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

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

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

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

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

Tuesday, 12/8/15 summary

The students continue to make excellent progress in Hebrew. Some have finished Ramah 1 and are starting to read basic Hebrew words in Ramah 2, the rest are almost ready to begin Ramah 2. Everyone has a good grasp of the Hebrew consonants and are beginning to learn the vowels. We have some tricks to help remember them!

At the end of class, we all gathered in the youth lounge to light the Hanukkah candles and sing the blessings. It was a beautiful sight. Then the children played dreidel with chocolate gelt.

Sunday is our Hanukkah Hoe Down for students and families--hope to see you all there!

Morah Debbie

Sunday, 12/6 Family Ed. summary

Today was a day of learning, having fun, creating Hanukkah lanterns, doing a mitzvah, and eating! We had almost perfect attendance today in the third grade, and I enjoyed seeing so many of you. I'm sorry I couldn't experience all the stations with you, but I was in charge of the glue gun and helping to assemble the beautiful lanterns the students made.

I'd like to send out a special thank you to some very helpful and talented madrichim who helped us in the art activity today: Rebecca Rooks, Jade Leong, and Molly German who stapled all the lanterns together, and Camille Szottfried who accompanied the third graders to each activity. Couldn't have done it without you girls!!!

Coming up: the school will be lighting the hanukkiyah on Tuesday during religious school, and then we have a Hanukkah Hoe Down next Sunday.

Happy first night of Hanukkah tonight,

Morah Debbie