֶךָּ וַאֲהַלְלָה שִׁמְךָ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד.

גָּדוֹל ה’ וּמְהֻלָּל מְאֹד וְלִגְדֻלָּתוֹ אֵין חֵקֶר.

דּוֹר לְדוֹר יְשַׁבַּח מַעֲשֶׂיךָ וּגְבוּרֹתֶיךָ יַגִּידוּ.

הֲדַר כְּבוֹד הוֹדֶךָ וְדִבְרֵי נִפְלְאוֹתֶיךָ אָשִׂיחָה.

וֶעֱזוּז נוֹרְאֹתֶיךָ יֹאמֵרוּ וּגְדוּלָּתְךָ אֲסַפְּרֶנָּה.

זֵכֶר רַב טוּבְךָ יַבִּיעוּ וְצִדְקָתְךָ יְרַנֵּנוּ.

חַנּוּן וְרַחוּם ה’ אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם וּגְדָל חָסֶד.

טוֹב ה’ לַכֹּל וְרַחֲמָיו עַל כָּל מַעֲשָׂיו.

יוֹדוּךָ ה’ כָּל מַעֲשֶׂיךָ וַחֲסִידֶיךָ יְבָרֲכוּכָה.

כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתְךָ יֹאמֵרוּ וּגְבוּרָתְךָ יְדַבֵּרוּ.

לְהוֹדִיעַ לִבְנֵי הָאָדָם גְּבוּרֹתָיו וּכְבוֹד הֲדַר מַלְכוּתוֹ.

מַלְכוּתְךָ מַלְכוּת כָּל עֹלָמִים וּמֶמְשֶׁלְתְּךָ בְּכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר.

סוֹמֵךְ ה’ לְכָל הַנֹּפְלִים וְזוֹקֵף לְכָל הַכְּפוּפִים.

עֵינֵי כֹל אֵלֶיךָ יְשַׂבֵּרוּ וְאַתָּה נוֹתֵן לָהֶם אֶת אָכְלָם בְּעִתּוֹ.

פּוֹתֵחַ אֶת יָדֶךָ וּמַשְׂבִּיעַ לְכָל חַי רָצוֹן.

צַדִּיק ה’ בְּכָל דְּרָכָיו וְחָסִיד בְּכָל מַעֲשָׂיו.

קָרוֹב ה’ לְכָל קֹרְאָיו לְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יִקְרָאֻהוּ בֶאֱמֶת.

רְצוֹן יְרֵאָיו יַעֲשֶׂה וְאֶת שַׁוְעָתָם יִשְׁמַע וְיוֹשִׁיעֵם.

שׁוֹמֵר ה’ אֶת כָּל אֹהֲבָיו וְאֵת כָּל הָרְשָׁעִים יַשְׁמִיד.

תְּהִלַּת ה’ יְדַבֶּר פִּי וִיבָרֵךְ כָּל בָּשָׂר שֵׁם קָדְשׁוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד. (תהלים קמה)

וַאֲנַחְנוּ נְבָרֵךְ יָ-הּ מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם הַלְלוּ יָ-הּ. (תהלים קטו, יח)

Reading home work for רשות (optional assignment):
Please sign the chart included in your child’s folder every time you read the “Ashrey” prayer with your child. Please return this chart signed every Monday (please send it back only on Monday) in their Hebrew folder. Please make sure to finish the entire “Ashrey” prayer at least one time. There is no time limit to this assignment!

Student name:________________

Date:_____________      read up to the letter________________   Parent signature____________    

Date:_____________      read up to the letter________________   Parent signature____________    

Date:____________      read up to the letter_____________   Parent signature____________            

Date:_____________      read up to the letter_______________  Parent signature____________     

      

 Date:_____________      read up to the letter________________  Parent signature____________    

Date:_____________      read up to the letter________________  Parent signature____________     

Date:____________      read up to the letter______________  Parent signature____________  

         

Date:_____________      read up to the letter_______________  Parent signature____________    

Date:_____________      read up to the letter________________  Parent signature____________    

First grade 11-4-11

Dear Parents,

First grade did an amazing job when they sang their two Hebrew songs today to welcome their special guests to “Special Persons day”. I know you where proud of them when they performed! I am so proud of them too!

SHALOM BAKITA (Shalom in the Classroom):

This week we learned the questions: “מי בכיתה?” and “?מי לא בכיתה” (Who is in the class? Who is not in the class?)  We also read the story called “Shachar Ba’Kitah?” that told us that – שחר לא בכיתה שחר בבית כי שחר חולה“Shachar Lo Bakita Shachar Ba’Bayit Ki Shacar Hole’”   (Shachar is not in the class.  Shachar is at home because Shachar is sick!). We learned that you wish a  " רפואה   שלמה" (speedy recovery) to someone who sick.  On the day we learned this, we had two students sick at home so we made phone calls from our class and we sang to them “Refuah Shelemah”! We all felt so good after doing this Mitzvah for our friends!

Hebrew workbook:

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

Parashat Hashavua:

This Friday you will find a picture page in your child’s folder with a summary of the story of Parashat  לך לך (Lech Lecha). We learned the story of the beginning of Avraham’s journeys. We learned the story of how Avraham discovered there was one G-d and what happened when he started to teach everyone about it. Please encourage your child to tell you the stories he/she learned about this Parasha using the pictures on the sheets.

Prayer:

This week we started learning about the “Ashrei” prayer in our morning dovening. We learned that the “Ashrei” is a psalm that is part of both the morning and afternoon prayer service.  After the first two introductory verses, the first letter of each verse follows the order of the Hebrew alphabet, forming an acrostic. The students noticed that every letter of the alphabet is there except for the letter “Nun”. We have finished reading the entire “Ashrei”  psalm and we are now practicing singing it together.

Shabbat Shalom

Morah Irit.

First grade 10.28.2011

Dear Parents,

I’m very proud to introduce Ariot. Ariot is the “Lion” from the Tal-Am program.
Every Friday one of the 1^st grade students will get to have Ariot over for the weekend.
In the Ariot’s backpack you will find Ariot along with a binder.
Please take a picture of your child and Ariot together and help your child write about their experience spending time with Ariot during the weekend.
It can be in English, or English and Hebrew, or only Hebrew.

SHALOM BAKITA (Shalom in the Classroom):

This week we started the “Shalom 1- Shalom Bakita”.  workbook from Tal-Am program.

The workbook deals with everyday life in the classroom at the beginning of the school year, and focuses on familiarization with the characters of a "virtual" classroom, the articles and the learning habits in the classroom.
Shalom Bakita is further organized into 3 subtopics:
(a) Who is in the class?
(b) What is in the class?
(C) How to study.
These topics will accompany the students throughout the year, since they deal with the everyday life of the students.

We read the story:”Shalom kitah Alef”- in this story the kids were excited to discover the lion named Ariot!

Hebrew workbook:

This week we finished our workbook “Mai’ot leot” Part 4!  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 your child’s folder a picture page with a summary of the story of Parashat: “"נח. We learned that Noach was 10 generations after Adam and Havah. Please look at the Hebrew words we learned in this Parasha as well.

Prayer

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

Shabbat Shalom

Morah Irit.

Sukkot

Dear Parents,
This week we completed the unit of Sukkot.
Your child is bringing home a workbook with activities in it.
We learned 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)

I’m also 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 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

Rosh Hashanah

ב"ה

9.23.2011

Dear Parents,

I’m sending home our Rosh –Hashanah workbook along with other projects we made during Judaic studies. Here are some of the things you will fined:

We learned a new song for the 12 Hebrew month, and we know that Rosh Hashanah starts on the first day of the first month of Tishri.

Rosh means "head" and Shanah means "year", together the two Hebrew words means: "head of the year". On Rosh Hashanah we go to "Bet-Keneset" (synagogue) and pray for a year of good health and peace. We need to think about the good things we did in the past year. We also promise to ourselves that in the year to come we will try to become better people by doing t'shuvah (repentance). We ask G-d to forgive us for any wrongs we have done.

- In "Bet-Kneset we pray from special prayer book call "Machzor".

-another name for Rosh Hashanah is Yom t'ruah, the day of blowing the shofar. The shofar is a ram's horn, and the sound reminds all Jews to return to Torah and to good deeds.

There are three types of shofar blasts blown on Rosh Hashanh, known as T'kee'ot:
T'kiah- a straight unbroken blast that ends sharply.
Shevarim- three broken sounds, like a shiver.
T'ruah- a group of nine short notes.

As you see we made a circle with the symbols and their meanings:
Round challah (challah agulah)- we pray that our coming year will be unending just like the round challah
Apple and Honey (tapuach be dvash)- we ask G-d to send us a year of sweetness.
Head of a fish (rosh shel dag) we ask G-d to be as the head and not as the tail.
Pomegranate (rimon)- we ask G-d that our merits increase like (the seed of) a pomegranate.

"שָנָה טוֹבָה וּמְתוּקָה"  "May you have a sweet and happy new year."

Shabbat Shalom,

      Morah Irit.

First grade 9.16.2011

ב"ה

8.16.2011

Dear Parents,

Thank you for coming to the open house!. It was a pleasure to meet all of you.

Here are some of the thing we have done this week:

Prayer:

We have been using the Artscroll Siddur during our daily Tefillah service. While singing the Tefillot, the children follow the words in their siddurim. This helps them become familiar with the words of the prayers. This week we added one new prayer to our service: “Ein ke elokenu” We love singing it with the music! We also bentch Berkat Hamazon every day using the siddur as well.

Hebrew:

This week we reviewed the Aleph-Bet letter names with their sounds as well as the “AH” vowel sound up to the letter “Kaf” “Chaf” and “Chaf Sofit.
We also learned that the letter “ו”added to a word means “and”. Please ask your child to explain this to you. I am sending the workbookwe are using home so you can review with your child. Please keep this workbook at home.

Parashat Hashavua-Parashat Ki Tavo

This Friday you will find in your child’s folder a Parasha sheet with pictures and a summary of what is in the Parasha.  Please look inside each picture for the words your child wrote in the box.  The first graders learned about the Mitzvah  of “Bikurim”. “ביכורים”. We fulfill this Mitzvah by bringing the first fruits that our crops produce to the Kohein in the Bait Hamikdash. There, we said  special verses from the Torah to praise Hashem for the all the bounty He has provided us . We also learned about the “curses “ and “blessings” that Hashem will give us. Wonderful blessings  will come when we observe the Torah but if we do not observe the Torah, the Jews will receive curses.

Chagim (Holidays):

We continued working on our unit on Rosh Hashana. The students completed two projects during Hebrew class and I will  send them home B”H next week along with our Rosh Hashana workbook.

Shabbat Shalom,

      Morah Irit.

First grade - second week

8.9.2011

Dear Parents,

We have been very busy learning this week!  Here are some of the things we have accomplished:

Prayer:

We learned the whole “Alenu  Leshabeach” at the end of the service. We are saying the entire “Birkat Hamazon”. Please encourage your child to follow with his/ her finger along the words while he/she is davening or benching.

Hebrew:

Our small groups are running very well. We are using a workbook called “Me Ot L’Ot”, where we learn to read, write, and sound out Hebrew words. This week we finished the first “חוברת"- work book- up to the letter “Hey”. We learned the meaning of some of the Hebrew words and learned how to spell them as well. We focused on “ ה” in the front of the Hebrew word which means “The”. We saw many examples of Hebrew sentences that start with “The”.

Ask your child to show you some of the sentences.
 I’m sending the workbook home to review and keep at home.

Parashat Hashavua - Parashat Ki Teitzei

This Friday you will find in the folder a Parasha sheet with pictures and a summary of what is in the Parasha. The first graders learned about the Mitzvah  of Hashavas Aveida. “השבת אבידה” which means we must return lost objects to their owner. A person cannot pretend that he does not see the object, and he must watch over the lost item until the owner returns for it. He/she also cannot use that object while it is in his/her possession. One must also ask the owner for signs in order to establish that the object is really his. We also learned about the Mitzvah of Tzitzit as well. We learned that there are 5 knots and 8 strings which add up to 13. We learned that there are 613 Mitzvot and looking at our Tzitzit reminds us to always be ready to follow the Mitzvot of Hashsem. Please encourage your child to explain to you what is in the other pictures as well.

Chagim (Holidays):

We continued learning our unit on Rosh Hashanna. We received our first “Tal Am” work book for the high holidays. We learned new songs and read a  Hebrew book call “שנה טובה” Shannah Tovah.

When you come to visit the school, please feel free to come to the 1^st grade hallway, and see our bulleting board!  The students have written about themselves.

Shabbat Shalom, 

      Morah Irit.

First Grade- first week

ב"ה

8.2.2011

Dear Parents,

First grade is doing very well. In this week we started to learn how to ask for things only in Hebrew.

Here are some of the things we accomplished:

Prayer:

We are davening all together, reviewing what we already know.

We will be learning new prayer as the year goes on.

Hebrew:

We are working in 3 groups. Two groups work independently, and one group works with me. We are using a workbook called Me Ot L’Ot, where we learn to read, write, and sound out words.

This week we finished the letter Alef!

Parashat Hashavua

Every Friday you will find in the folder the Parasha in pictures, along with a summary. The first graders learned about the main ideas in the Parasha.

Please encourage your child to explain to you what in the pictures.

Chagim (Holidays):

We started with the month of Elul. We got to know all about the Shofar, and Moreh Dror has even come every morning to blow the Shofar for us.

We also started our unit on Rosh Hashanna.

Please Pass through the 1^st grade hallway, and see our bulleting board, were the students wrote in Hebrew about themselves.

Shabbat Shalom

Morah Irit.

Shalom from Morah Irit

Dear parents,


My name is Irit Karavani and I’m glad be your child’s Hebrew teacher in 1st Grade.

I moved last year to Columbus from Charleston South Carolina, with my husband and our two (out of four) children. I’m thrilled to join the CTA family, and glad to teach your child.

The first grade students will learn Hebrew through the Tal Am curriculum. This wonderful program contains many songs and stories and all in Hebrew (“Ivrit b’Ivrit”). I’ve been trained to teach the program and have been teaching Tal Am in first Grade for 9 years. I participated in Tal Am conferences in the past and recently this summer.


As a teacher, as well as a mother, I strongly believe in open communication between teachers to parents. To reach this goal I invite you to check my blog at morahirit.blogspot.com, email me with any questions to: iritkaravani@hotmail.com or just call me at home at:
(614)338-0308 and leave me a message if I’m not home.

You will also receive Emails from me, as well as reminder emails before assignments, and First grade weekly letter.

Please respond to this e-mail to confirm that I have the correct e-mail address for you.  For some families, I have an e-mail address for both parents.  Please let me know if you want me to leave it that way.


Looking forward to a wonderful year.
Sincerely,
Morah Irit Karavani

5-27-11

5-27-11
Dear Parents,
Chag HaSiddur was fabulous. I’m very proud of all my students. Thank you for coming.

“Chai Club”

Congratulations to another 5 students who joint the “Chai Club”! They are: Akiva, Michelle, Daniel, Madison and Brandon. They have finished reading all 18 books!  So far we have 13 students in the club. Please encourage your child to read so they can also become members of our club.

Hebrew Sentence of the week:

“אני סופר/סופרת את ה______” – I’m counting the ________

 Like: “אני סופר/סופרת את העומר”(I’m counting the Omer),

"אני סופר/סופרת את הספרים"(I’m counting the books).

Shalom:

This week we finished our unit on “Shalom Ba’Bayit U Ba’chots” (Shalom in the house and outside).  The “Shalom at Home” workbook focuses on the daily life of a Jewish child at home from waking up in the morning until going to bed at night.

This week we focused on the 4 different seasons. We learned about hot days and how important it is to drink water. I’m sending home the completed workbook. Please go over it with your child and let him/her share with you all we’ve learned.

Ariot 4:

This week we learned 2 stories:”אנחנו לומדים בחוץ” – We are studing out side and the story “קולות בגן חיות” Sounds in the zoo.

Shavuot:

We learned in our “Tal-Am” Pesach-Shavuot workbook that from Passover until Shavout we count 49 days which is 7 weeks. Ask your child why we are count the days.  We also learned that Beney Yisrael got the Torah on Har (Mt.) Sinai on “Vav Sivan” (6^th of the month of Sivan).We also learned a new song about the 5 books of the Torah.

Parashat Hashavua: Parashat :במדבר""
This Friday we learned about the Mitzvah of interest. We also learned about how the Jewish People traveled in the desert. We also learned that the Mishkan was set up in the center of the camp with the tribe of Levi surrounding it. The rest of the tribes camped around the camp of Levi.

Vocabulary words:

       מְעָרָה   cave

קוֹפְצִים Jumping

רוֹקְדִים Dancing

אָדוֹן         Mr.

      גְבֶרֶת                  Mrs.