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.