First grade 12.13.2013

בס"ד     י' טבת תשע"ד

12.13.2013

Dear Parents,

Good news!

My son is getting married in Israel. I’ll be away for the week before winter break and the week after winter break (Dec 16- Jan 10, 2014).

Sharon Schamm will be subbing for first grade. If you have any questions or concerns please contact Mrs. Sapp. Mrs. Sapp will be supporting Mrs. Schamm.

During my absence, there will be no Hebrew folder or books sent home.

Hagim (Holidays)

Last 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”  every day. 

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).  

Hebrew workbook:

This week we finished our workbook which teaches about the vowel “Hirik” (the long Ei sound). We learned to read and spell words with two of the vowels we have learned (“Ah”and “Ei”).I’m sending it home for you to keep and review.

“Ariot 1 workbook”:

We finished “Ariot 1” workbook.

It was very easy because we had already learned so many of the vocabulary words and writing skills while doing our reading program. “ Ariot 1” was so fun when we challenged ourselves to figure out the words in the  “Hactava” (the spelling test at the end of each unit) and we were able to figure out the words without help. We can read all the Hebrew in it!  We were practicing Ariot I CD-ROM on the smart board in our classroom and in the computer lab  which includes the same stories and activities as in the workbook.

“My library” הַסִפְרִיָה שֶלִי "    ( Home work for  this week and for the vacation).

6 short stories from the Ariot workbook:  “shalom  ani Ariot”- p.11,  “Shabbat shalom”- p.21,   “Aba babayit”-P. 37,   “Gimmel bagan?”- P.54-56    “Dag?”- P.72-74 and “Efo HavHav? “-P.87-89.

Please encourage your child to read it aloud to you over the winter break.It is a great way to practice all the vocabulary we have learned in this unit.

Ariot:

This week Ariot is going with Morah Irit to Israel.

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.

First Grade Album:

I still needs 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.

First grade 11.22.2013

בס"ד

Dear Parents,

This week we learned more about חנוכה “Chanukkah.” We got to make 2 different  “Sevivonim” (Dreidels).

Next week we will do more projects for Chanukkah.

It will be great if you can come to get your child’s projects after the Thanksgiving show (one of the things is very fragile).
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,).

We also learned about the different of the Israeli’s dreidels and out of Israel dreidels. (please read the story “"אְרִיאוֹת וְהַסְבִיבוֹנִים (Ariot and the dreidels)

A Special story

In your child’s folder you will find a story called: “"אְרִיאוֹת וְהַסְבִיבוֹנִים (Ariot and the dreidels)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. 

Ariot:

This week Ariot went to Brooklyn’s home.

Computer lab: This week we started going to the computer lab. Each student got the opportunity to learn with the Ariot program( read stories, listen to songs, and practice skills by using games) on his/her own computer using headphones.

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.

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 from

 Morah Irit.

First grade 11.15.2013

בס"ד                                                                                                                                    11.15.2013 

Dear Parents,

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

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.

A Special story

In your child’s folder you will find a story called: “מה יש בכיתה שלי” (What is in my classroom). It is the same book as last week except that 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. 

Ariot:

This week Ariot went to Max’s home.

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 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 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 grade 11.8.2013 (ויצא)

בס"ד היום יום שישי ה'  כסלו תשע"ד

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!

Ariot:

This week Ariot went to Sam Garvin’s home.

Ariot 1 workbook”:

We started the “Ariot 1” workbook.

It is going very quick because we had already learned so many of the vocabulary words and writing skills while doing our reading program. We are practicing Ariot I CD-ROM on the smart board in the classroom which includes the same stories and activities as in the workbook.

Soon we will start going to the computer lab and each student will have the opportunity to practice the program

A Special story

In your child’s folder you will find a story called: “מַה יֵש בַּכִּיתָה ?” (What is in the classroom). We started to 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.

)Next week each child will get to write down in his/her own book the items we have in our class in Hebrew.(

“My library” הַסִפְרִיָה שֶלִי "

This week’s story is called: “מַה יֵש בַּכִּיתָה ?” (What is in the classroom?)

Please encourage your child to read it aloud to you over the weekend .

Hebrew workbook:

This week we started 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).

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.

Shabbat Shalom

Morah Irit.

First grade 11.1.2013

כ"ו בחודש חשון תשע"ד

11.1.2013

Dear Parents,

First graders are learning 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: “אֶפְשָׁר בְּבַקָּשָׁה....” (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!

SHALOM  BAKITA (Shalom in the Classroom):

This week we learned the questions: “מִי בַּכִּיתָה?” and “?מִי לֹא בַּכִּיתָה” (Who is in the class? Who is not in the class?)  We also read the story called “Shachar Ba’Kitah?” that told us that –שַחַר לֹא בַּכִּיתָה, שַחַר בַּבַּיִת כִּי שַחַר חוֹלֶה"“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  " רְפוּאָה שְלֵמָה " (speedy recovery) to someone who sick.  

“My library” הַסִפְרִיָה שֶלִי "

This week’s book is called: “?מִי לֹא בַּכִּיתָה” (Who is not in the class?)

Please encourage your child to read it aloud to you over the weekend .

Ariot:

This week Ariot went to Yonatan’s home.

Hebrew workbook:

This week we finished our workbook: “Hebrew with Morah Irit” 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 will start a new Hoveret (workbook) with the vowel “Hirik” which sounds like a long E. We will learn 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 following the new prayers: “Baruch Shamar”, “Ashrey” and “Anim zemirot”

Shabbat Shalom

Morah Irit.

first grade חיי שרה2013

בס"ד

10.25.2013

Dear parents,

This week the second grade did a project about the creation and came to teach the first graders about it. It was FUN!

“My library” הַסִפְרִיָה שֶלִי " - ”!

This week’s book is called: “Sharona Bakita?” (שרונה בכיתה?).

Please encourage your child to read it aloud to you over the weekend so they can receive a new one on Friday.

Don’t forget to remind your child that he\she will get a “Dag”  (our reward fish) when he\she is returns the book with a signature.

Ariot:

This week Ariot went to Rebekkah’s home.

Hebrew workbook:

We finished our workbook “עברית עם מורה אירית”

 Part 3! We reviewed the Aleph-Bet letter names with their sounds and the vowel sound “AH” up to the letter “Pay”. We also focused on the Final letters: “Fay Sofit”. We practice writing words and we learned when to use a final letter.

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 learning “Baruch Shamar”and “Ashrei” prayer in our morning dovening.we are continuing to learn “Anim zemirot” (We got up to “ז”).

 Shabbat Shalom,

Morah irit Karavani

First grade 10.18.2013

בס"ד

10.18.2013

Dear parents,

Last week we started a new program for the first grade called “My library” הַסִפְרִיָה שֶלִי "  and it is a big “הצלחה” (success).

If you want to read all about it, go to:

http://morahirit.blogspot.com/2013/10/my-library.html

“My library” הַסִפְרִיָה שֶלִי " - ”!

This week’s book is called: “Shachar Bakita?” (שחר בכיתה?).

Please encourage your child to read it aloud to you over the weekend so they can receive a new one on Friday.

Don’t forget to remind your child that he\she will get a “Dag”  (our reward fish) when he\she is returns the book with a signature.

Ariot:

This week Ariot went to Maya’s home.

Hebrew workbook:

This week we have almost finished our workbook “עברית עם מורה אירית”

 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 a picture page with a summary of the story of Parashat:  “ וירא” (Va yerah). We learned about two important Mitzvot that our Parasha teaches us: 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.

Shabbat Shalom

Morah Irit.

Firs Grade 10.11.2013

בס"ד

10.11.2013

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.

This week Ariot went to:Miles's home.

”Shalom kitah Alef”

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

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.

Hebrew workbook:

This week we finished our workbook “Hebrew with Morah Irit” Part 2! We reviewed the Aleph-Bet letter names with their sounds and the vowel sound “AH” up to the letter Lamed. We also focused on the Final letters: “Kaf sofit” . We practice writing words and we learned when to use a final letter.

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.

Shabbat Shalom,

Morah Irit

My library " הַסִפְרִיָה שֶלִי "

Dear Parents,

I am very excited to start a new program for with the first graders called

 My library  " הַסִפְרִיָה שֶלִי "

This is an optional reading program

Each student will receive a Hebrew book for reading practice at home. The books are from the unit “Shalom Bakita” (A part of the 1^st grade Tal Am curriculum) and provide good practice for the sight words we learned in class.
Once your child read the entire book to an adult, he/ she should bring the book back to school with a parent signature.
As a reward, your child will get a “Dag”(our reward ticket, shaped as a fish. )
 This optional reading program will help create excitement towards Hebrew reading and improve your child’s Hebrew reading skills. It will also create love and appreciation towards Hebrew reading, and give the students the opportunity to take pride in their Hebrew reading skills.

The first book that will be sent home with your child is: “Shalom Kitah Alef” (Shalom first grade).

Please encourage your child to read it aloud to you over the weekend so he/she can receive a new book on Friday.

With your help and support we can make a real difference in your child’s Hebrew reading skills!

Shabbat Shalom

Morah Irit.

פרשת נח 10.4.2003

ר"ח חשון

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:

חוֹרֶף (Horef)- winter  אָבִיב  (Aviv) – Spring,  קַיִץ (Kayits)- Summer ,

 סְתָו   (Stav) -Fall.

 And we can answer the question: ""מָה הַעוֹנָה עַכְשָיו? What is the season now?

Ariot on the Smart board:

Tthis week we played together using the “Ariot”  Hebrew program on our class Smart board.

The kids were so excited to use the Ariot Hebrew games and exercises on the Smart board!

Hebrew:

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

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.

I’m sending home the complete first unit to keep at home.

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

Prayer

We started reading and singing the beginning of “Anim zemirot”. 

Shabbat Shalom

Morah Irit.

סוכות

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

First grade 8.30.2013

8.30.2013

Dear Parents,

We were very busy learning about Rosh Hashanah.

We learned a new song for the 12 Hebrew month, and we know that Rosh Hashnah 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 Hashanh 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.

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.

Please look for the Hebrew folder on Tuesday with our special projects.

Parashat Hashavua - Parashat Nitzavim and Vayeilech

This Friday you will find in the folder a Parasha sheet with pictures and a summary of what is in the Parasha. Please encourage your child to explain to you what in the pictures.

Shabbat Shalom,    Morah Irit.

First week

8.22.2013

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 “Ivrit eem Morah Irit” (Hebrew with Morah Irit), 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.

פרשת קרח- סוף השנה

6-7-13
Dear Parents,
Wow!  Can it be the end of the school year already? Today we had a ceremony. I gave each student a certificate that acknowledges one thing (of many) that he/she succeeded at during the school year.

Ariot 4: This week we completed the “Ariot 4” workbook. We enjoyed studying the story with “אדון וגברת גורילה” (Adon Ve Geveret Gorilah)-Mr. and Mrs. Gorilla. I’m sending the completed workbook home to keep. Please take time to go over the stories with your child and let him/her read and explain them to you. I’m sure you will enjoy it.

“Shabbat Shalom” workbook

This week we finished the Shabbat workbook. It is composed of 3 distinctive units which reflect the main ideas of the Shabbat theme:
1. Bo'i Shabbat (Come, Shabbat) - Welcoming Shabbat in class and at home.
2. Oneg Shabbat (Celebrating Shabbat) - What's permitted and what's forbidden during Shabbat.
3. Shavua Tov (Good Week) - Farewell to Shabbat, Havdalah.

These units deal, respectively, with the preparations for Shabbat, the Mitzvoth of Shabbat and the ritual of departure from the Shabbat on Motzaei Shabbat (Saturday night).

The units include: Blessings over the candles, the challa and the Kiddush for Shabbat.

The Shabbat Shalom unit is taught throughout the year and in parallel to Ariot and Shalom units, during the periods of the year when holiday topics are not taught.

Hebrew folder:

There is no need to return the Hebrew folder any more. I also sent yesterday with the students all the new folders that we didn’t use.

Parashat Hashavua: Parashat :" קרח"

Korach and 250 leaders started an argument with Moshe and Aharon. They wanted to be leaders and be able to go into the “Kodesh Ha Kodashim” like Aharon could.

Ariot Kotev:

We started this work book and didn’t finish it.

Please let your child to practice their script reading and script writing.

You will find nice short stories that build on the previous vocabulary we learned during the year.

Summer work:

It is very important to help your student retain the Hebrew skills that he/she has achieved this year. I’m sending an enrichment workbook that your child worked on whenever he/she finished his/her class work. I highly recommend that your child finish this workbook over the summer. I will give a small prize to whoever brings back the workbook completed at the beginning of next year.

Siddur:

I’m sending home the Siddur that your child received at the Chag HaSiddur to use over the summer. Please make sure to return it to school with your child at the beginning of the new school year. They will use it every day next year as well.

Jornal notbook:

I’m sending home the journal notebook call : "מחברת עברית"

In this מחברת  you’ll fine all the daily work we wrote in it during the year.

 I’m very proud of my first grade students’ achievements this year. Thank you as well. Your child’s achievements this year would not have been so successful without your help and support.

Shabbat Shalom,

Irit Karavani