We continued our study of Hanukkah, and read the chapter aloud in various ways to include the entire class. We learned about how the dreidel looks different in Israel (hint: the miracle happened in Israel) and had fun playing the dreidel game. Chocolate Hershey kisses are always a hit as the prize!
Last Sunday, the class worked hard and quietly enough so we could all think and be heard. It's a big class, with a lot of wonderful socialization, but we need quiet when we're working and learning. So last Sunday, they did it! I challenged them to have another Sunday like that, when I didn't have to ring my "quiet bell" and they did it again today!
At the beginning of our service, the Rabbi explained the "uniform" some Jews wear to pray. He shared very interesting information about the kippah and talis are worn and why. We ended with a Hanukkah song.
Music with Spencer was enlightening and fun as usual, covering both Shabbat and Hanukkah. In January, our new elective will be Art, which is always a popular activity.
Next Sunday we start school at 10:00 for our Family Education program about "Fiddler on the Roof" and hope everyone will be able to be there. Lunch will follow the program, and then the bus will leave for Watertown for the play. Even if you aren't coming to the play, please still try to join us at 10:00 for the fun and very educational program we have planned.
Have a good week,
Morah Debbie
Monday, December 12, 2016
Monday, December 5, 2016
Sunday, Dec. 5 summary
Shalom, Parents:
We had a lot of fun learning about what I think is the everyone's favorite holiday--Hanukkah! First we brainstormed in small groups and listed everything we knew about the holiday, and then we shared our lists with the class. You'll be happy to know that the children wrote about giving as well as receiving gifts, and also were familiar with the reason we celebrate Hanukkah, how we celebrate, as well as special foods we eat.
The dreidel game provided lots of excitement and also an opportunity to review some of the Hebrew letters we've learned! I provided pennies and dreidels and the competition was loud and fun. One child asked if this was gambling, and I replied that it wasn't because they don't keep the pennies; I do. Everyone was rewarded with Hershey kisses, though.
Music with Spencer focused on wrapping up our study of Shabbat, and also featured a fun team-building game. Next Sunday he plans to teach the Hanukkah blessings and some Hanukkah songs.
Enjoy your week,
Morah Debbie
We had a lot of fun learning about what I think is the everyone's favorite holiday--Hanukkah! First we brainstormed in small groups and listed everything we knew about the holiday, and then we shared our lists with the class. You'll be happy to know that the children wrote about giving as well as receiving gifts, and also were familiar with the reason we celebrate Hanukkah, how we celebrate, as well as special foods we eat.
The dreidel game provided lots of excitement and also an opportunity to review some of the Hebrew letters we've learned! I provided pennies and dreidels and the competition was loud and fun. One child asked if this was gambling, and I replied that it wasn't because they don't keep the pennies; I do. Everyone was rewarded with Hershey kisses, though.
Music with Spencer focused on wrapping up our study of Shabbat, and also featured a fun team-building game. Next Sunday he plans to teach the Hanukkah blessings and some Hanukkah songs.
Enjoy your week,
Morah Debbie
Sunday, November 20, 2016
Nov. 20 Summary
We had a full house today with only 4 students absent! Your children listed what they knew about Shabbat on the board, then read aloud in pairs or small groups as we finished the Shabbat chapter in our books and put the Shabbat sticker on the treasure trail. The children are familiar with why we celebrate Shabbat, how we welcome Shabbat and end Shabbat, prayers we say, and Shabbat symbols.
Our music elective with Moreh Spencer provided some more experiential learning about Shabbat with songs, prayers, and using our senses as we learned more about havdalah and once again smelled the wonderful baseman (spices) used to say goodbye to Shabbat. A few movement activities with song added to the fun, as did a team building exercise involving juggling and catching tennis balls!
Hope you and yours have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving,
Morah Debbie
Sunday, November 6, 2016
Sunday, 11/6/16
Next time you come to the temple, be sure to check out the school bulletin board across from the temple office. It's our turn to display our work, and your children outdid themselves! Our theme for this year is Hebrew and Jewish Holidays, and they used their creativity to create quite a display. According to my tally, Hanukkah was the holiday of choice, and the smiling letter samech the most popular Hebrew letter. Ask your children to show you their creations--many made two!
Music with Spencer gave us a chance to learn more Shabbat prayers and songs. Spencer taught a song and discussed how very observant Jews celebrate Shabbat, and the children imagined how it would be to observe Shabbat without any television, computers, or driving anywhere.
Morah Liz loaned us a beautiful Havdalah set and Spencer explained the braided candle with many wicks, kiddush cup, and spice box. We smelled the wonderful besamin (spices), held out our hands and looked at the reflection of the candle's glow on our fingernails, and heard the hiss as he put out the flame by dipping it into the wine.
Our star children (helpers) were Jesse and Jamison today.
No school next Sunday due to Veteran's Day.
Have a good week,
Morah Debbie
Sunday, October 30, 2016
Sunday Oct. 30 Summary
Today we continued learning about our Jewish fall holidays. The students finished their Sukkot chapter and added yet another sticker to their holiday sticker trail. We talked about how Thanksgiving is the first Sukkot, and brainstormed ways to incorporate Sukkot into our Thanksgiving celebration this year. Ask your kids if they'd like to decorate your dining room with paper chains, or the table with fruits like the pomegranate, maybe even a lulav and etrog! They also thought adding a Hebrew prayer like Hamotzi would be a nice touch.
Our elective, Music with Spencer, was a lot of fun. We used our siddur to learn "Lecha Dodi" and discussed the meaning of the Shabbat Bride. Spencer also treated us to some fun movement songs and team building exercises to help our class continue to learn and work together. Our next holiday to study is Shabbat.
Star children were Asher and Jeff. Everyone will have a chance on Sundays to be a star child and pass out books, pencils, notices, etc. and be an overall helper. We're going alphabetically by last names, from Z to A.
Enjoy your week,
Morah Debbie
Our elective, Music with Spencer, was a lot of fun. We used our siddur to learn "Lecha Dodi" and discussed the meaning of the Shabbat Bride. Spencer also treated us to some fun movement songs and team building exercises to help our class continue to learn and work together. Our next holiday to study is Shabbat.
Star children were Asher and Jeff. Everyone will have a chance on Sundays to be a star child and pass out books, pencils, notices, etc. and be an overall helper. We're going alphabetically by last names, from Z to A.
Enjoy your week,
Morah Debbie
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Sunday, 10/17/16
Shalom and Happy New Year!
It was so good to be back at religious school; I really missed your children!
We started our day with a quick review of Sukkot, and I was happy to hear that quite a few children were building a sukkah at home with their families and planned to eat, read, and even sleep in it during the holiday. With the warm weather forecasted for early this week, that could really be pleasant!
Everyone will have the opportunity to visit our temple's sukkah this week. Today we made decorations, working independently and in small groups to create paper chains, fruit baskets, decorative fruit constructions, and other artwork. We'll be hanging their creations in the sukkah early in the week, and beginning Hebrew classes in the sukkah so everyone can perform the mitzvah of shaking the lulav and etrog and reciting the blessing. Stop by the sukkah during the week and see how beautiful it looks!
Our service with Rabbi Meyer was full of music and learning, and he picked up our story--the story of the Jewish people--where he left off a few weeks ago, with Moses growing up in Pharoah's house. Next Sunday, we find out how Moses learned out that he was Jewish.
Morah Jill said that the class is working very well on their technology project about Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot, and Simhat Torah, and that the three groups will finish next Sunday and then view all the final products. This elective gives them the opportunity to use iPads in a creative way, do research, and work in small groups to learn about the Jewish holidays. Can't wait to see what they've done!
Enjoy your week,
Morah Debbie
It was so good to be back at religious school; I really missed your children!
We started our day with a quick review of Sukkot, and I was happy to hear that quite a few children were building a sukkah at home with their families and planned to eat, read, and even sleep in it during the holiday. With the warm weather forecasted for early this week, that could really be pleasant!
Everyone will have the opportunity to visit our temple's sukkah this week. Today we made decorations, working independently and in small groups to create paper chains, fruit baskets, decorative fruit constructions, and other artwork. We'll be hanging their creations in the sukkah early in the week, and beginning Hebrew classes in the sukkah so everyone can perform the mitzvah of shaking the lulav and etrog and reciting the blessing. Stop by the sukkah during the week and see how beautiful it looks!
Our service with Rabbi Meyer was full of music and learning, and he picked up our story--the story of the Jewish people--where he left off a few weeks ago, with Moses growing up in Pharoah's house. Next Sunday, we find out how Moses learned out that he was Jewish.
Morah Jill said that the class is working very well on their technology project about Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot, and Simhat Torah, and that the three groups will finish next Sunday and then view all the final products. This elective gives them the opportunity to use iPads in a creative way, do research, and work in small groups to learn about the Jewish holidays. Can't wait to see what they've done!
Enjoy your week,
Morah Debbie
Sunday, September 25, 2016
Sunday, 9/25/16 Summary
Shalom Parents,
Today was a wonderful day: almost every student was here, everyone listened when someone else was talking so everyone could learn, and we accomplished a lot! The first hour, we learned about Rosh Hashanah through discussions and reading from our holiday book. The children then experienced the holiday up close and personal by seeing, touching, and even smelling my shofar and then chanting the shofar calls as I blew the shofar for them. We also enjoyed a little something sweet for the new year and dipped honey graham dippers into honey.
Our service with Rabbi Meyer explained how our temple was getting ready for the New Year, and we learned about the birthday cakes every family will receive and saw the hundreds of extra chairs set up in the social hall to accommodate everyone. Our professional shofar blower was there with his impressive curved shofar so the children saw how it's really done!!!!
The last hour, Morah Jill divided the class into groups to start working on their holiday videos. The children researched their holidays on iPads and chose 4 facts about their holiday--Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot, or Simhat Torah. They also took pictures of each other with the green screen, and started to select holiday images.
We finished our day by singing Israel's national anthem, "Hatikvah," and learning an Israeli dance called "Ack Shav" (Now let's go to Israel).
Thank you for helping your children to remember tzedakah. Quite a few of the children are participating in this mitzvah, and our tzedakah box is filling up beautifully!
L'Shanah Tova u'Mitukah~A Sweet and Happy Year,
Morah Debbie
Today was a wonderful day: almost every student was here, everyone listened when someone else was talking so everyone could learn, and we accomplished a lot! The first hour, we learned about Rosh Hashanah through discussions and reading from our holiday book. The children then experienced the holiday up close and personal by seeing, touching, and even smelling my shofar and then chanting the shofar calls as I blew the shofar for them. We also enjoyed a little something sweet for the new year and dipped honey graham dippers into honey.
Our service with Rabbi Meyer explained how our temple was getting ready for the New Year, and we learned about the birthday cakes every family will receive and saw the hundreds of extra chairs set up in the social hall to accommodate everyone. Our professional shofar blower was there with his impressive curved shofar so the children saw how it's really done!!!!
The last hour, Morah Jill divided the class into groups to start working on their holiday videos. The children researched their holidays on iPads and chose 4 facts about their holiday--Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot, or Simhat Torah. They also took pictures of each other with the green screen, and started to select holiday images.
We finished our day by singing Israel's national anthem, "Hatikvah," and learning an Israeli dance called "Ack Shav" (Now let's go to Israel).
Thank you for helping your children to remember tzedakah. Quite a few of the children are participating in this mitzvah, and our tzedakah box is filling up beautifully!
L'Shanah Tova u'Mitukah~A Sweet and Happy Year,
Morah Debbie
Monday, September 19, 2016
What we did on Sunday, Sept. 18!
Shalom,
We have a big third grade class this year which means lots of opportunities to make new friends, have fun, and learn from one another. Today we focused on the fall holidays: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Simhat Torah. On the board, the children wrote what they already knew about the holidays--"throwing challah into the water," "say sorry to people we did bad stuff to," "visit with family," and key words like round challah, Torah, and sukkah. We talked a little about each idea, and also the holiday Shabbat which we celebrate every week and every season.
Our Sunday curriculum is the Jewish Holidays, and our book "The Jewish Holiday Trail" will take us on a virtual adventure through the year. We read the introduction and everyone chose a bonus sticker to put on their holiday trail.
Our morning also included a service in the sanctuary with Rabbi Meyer, and Tech with Morah Jill in the new youth lounge upstairs. The children are excited that they'll be making holiday videos with Morah Jill during the next few Sundays, and had fun experimenting with different apps on the iPads in preparation for their movie making adventure!
Many children stayed for the first SMARTY event, and we'll keep you posted about upcoming programs. We have a class tzedakah box and it would be wonderful to start making this mitzvah of helping others a regular part of the children's Jewish education. All it takes is a little pocket change!
Enjoy your week,
Morah Debbie
We have a big third grade class this year which means lots of opportunities to make new friends, have fun, and learn from one another. Today we focused on the fall holidays: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Simhat Torah. On the board, the children wrote what they already knew about the holidays--"throwing challah into the water," "say sorry to people we did bad stuff to," "visit with family," and key words like round challah, Torah, and sukkah. We talked a little about each idea, and also the holiday Shabbat which we celebrate every week and every season.
Our Sunday curriculum is the Jewish Holidays, and our book "The Jewish Holiday Trail" will take us on a virtual adventure through the year. We read the introduction and everyone chose a bonus sticker to put on their holiday trail.
Our morning also included a service in the sanctuary with Rabbi Meyer, and Tech with Morah Jill in the new youth lounge upstairs. The children are excited that they'll be making holiday videos with Morah Jill during the next few Sundays, and had fun experimenting with different apps on the iPads in preparation for their movie making adventure!
Many children stayed for the first SMARTY event, and we'll keep you posted about upcoming programs. We have a class tzedakah box and it would be wonderful to start making this mitzvah of helping others a regular part of the children's Jewish education. All it takes is a little pocket change!
Enjoy your week,
Morah Debbie
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Summary for Sunday 4/10
Today the students worked with Moreh Spenser and Morah Emily on their Shabbat service. In fact, they worked so hard that after tefilah with the Rabbi, we took a break and had a yummy snack before working with Morah Emily some more! I'm so very proud and pleased with the progress your children are making and the amount of material they'll be leading in this service. Please mark your calendars for May 6 and be sure to invite family and close friends to share this special occasion.
We have religious school this Tuesday, then will be off until April 26 due to April school vacation. Please encourage your children to take a look at their Hebrew during this break so they don't forget what they've worked so hard to learn!
Thank you,
Morah Debbie
We have religious school this Tuesday, then will be off until April 26 due to April school vacation. Please encourage your children to take a look at their Hebrew during this break so they don't forget what they've worked so hard to learn!
Thank you,
Morah Debbie
Monday, April 4, 2016
4/3/16 class summary
Shalom Parents,
Today we worked on our Shabbat service with Morah Emily and Moreh Spenser. The children are doing an amazing job of learning the prayers, and will be leading most of the Friday night service. I'm sure you'll all be proud, so be sure to invite family and friends to enjoy this mitzvah with you on May 6.
The children are sooooo excited about learning to read Hebrew that they voted to work in their Mitkadem books today rather than do our usual holiday learning. But no worries; we'll get to our Passover curriculum next Sunday!
Enjoy your week,
Morah Debbie
Today we worked on our Shabbat service with Morah Emily and Moreh Spenser. The children are doing an amazing job of learning the prayers, and will be leading most of the Friday night service. I'm sure you'll all be proud, so be sure to invite family and friends to enjoy this mitzvah with you on May 6.
The children are sooooo excited about learning to read Hebrew that they voted to work in their Mitkadem books today rather than do our usual holiday learning. But no worries; we'll get to our Passover curriculum next Sunday!
Enjoy your week,
Morah Debbie
Thursday, March 17, 2016
March updates
Shalom, Parents,
Your children are working hard with our specialists to learn about prayer and design their own special class prayer for their Shabbat service in May. We don't have too many classes left, and every one is important as we get ready for this service as well as continue to learn to read Hebrew with more confidence and accuracy. So please, do continue to make religious school a priority and send your children to class--even if they may have to come late or leave early!
This Sunday please join us as we celebrate Purim with a fun and educational family education program for all ages! You don't want to miss it!
Morah Debbie
Your children are working hard with our specialists to learn about prayer and design their own special class prayer for their Shabbat service in May. We don't have too many classes left, and every one is important as we get ready for this service as well as continue to learn to read Hebrew with more confidence and accuracy. So please, do continue to make religious school a priority and send your children to class--even if they may have to come late or leave early!
This Sunday please join us as we celebrate Purim with a fun and educational family education program for all ages! You don't want to miss it!
Morah Debbie
Sunday, March 6, 2016
It's good to be back!
Shalom Parents,
I was so happy to see your children this Sunday morning, and even happier to see how hard they're working on their Shabbat service with Morah Emily, Moreh Spencer, Morah Heather, and Morah Liz. I'm so excited to be back to help them with this exciting learning, and can't wait to see the service that they are creating.
I'm also happy to report that they have made huge strides in Hebrew while I was away. Since they already have a good understanding of Purim, we spent some time today working on our mitkadem Hebrew program, and I was literally beaming as I watched them all work steadily at their own pace (while munching on pretzels, cheese balls, and/or goldfish, of course, which helps make the work go easier!).
Next Sunday is pajama day, so please remind your children to stay in their pjs and come to school and be comfy!
Morah Debbie
I was so happy to see your children this Sunday morning, and even happier to see how hard they're working on their Shabbat service with Morah Emily, Moreh Spencer, Morah Heather, and Morah Liz. I'm so excited to be back to help them with this exciting learning, and can't wait to see the service that they are creating.
I'm also happy to report that they have made huge strides in Hebrew while I was away. Since they already have a good understanding of Purim, we spent some time today working on our mitkadem Hebrew program, and I was literally beaming as I watched them all work steadily at their own pace (while munching on pretzels, cheese balls, and/or goldfish, of course, which helps make the work go easier!).
Next Sunday is pajama day, so please remind your children to stay in their pjs and come to school and be comfy!
Morah Debbie
March 6, 2016
Hi Parents,
Morah Debbie returned today, but we are now beginning to practice for the class service, so for the first hour, Moreh Spencer and I worked with your children along with Morah Debbie. Moreh Spencer started by doing an exercise with them designed to teach them in a way they could understand the meaning of the Hebrew word l'hitpalel, self reflection. Next, we worked on the blessings over the candles, wine, and challah. Our madrichim Claire and Jason made videos of them that are attached, to help your children learn them at home.
We all look forward to this process going forward!
Morah Emily
We all look forward to this process going forward!
Morah Emily
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
February 23, 2016
Hi Parents,
Yesterday was my last Tuesday of subbing for Morah Debbie. We finished reviewing all the prayers and readings that we might like to include in our class service. It's a long list, especially because your children also will be writing their own prayer with Moreh Spencer. In the coming weeks, as Moreh Spencer and I work with them on on the service, it will all come together!
Because on Sunday we are going to the movies with ARC clients, we had a visitor today who explained to us about autism. In the second session, we got to talk about the fact that preparing ourselves to know how to be kind to these children and their families can be a kind of prayer, since not all prayer comes from books. I was struck by what good questions were asked by your children, and how many of them have had exposure to children with developmental disabilities.
Be aware that your children did take homework today, and look for it, since I think you know that it requires your child reading to you. They have been so proud to show me their parents' or grandparents' signatures on their work!
I look forward to meeting you this Sunday at the Warwick Theater!
Morah Emily
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Tuesday, February 9, 206
Hi Parents,
I am subbing for Morah Debbie on Tuesdays while she is away. I am working on a project-based learning initiative with your children. At present, we are thinking about prayer--what it is, why we pray, and how we pray.
We've taken a look at a couple of the lovely siddurim (prayer books) that are available at Temple Emanu-El, and your children are expressing their opinions about what is meaningful to them, and what they might like to include in their class service. As I told Morah Liz, we are going to have our hands full trying to distill all their choices into a service of reasonable length, as they are so proficient and enthusiastic.
I also am continuing to work with your children on their Hebrew. Understandably, other than one student who is not on vacation from secular school next week, no one elected to take homework during the vacation, which made perfect sense to me. Enjoy the vacation; they are a charming group of children!
Morah Emily
I am subbing for Morah Debbie on Tuesdays while she is away. I am working on a project-based learning initiative with your children. At present, we are thinking about prayer--what it is, why we pray, and how we pray.
We've taken a look at a couple of the lovely siddurim (prayer books) that are available at Temple Emanu-El, and your children are expressing their opinions about what is meaningful to them, and what they might like to include in their class service. As I told Morah Liz, we are going to have our hands full trying to distill all their choices into a service of reasonable length, as they are so proficient and enthusiastic.
I also am continuing to work with your children on their Hebrew. Understandably, other than one student who is not on vacation from secular school next week, no one elected to take homework during the vacation, which made perfect sense to me. Enjoy the vacation; they are a charming group of children!
Morah Emily
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Jan. 31 Sunday class summary
Shalom,
Last Sunday, Rabbi Meyer met with the third graders on the bima and kicked off our special Project Based Learning about prayer that Morah Liz talked about in a recent letter. This morning I invited the students to write something on the board about what they learned. I also asked them to share their thoughts about the work they've been doing with Morah Heather in art, about what prayer looks like. The children worked so well independently, and then shared their ideas. We also reviewed our Hebrew letters with a lively and quite loud Hebrew Bingo game. After our service with Rabbi Meyer, we met with Morah Heather to continue learning about photo captioning and making choices about how to plan and decorate our class wimple (which we learned "hugs" the Torah scroll and keeps it closed).
Have a good week!
Morah Debbie
Last Sunday, Rabbi Meyer met with the third graders on the bima and kicked off our special Project Based Learning about prayer that Morah Liz talked about in a recent letter. This morning I invited the students to write something on the board about what they learned. I also asked them to share their thoughts about the work they've been doing with Morah Heather in art, about what prayer looks like. The children worked so well independently, and then shared their ideas. We also reviewed our Hebrew letters with a lively and quite loud Hebrew Bingo game. After our service with Rabbi Meyer, we met with Morah Heather to continue learning about photo captioning and making choices about how to plan and decorate our class wimple (which we learned "hugs" the Torah scroll and keeps it closed).
Have a good week!
Morah Debbie
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Tuesday, 1/12/16 class summary
Today I was so happy and proud to see that almost every child in our gimmel class--early and late sessions-- chose to help Morah Liz lead the Barchu prayer. That shows how comfortable they feel in school, how well and confident they are reading/chanting Hebrew, and how much fun our services are. Everyone is making great progress in their Mitkadem Hebrew program, and enthusiastic about learning to put together the Hebrew consonants and vowels and read!
No school this Sunday for the Martin Luther King holiday, so I hope to see everyone on Tuesday.
Morah Debbie
No school this Sunday for the Martin Luther King holiday, so I hope to see everyone on Tuesday.
Morah Debbie
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