Monday, Dec. 22

We had a great last day before break together in Kitah Dalet-Hei! The students worked in partners on Ramah 4 in Mitkadem while I conducted prayer assessments. The students have grown in skill and confidence in chanting the prayers of the Torah Service and the Amidah, and it shows in their assessments!
Over break, please make sure that the students are reading Hebrew 5 minutes/day, 5 days/week, or an average of 25 minutes/week. They can read from the Kriah section of their Ramot. In addition, please have them cut out and organize (in a baggie or with a rubber band) the purple and orange flash cards for Ramah 4. Studying the words therein can count towards their reading requirement. Please make sure to record these on the students' Mitkadem reading records, as this has fallen by the wayside for some of our students recently.
In the second half of class, the students celebrated the publication of their "virtual museums," and the completion of the "Discovering the World of the Bible" webquest. Thank you to the friends and family who were able to come! I look forward to sharing the projects with you after break.
The students took home their progress reports this afternoon. If you have any questions about them, please don't hesitate to reach out! In addition, you can check out their past reports, prayer charts, and pictures and videos from over the years in their Dropbox folders (www.dropbox.com/login). Please let me know if you have any trouble accessing this.
We will next meet on Jan. 5, 2015. Have a great vacation!

Thursday, Dec. 18

On Thursday, the Kitah Dalet-Hei students completed their virtual museums on biblical artifacts. I'm excited to see them all at our publication party on Monday, Dec. 22! All are invited to celebrate with us at 4 PM in Classroom 3.
We then joined Kitah Bet-Gimel and the Sulam students for a Hanukkah party in Novakoff. We sang songs, lit candles, and enjoyed latkes and sufganiyot. See below for pictures!

Thursday, Dec. 11 and Monday, Dec. 15

We are getting excited for Hanukkah in Kitah Dalet-Hei! On Thursday, the students learned Hanukkah songs that we will be singing at our KIRS Hanukkah party on Thursday, Dec. 18. The students also made beautiful hanukkiyot that we will be lighting at the party. We hope you can join us at 4:30 for the celebration!

I was sad to miss class on Monday because I was out of town, but the students were led by Itai Gal, who said they all were "wonderful"! They worked on Mitkadem and their virtual museums. We will be having a publication party for their projects on Monday, Dec. 22 at 4 PM. All are invited to attend! This will be the last day of class for 2014. We will resume in the new year on Monday, Jan. 5.

The student progress reports will be mailed out next week. In addition, you can find updated prayer charts and pictures in your student's Dropbox folder, which you can access by going to www.dropbox.com/login. Please let me know if you have any questions about any of these items.

Finally, please continue to send in donations for our MSPCA supply drive and help us reach our goal! You may find a list of items to donate here.

Monday, Dec. 8

On Monday, the students continued their work on Ramah 4 in Mitkadem. They are getting used to working more independently, and are showing a lot of progress. Please continue to have them read at least 5 minutes/day 5 times/week from the Kriah section or another on-level Hebrew text.
The students also spent time working on their virtual museums. They are getting ready to share them at out publication party on Monday, Dec. 22. More details to come!
A couple of important upcoming dates:
Now-end of January: We are collecting donations for a MSPCA supply drive. Our goal is to collect 50 items. You can see what items the MSPCA most needs here.
Dec. 11-Dec. 22: I will be conducting individual prayer assessments for each student. Please make sure they are practicing the Torah service and/or Musaf prayers at home. Most of these prayers can be found here.
Mon. Dec. 15: I will be absent, but regular class will be held with substitute Itai Gal.
Thurs. Dec. 18, 4:30-5 PM. We will celebrate Hanukkah with Kitah Bet-Gimel. Parents, siblings, and friends are invited to attend! See invitation for more details.
Mon. Dec. 22: Last day of KIRS for 2014. Enjoy your holiday break! We will resume classes on Mon., Jan. 5, 2015.

Thursday, Dec. 5

The students spent much of Thursday afternoon rehearsing the Torah Service, which they led this past Shabbat morning. They did a beautiful job! Thank you to everyone who was there to support them!
The students also are close to finishing their virtual museums, which exhibit ancient artifacts from biblical times. We set the date for our publication party, when they will share and celebrate their projects: Monday, Dec. 22. Stay tuned for more details!
We are also currently accepting donations for our MSPCA supply drive, which is teaching about the mitzvah of Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh b'Zeh. Anything from this list would be helpful.
Please be reminded that the students should be practicing reading Hebrew at least 5 minutes/day. They can read from the Kriah section of their Ramah 4 Mitkadem packets.
Finally, KIRS will be celebrating Hanukkah together by lighting candles and enjoying snacks on Thusday, Dec. 18 at 4:30. The celebration will be held in Novakoff at KI. All are welcome-we hope to see you there!

Monday, Dec. 2

It was great to see everyone back in Kitah Dalet-Hei on Monday. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving break!
We had a busy afternoon together. First, we began a new Ramah with Mitkadem. The students are working at their own pace, in the order they choose. If they wish, they can work the Ramah at home. They are still required to practice reading for 5 minutes/day, 5 times/week. They can read from the Kriah (orange) section of the Ramah. If they wish to practice reading with the recording (steps 4 and 5), they can visit this link: http://urj.org/learning/teacheducate/hebrew/mitkadem/ramot/audio/.
We then learned the Shema. They can practice the Shema here: http://congki.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Shma.mp3
The students signed up to lead prayers this Shabbat morning, Dec. 6. We hope to see you there! They will also need to practice for their prayer assessments, which will be held during the month of December. Each student received a paper detailing which prayers he or she is responsible for. If you have any questions about this, please let me know. Most of the prayers they need to know can be found here: http://congki.org/congregational-learning/learning/youth-education/religious-school/shabbat-morning-tunes-for-kirs-students/.
Finally, the students began working on publicity for our MSPCA Supply Drive. Our goal is to collect 5 each of the top 10 items on the MSPCA's wish list. You can find the wish list here: http://www.mspca.org/adoption/boston/donate/boston-adoption-wishlist.html. We will start collecting this week! Please ask your children how you can help.
Please join me in wishing Matthew Dankwerth Mazel Tov on being chosen as the Mensch of the Month for Cheshvan!

Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014

On Thursday, the students worked on different prayers for the Torah Service and Musaf. They are getting ready to lead Jr. Congregation on Dec. 6--please join us then! In addition, I will be conducting prayer assessments during the month of December, so they can show me what they've learned this year.
The 4th graders are responsible for: Ein Kamocha, Av HaRachamim, Vayehi Binsoa, Bei Ana Rachetz, and the Shema. The 5th graders are responsible for the Musaf Amidah, as well as any prayers of the Torah service they did not master last year. Please have them practice these prayers at home--this can count towards their weekly Hebrew reading practice for Mitkadem.
The students also voted to dedicate their "Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh b'Zeh" project to supporting the MSPCA. We decided that animals can be considered a part of the Jewish community because they are a part of some of our families, they have helped us throughout history, and they are even featured in Torah stories! We will be conducting a supply drive, writing letters to our political representatives, and making toys for the shelter cats. Stay tuned for ways you can help!
Please note that Parent Teacher Conferences will be held this Monday from 4-7 PM. I am looking forward to seeing many of you there. We will meet again as a class after the Thanksgiving holiday, on Monday, Dec. 1.

Monday, Nov. 17, 2014

On Monday, the students worked through the second part of the prayer Bei Ana Rachetz. It was challenging, but they persevered, and are definitely improving! They can practice the prayer here.

They spend a significant amount of time designing their virtual museums "Discovering the World of the Bible." They are becoming experts with the iPads and are learning a lot about ancient artifacts of the land of Israel and beyond. I can't wait to share their projects with you!

On Thursday, the students received their graded mivchanim. As I said in the previous post, they all did a great job and I was very impressed with how much they have learned in just a few weeks! Our goal for both the reading and the written portion is mastery (80%). Some of the students came close, but did not quite meet this mark. If they did not, please have them practice the reading (2 d,e on pg. 2 or 3 of the "Kriah" section of the Mitkadem practice), or the particular topics that were challenging for them on the written portion. There will be a re-mivchan on Monday.
The students also began learning the prayer "Bei Ana Rachetz." This is a tricky one, so they may want to practice with a recording (here).
Finally, they spent a lot of time working on their "Discovering the World of the Bible" webquests. If you would like to learn more about this, you can visit it here.
Please be reminded that some students are interested in sharing causes they care about with the class. They have a graphic organizer they can fill out, and bring to class on Monday.
Also, Parent Teacher conferences are only a few days away (Nov. 24)! If you have not signed up for a time to meet with me yet, please do so here. If you cannot make any of the times, please contact me so that we can set up an alternative time to meet. I look forward to discussing your child's progress with you.

Monday, Nov. 10 (and Thursday, Nov. 6)

Last week was a busy one, as Kitah Dalet-Hei prepared to lead the Torah Service at Jr. Congregation. Their hard work paid off, and they did a wonderful job! I was so proud to see them confidently and capably lead us on Shabbat morning.
Also on Thursday, the students began creating their final projects, for which they will design a virtual museum to showcase artifacts from biblical times. They chose the app with which they will be working and created the welcome/intro page for their museum.
The students have also been working hard on a new project that will demonstrate the mitzvah of "Kol Yisrael Arevim zeh b'zeh." Today they researched 3 causes that interested them, and brainstormed how we can support those causes: alleviating hunger, helping doctors fight Ebola, and supporting the IDF. If they are interested in another cause they would like to share with the class, they may research it over the weekend and bring in some information to present next Monday.
Finally, all of the students took the Mivchan (assessment) for Ramah 3 today. This involved applying their written knowledge and oral reading skills. All of them passed; all of them got 80% or higher on either the written or the oral sections; and many got 80% or higher on both!
Another belated Mazel Tov to Anya Ditkoff on being the Mensch of the Month for Tishrei!

Monday, Nov. 3, 2014

On Monday, the students strengthened their knowledge of Shorashim by completing review worksheets in partners. They did a great job and I am excited for them to show me what they know in our Ramah 3 Mivhan (assessment), next Monday, Nov. 10. Please make sure they are reviewing their flashcards (both green and purple) at home, as well as reading 5 minutes/day, 5 days/week. The flashcards can count towards the time requirement.
We began our study of the mitzvah "Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh b'Zeh." We talked about how we took care or were responsible for the people, animals, and things in our lives. The students then studied how the rabbis understood this mitzvah, as described in Talmud Bavli tractate Shavuot 39a.
Please note that the students are leading the Torah Service in Jr. Congregation this Shabbat morning, Nov. 8. We will see you at 10 AM in the library.
Please also be sure to sign up for a time to meet with me at Parent Teacher conferences on Nov. 24. You can sign up here.
To start a conversation with your child about KIRS: Ask them what "Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh b'Zeh" means to them.

Thursday, Oct. 30

On Thursday, the students worked on the Shabbat morning service prayers. They are excited to lead the Jr. Congregation service on Nov. 8. Looking forward to seeing you then!
They also spent much of the class working in centers to review what we have learned in Ramah 3 of Mitkadem. They reviewed Otzar Milim (vocabulary), Dikduk (grammar), and Kriah (reading). I am truly impressed with how much they have learned. We will soon be taking the Mivchan (assessment) for Ramah 3, so please make sure they are continuing to practice these tasks at home, as well as reading 5 minutes/day, 5 days/week.

Monday, Oct. 27, 2014

On Monday, the students created projects with two new apps: Tellagami and Popplet. These are two other options with which they can create their final projects, "Discovering the World of the Bible."
The students also practiced "Vayehi Binsoa," a prayer in the Torah service. They can practice this prayer here. They are getting ready to lead Jr. Congregation on Nov. 8. They sound great already!
Another date to remember is Nov. 24, on which we'll be holding Parent-Teacher conferences. You can sign up for a time to meet with me here.
Please join me in congratulating Anya Ditkoff, our Mensch of the Month for Tishrei! Anya was chosen as Mensch of the Month for her consistent enthusiasm, hard work, and willingness to help others. Mazel tov, Anya!

Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014

On Thursday, the students spent the majority of class creating projects on the iPads using the apps Book Creator and Explain Everything. They created "ads" for our classroom teaching other people about Kitah Dalet-Hei. This exercise served as practice for their projects "Discovering the World of the Bible," where they will make virtual museum exhibits about ancient artifacts.
The students have been doing a great job with their Hebrew reading practice. Keep up the good work! For Thursday, the students should cut out and organize 2 sets of flashcards--Otzar Milim (purple) and Dikduk (green). Studying the flashcards can count towards their 5 minutes of reading/day.
Please note that Monday, Nov. 24 will be Parent-Teacher conferences-save the date! You can sign up for a time slot to meet with me here. Looking forward to seeing you then!

Monday, Oct. 20, 2014

It was great to see the students back in class after our holiday break! On Monday, the students learned the next prayer in the Torah service, "Av HaRachamim." They can practice it, as well as Ein Kamocha, here. We also continued working on Ramah 3 of Mitkadem--we're almost done! Please make sure the students have completed (cut out and organized) two sets of flashcards, Dikduk (green) and Otzar Milim (purple) for next Monday. We will need them to play review games to complete this ramah. 

Thursday, Oct. 2 and Monday, Oct. 6

The students have been working hard on their "Discovering the World of the Bible" webquests. They are learning about ancient artifacts and how to locate them on a map and a timeline. For Monday, 10/20, please have your children complete their research for "Discovering the World of the Bible" webquest. This includes a graphic organizer on ancient artifacts, a map, and a timeline, which can all be found in the Tanakh/Torah section of their binders. The website with more directions and resources is www.tinyurl.com/kirsbible. The login is congkirs and the password is israel1948.

They have also been learning a lot about the various holidays that we are celebrating this month. On Thursday, the students learned about the concept of atoning and thought about some things that they can do better in the future. This Thursday, 10/9, we will have a family Sukkot event in the Sukkah from 4-6 PM. All are welcome!

We do not meet next Monday, 10/13, nor next Thursday, 10/16. Because of this, I am asking that the students do some work at home so we are not too behind when we next get together.  Please have them continue to practice their Hebrew reading skills for 5 minutes/day, 5 days/week. This can be in the Kriah section of the Mitkadem packet or in another text at their level. Some of their reading practice can also involve creating and studying the flashcards that are included in their Mitkadem packets. There are 3 purple pages: one in the Mitkadem Otzar Milim section, and 2 in their folders. Please cut out the flashcards and keep them together with a rubber band, paper clip, or baggie.

Chag Sameach!

Monday, Sept. 29, 2014

Shana Tova! I hope you all had a wonderful Rosh HaShanah. When the students shared their holiday experiences in class on Monday, they all seemed to have had a great time!
In class on Monday, the students began learning Hebrew with the Mitkadem program. We are all beginning with Ramah 3, which introduces the students to the structure of the program. They learned about the concept of a brit, and explored different reasons why they and their classmates want to study Hebrew. Please note that for the duration of this program, students will be expected to read Hebrew 5 minutes per day, 5 days per week. They have brought their KIRS binders home and can read from the Kriah section (in red) as their requirement; or, they can read another text that is on their level. A place to record their reading time can be found in the Homework section of their binders. It should be filled out, and will be checked every class. Reading practice is important to reinforce skills we have learned in class and to increase the students' Hebrew fluency. If you have any questions about the reading expectation, please let me know.
The students also began learning (or reviewing) the Torah service. We began with Ein Kamocha. If your child would like to practice at home, you can use this resource (prayer ends at 0:50). Please try to send your child with his or her student siddur to KIRS each day. In this way, the students can become comfortable with the prayer book that they actually use in Jr. Congregation.
To start a conversation with your child about KIRS: Ask them why they want to learn Hebrew.

Monday, Sept. 22, 2014

On Monday, the students learned about the connection between the story of the akedah and our celebration of Rosh Hashanah. We had a very interesting conversation about what lessons we can take from that story and apply to our own lives today. If you would like to view the video we watched, you can find it below:

They also made Rosh Hashanah cards to give to family and friends--I hope you enjoyed them!

Students working on their cards

Students working on their cards

In the second half of class, the students conducted independent research on artifacts of the biblical world, via the webquest "Discovering the World of the Bible." If you would like to check it out, you may visit the website www.tinyurl.com/kirsbible and login with the username congkirs and the password israel1948.

We will next meet next Monday, 9/29. Shana Tova!

Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014

On Thursday, the students took a Hebrew pre-test to assess what they already know and what they need to work on. This will ensure that I can challenge them at the right level throughout the year. I am grateful for the Mitkadem program for making that even easier!
They also began to work on a webquest entitled "Discovering the World of the Bible." If you would like to check it out, or if your child ever wants to work on it at home, you can find the website here:
http://discoveringtheworldofthebible.wikispaces.com/. The login is congkirs and the password is israel1948.
Two items to note:

• Please ask your child to bring headphones to KIRS while we are working on this project. If he or she does not have headphones, please let me know and I will bring extra.
• Please note that we do not have class on Thursday 9/25 nor Jr. Congregation on Saturday 9/27, in observance of Rosh HaShanah. However, I will be making my debut at leading on Musaf that Shabbat morning, and if you can make it, it would be great to see some friendly faces in the congregation! It would also be a great opportunity for the 5th graders to see what they will be able to do by the end of the year.

To start a conversation with your child about KIRS: Ask them what they learned about the biblical world.

Sept. 16, 2014

On Monday, the students again practiced introducing themselves in Hebrew. We then practiced how to use the school iPads in a KIRS-appropriate way.

The students learned about our big goals for the year. They are:

• Lead the Torah service and/or Musaf
• Master 3 Ramot (levels) in Mitkadem (our Hebrew program)
• Interpret the book of Kings
• Practice the mitzvot "KolYisrael Arevim Zeh b'Zeh" and "Shmirat HaLashon"
• Become knowledgeable young Jewish leaders!

They also set personal goals for themselves.

Eli and Anya working on their goals

Sam and Ellie working on their goals

To start a conversation with your child about KIRS: Ask him or her what he or she wants to know or be able to do by the end of the year at KIRS.

Welcome Back! Sept. 11, 2014

Welcome (back) to Kitah Dalet-Hei! It was wonderful to see some familiar faces and other new ones at the first day of KIRS on Thursday. On our first day, we got to know each other by filling out a survey, and playing games such as "Stand Up/Sit Down" and the "Connected" game. We also learned about the behavioral expectations in the classroom, and talked about what we would be learning this year. Please be reminded that the students need to bring one binder with at least 5 dividers, one notebook, one folder, and something to write with, to each class session. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out!
To start a conversation with your child about KIRS: Ask them how they say "My name is..." and "What is your name?" in Hebrew. (Hint: You can use this website to look it up!)

End of the Year Celebration

On Thursday Kitah Bet/Gimel and Dalet/Hei had a wonderful end of year celebration! I loved hearing all of the students' poems and seeing their confidence reading them to all of our guests. They have grown so much in the past year and it has been a privilege being a part of that process. Thank you for all of your help in making this a fun and successful year.

Please note that the returning 5th graders have a required summer Hebrew review packet that will be due in September. It is recommended that the rising 6th graders complete this packet in order to keep up their Hebrew skills, but I will not be collecting it from them in September. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Thanks again for a great year. Have a great summer!

The 4th and 5th graders receiving their certificates of completion

Enjoying the 2nd and 3rd grade performances

A room full of celebrants!

A preview of the students' poems that they will be sharing on Thursday!

http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/7932773/Judaism_poems

A Wordle  is a toy for generating “word clouds” from text that you provide. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text.

June 9, 2014

We are wrapping things up this week in Kitah Dalet-Hei. On Monday, the students completed a final project on the book of Samuel using the iPad apps Popplet and Book Creator, as well as Google Docs. They also held a dress rehearsal for the poetry slam which will be this Thursday, June 12 at 4 PM in Novakoff. We hope to see you there! Please have your child practice his or her poem for Thursday. They are welcome to dress up if they so wish.

Book of Samuel Final Project

Students: Use this link to access the document in which you will write a blog post from the perspective of a character from the book of Samuel.
Samuel Google Doc

June 2, 2014

On Monday, the students learned about the holiday of Shavuot by completing a webquest. The students learned that it is the holiday that celebrates receiving the Torah at Mt. Sinai and also the harvest of the first fruits. I hope you get the chance to celebrate with some cheesecake!
The students also practiced performing their poems. Emily Fishman provided some great support with this. We are looking forward to sharing the poems with you at the last day of school celebration on Thursday, June 12 at 4 PM!

Resources for Shavuot Webquest

1. http://www.bje.org.au/learning/judaism/kids/holydays/shavuot.html
2. http://www.chabad.org/kids/article_cdo/aid/382707/jewish/The-Story-of-Shavuot-Animated.htm
3. http://www.chabad.org/kids/article_cdo/aid/2038/jewish/The-Story-of-Shavuot.htm
4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayF7xiyuZqc

May 19, 2014

On Monday, the students completed their study of the story of David and Bathsheba. We again wrestled with some of the difficult questions that were posed by the text. The students also worked on revising their poems about being Jewish, which we look forward to sharing with you at the last day of KIRS celebration on June 12!
Please note that the students have vocabulary homework, which is due on 5/29. They will have a quiz on 6/3. They can practice the words at Quizlet (login: CongKIRS, password: israel1948).
Some important upcoming dates:
Th. May 23-Parent-Teacher conferences. Sign up here for a time slot.
Mon. May 27-Memorial Day, no KIRS
Th. May 29-Ms. Fein absent, Gaby Avery-Peck will substitute
Mon. June 3-Regular class
Th. June 5-Shavuot, no KIRS
Mon. June 9-Regular class
Th. June 12-Last day of KIRS celebration. Stay tuned for more details!

May 15, 2014

On Thursday, the students continued their study of trope by working on the V'ahavta. While this is still new and challenging, they are making good progress. The video here is a good resource to help them learn.
We also began reading the story of David and Bathsheba. This story challenged us to think about what makes a good leader, and how one can use power responsibly.

May 12, 2014

The students spent most of today in writing workshop, in which they peer-edited each other's poems about being Jewish. We were able to do this outside and enjoy the beautiful weather!

May 8, 2014

On Thursday, the students completed their "I am" poems about being Jewish. They were so thoughtful and creative! I'm looking forward to our writer's workshop on Monday where they will begin to revise their poems and get them ready to share.
Please note that the students have a vocabulary quiz on set 8 tomorrow. They can study at http://quizlet.com/CongKIRS (login: CongKIRS, password: israel1948).

May 5, 2014

On Monday the students experimented with another form of poetry, the "I am" poem. The next step will be choosing a poem they want to revise and develop for our Open Mic. We are looking forward to performing for you on the last day of classes, June 12--more details to come! The students also studied the story of David and Goliath. They were very intrigued and some even kept reading after we had finished the chapter to find out what happens to David.
Please note that the students have vocabulary homework due Thursday, May 8 and a quiz on Monday, May 12.

May 1, 2014

On Thursday the students continued to practice Set Aleph of trope. They are improving a little bit every day! Please try and practice this set with your students at home using the resources outlined in the previous blog post. 

The students also continued our study of the book of Samuel by reading "The King is Troubled." We talked about what power music has to both express and change our emotions--for us as well as for King Saul.

As we near the end of the year, please note if your student has any missing homework that he or she needs to make up. Many students did not turn in the trope worksheet due on Thursday. If you have any questions about any individual assignment, or are wondering if your student is missing any homework, please feel free to reach out.

April 28, 2014

It was great to see the students back today after April vacation. We worked more on exploring Shmirat HaLashon; some students wrote poems, and others created books using Book Creator on the iPads. 

We then began learning a new skill--trope. Please be aware that the students have a trope worksheet on homework due Thursday, 5/1. There are some great resources for learning trope: the website http://learntrope.com/, the iPad app Pocket Torah Trope, and, if your child can read music, this is a helpful PDF: http://learntrope.com/downloads/TorahTrope.pdf. Please let me know if you have any questions about any of this.

April 17, 2014

We had a small but great class on Thursday. The students wrote poems about Judaism: one acrostic, a form which can be found all the way back in the Bible, and one haiku. They were very creative! I look forward to seeing the students when they return from vacation on Monday, April 28.

April 10, 2014

On Thursday, the students completed their Popplet projects on modern Exodus stories and shared them with each other. I was very impressed with the depth of their research and the creativity of their presentations. I hope to be able to share their next projects with you on this blog!
We also continued studying the book of Samuel. We were introduced to the character Saul, who will become Israel's first king. We made predictions about what kind of king he would be.
Finally, please join me in congratulating Gabe Kramer on being the Mensch of the Month for Adar II! Gabe is always quick to ask what he can do to be helpful and makes a genuine effort to be a better student and friend.
We will not have class on Monday, April 14. I look forward to seeing the students again on Thursday, April 17.
Chag Pesach Sameach!

April 3, 2014 and April 7, 2014

Thank you all for your help in making our Chocolate Seder a success! The students had a lot of fun reading the chocolate version of the haggadah, and of course enjoying the chocolate milk, ice cream, and candy. Many apologies for the slightly sticky and sugar-high versions of your children that came home last night :-)
Last Thursday, in the spirit of Passover, the students worked on independent research projects about modern Exodus stories. They learned about the Underground Railroad, Nelson Mandela's fight to end apartheid, and Operation Moses. This coming Thursday they will create a Popplet to show what they have learned.
To start a conversation with your child about KIRS: Ask them how their modern Exodus story connects with the Exodus story of Passover.

March 31, 2014

In class, we are busy preparing for our Chocolate Seder, which will be on Monday, April 7. Please sign up here to help contribute. We studied the seder plate and talked about what the different foods represent. We thought about what we could add to it that would be meaningful. Chocolate ice cream, representing the sweetness of freedom, was the winner!
Please note that the students have a vocabulary quiz on list 7 on Thursday, April 3. They are welcome to study the words on Quizlet. Please see the previous post for login information.
To start a conversation with your child about KIRS: Ask what they would add to the seder plate and why.

March 27, 2014

Mazel tov to all the students on a job well done leading Jr. Congregation on Shabbat morning! Each student challenged themselves by taking on extra responsibilities, and they did a great job handling those responsibilities. That included designing, and leading, the activity on preparing for Passover! We are looking forward to learning more about Passover and celebrating with a Chocolate Seder next Monday, April 7.
The students continued learning how to use the iPads on Thursday. The explored the app "Quizlet" and practiced the words from Vocabulary List 7. Quizlet can be used on any internet-enabled device! The username is CongKIRS and the password is israel1948. Please note that the students have vocabulary homework due tomorrow, 3/31, and a quiz on Thursday, 4/3. Quizlet is a great way to learn and study these vocabulary words.

March 24, 2014

After a great weekend leading the Shabbat Morning Torah Service in the Main Sanctuary, we are already looking ahead in Kitah Dalet-Hei. The students signed up to lead prayers for this Shabbat in Junior Congregation. We also started discussing how to prepare ourselves for Passover, by watching selections from the Prince of Egypt and noticing what Moses thought, felt, and did to get ready for the Exodus.
To start a conversation with your child about KIRS: Ask what they think, feel, and do to get ready for Passover.

March 20, 2014 and Shabbat morning service on March 22, 2014

Thank you so much to the Kitah Dalet-Hei students and families for such a successful leading of the Torah Service this Shabbat morning! I heard many people saying how impressed they were with the students' confidence and capabilities, and I hope you heard the same. They have worked hard the whole year and especially the past week to prepare for such an honor. I look forward to seeing them lead again this upcoming Shabbat morning on 3/29 in Junior Congregation. If you have any feedback about last week or thoughts or questions about the coming week, please let me know.

March 17, 2014

It was back to business in Kitah Dalet-Hei today after the Purim festivities of the weekend. We continued to study the story of Samuel and learned that he was a prophet. We predicted what would happen to the Israelites once they found a king.
We also began to prepare for leading the Torah service in the Main Sanctuary this Shabbat morning, March 22. The students chose prayers they feel confident leading and practiced with great diligence during class. I am sure they will do a wonderful job this Saturday. For more details about this Shabbat, please see my email. If you did not receive it, please let me know.
To start a conversation with your child about KIRS: Ask them if they think a king (or queen) would be good or bad for a group of people, and why.

March 13, 2014

On Thursday, the students shared a staged reading of the story of Esther. They did a great job collaborating in the creation of the skits, and then performing them as shpiels. Check out the pictures below!

Chag Purim Sameach!

March 10, 2014

We spent a busy day in Kitah Dalet-Hei getting ready for our Purim celebration this Thursday! The students read the story of Esther and then started planning their "shpiels," which they will share on Thursday. Please feel free to send your child with a Megillat Esther-themed piece of costume or prop to help enliven their performances.

To start a conversation with your child about KIRS: Watch this video and share what you think.

Video 3

Video 2

Kitah Dalet-Hei presents the book of Judges!

I am excited to share three of the students' fabulous final projects on the book of Judges. Enjoy!

March 6, 2014

The students have nearly finished the first drafts of their spoken word poems about being Jewish. They sound great! If your child wasn't able to finish his in class, please have him do so over the weekend. If  she did finish--ask her to share!
The students also revisited the story "The Birth of Samuel." We had some great discussions about the "special birth" narratives in the Hebrew Bible, and what they have in common with fairy tales like Rapunzel. We also shared our opinions on Hannah's promise to give her son to the Mishkan. To start a conversation with your child about KIRS: Ask his or her opinion about Hannah's decision.
Please be reminded that the students have a vocabulary quiz on list 6 on Monday.
I would also like to wish Mazel tov to Ellie Jones, our Mensch of the Month for Adar Aleph! Ellie earned this honor by always thinking very deeply about the topics we study and making thoughtful and productive comments in class discussions.

March 3, 2014

The students have begun preparing for a spoken word performance in which they will write and perform their own poems about being Jewish. They began drafting their poems modeled after Kid President's "20 Things" performance. I'm excited to see what they will create! They also began studying the book of Samuel. On Monday, we read about the birth of Samuel and made predictions about what his life might be like.
Please note that the students have vocabulary homework due Thursday 3/6 and a quiz on Monday 3/10. 
To start a conversation with your child about KIRS: Ask them to share their poem with you!

Feb. 27, 2014

On Thursday, we began our study of the book of Samuel by thinking about prophets. The students categorized features of modern and biblical prophets, and then imagined what those prophets would look and sound like. They also began work on their spoken word projects by brainstorming their favorite things about being Jewish, about which they'll later write and perform poems!
To start a conversation with your child about KIRS: Ask them what they think they will write their poem about.

Monday, 2/24/14

It was great to see everyone back in Kitah Dalet-Hei after February break! On Monday we finished learning the prayer Bei Ana Rachetz. (Students can practice by going to www.sidduraudio.com, clicking on "Torah Service," and scrolling to the 2:46 mark.) This marks the end of all the Torah Service prayers that we will be learning this year! The kids have done a great job and should be very proud of their hard work. Save the date for March 22, when we will be leading in the sanctuary, and March 31, when we will be leading Jr. Congregation.
We also begin learning about slam poetry, or spoken word. Keep your eyes and ears open for a great new project will be working on this semester. To check out some great spoken-word like performances that are kid-friendly, check out "Kid President" videos on YouTube.

Snow Day 2/13/14

I hope you are all staying safe and warm on this snowy afternoon! Since we do not have KIRS today and are on vacation next week, I wanted to quickly touch base. When we return on Monday 2/24, I will be starting to assess the students on the prayers for the Torah service. To prepare, I am asking that they complete the below packet over break. The most important part is the last, in which they are asked to sing through each of the prayers at least once. I have included information about where to find transcriptions and audio recordings of each prayer. This way, they will be more than ready to show me what they know when they return.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Torah Service Extravaganza

Feb. 10, 2014

On Monday, the students completed and presented their projects on the book of Judges. They are all wonderfully creative! I am looking forward to sharing them with you in the next couple of weeks.
They also began to learn "Bei Ana Rachetz," the final prayer on our list for the Torah service. To practice, students can go to www.sidduraudio.com , and click on "Torah Service." "Bei Ana" begins at the 2:56 mark.
Finally, we also began to explore what Jewish sources say about "Shmirat HaLashon" (guard your tounge), our mitzvah focus of the semester. For homework, I have asked the students to write down one instance that they see of words being used to help, and one instance of words being used to hurt, before class on Thursday.
To start a conversation with your child about KIRS: Ask them why they think words have power.

Feb. 6, 2014

On Thursday, the students continued working on their final projects on the book of Judges. I am excited to see them share on Monday!
We also received a visit from a representative of Camp Ramah in New England. It looks like a lot of fun and a wonderful way for your child to spend his or her summer. If you would like more information, please see their website  http://www.campramahne.org/.

Feb. 3, 2014

On Monday in Kitah Dalet-Hei we began our unit on the mitzvah of Shmirat HaLashon (guarding one's tongue). We played a game of telephone and talked about how hard it is to control what will happen to your words once they are spoken. We also discussed the power that words have either to help or to hurt. I'm excited to continue this unit through the rest of the semester.
The students also began their final projects on the book of Judges. Some are writing coming books, while others are writing scripts for a TV news report, on the Judges story of their choice. There were a lot of creative juices flowing--the projects should be great!
Finally, I'd like to wish Mazel Tov to our Mensch of the Month for Shevat--Justin Lurie! Justin earned this honor by always being willing to try, even if something is difficult for him. Congratulations Justin!

Jan. 30, 2014

We had a busy day on Thursday preparing for a fun-filled Shabbat. Students practiced the prayers they will lead at the Friday Shabbat dinner and the Saturday morning service. They also created a game to play on Friday night! I look forward to seeing you at 5:30 PM on Friday in Novakoff and at 10 AM on Saturday in the library for Jr. Congregation.
On Saturday, please remember to have your child bring an item that is important to them (like a blanket, book, stuffed animal...). We will be making a mishkan with these objects. They will only be used for the activity and can be taken home afterwards.
Please remind your child that we have a vocabulary quiz on Monday, for which they can prepare by studying list #5. They will also need to turn in the V'Zot HaTorah homework packet and the "Challenge Chart" for vocabulary, if they received less than an 80% on their last quiz. If you have any questions about this, please feel free to reach out.
Shabbat Shalom!

1/27 and Upcoming Events

On Monday, the students prepared to lead Junior Congregation this upcoming Shabbat. They chose which prayers they would like to lead and learned a new one, "V'Zot HaTorah." They are only one prayer away from reaching their goal of learning how to lead the Torah Service!
They also studied Parshat Terumah. This parsha gives a lot of instructions on how to build the Mishkan (tabernacle). They created clay models of the Mishkan and other objects like the mizbeyach (altar) and shulchan (table). Check out the picture below!

Finally, they learned 10 new vocabulary words. Please note that they have vocabulary homework due Thursday, 1/30 and a packet on "V'Zot HaTorah" due Monday, 2/3.
Looking forward to seeing you at 5:30 PM for Shabbat Dinner this Friday and at 10 AM for Jr. Congregation this Saturday!
To start a conversation with your child about KIRS: Ask them what they made out of clay and what made it interesting.

A Popplet on Prayer

Check out the Popplet I made on Jewish prayer!
What is Popplet?

Jewish Prayer

Jan. 23, 2014

Today in Kitah Dalet-Hei, the students practiced the Torah blessings for Aliyah. I am excited to hear them lead it next week, Feb. 1, in the Torah service in Jr. Congregation. I also look forward to seeing many of you for a delicious Shabbat dinner next Friday night, Jan. 31, at 5:30 at KI.
We also finished the last story in our study of the book of Judges, the conclusion of the story of Samson (Judges 16). We had a lively discussion as to whether this was a "good or bad" ending, and whether Samson was a "good guy or bad guy." To start a conversation with your child about KIRS, you could ask his or her opinion on these topics!
Please be reminded that students who received less than an 80% on their most recent vocabulary quizzes should complete the "Challenge Chart" for Monday, in order to reinforce vocabulary they struggled with.

Jan. 16, 2014

We had a great Tu BiShvat celebration in class on Thursday! We began with a seder full of fruits, and learned a lot about trees and the earth. We then planted Marigold seeds in the spirit of the holiday. The flowers will hopefully be ready to take home in a few weeks. I apologize for not having any pictures, but the class flew by!
We also had a guest in our class, Svetlana Grinshpan. Svetalana is running the workshops for a fellowship that Wendy (in Kitah Bet-Gimel) and I have been lucky enough to receive, the CJP's Teaching and Technology Fellowship (you can read more about it here). In a few weeks, we will be receiving 8 iPads each for use in our classrooms! Wendy and I are learning a lot about all the educational resources that the iPad has to offer. We are very excited about all the opportunities we will have for integrating technology into the KIRS classrooms.
Please remind students that they have a homework packet on the Torah blessings for Aliyah due Thursday. To practice the blessings, they can go here and click on "Torah Blessings (Aliyah)."

Shabbat Dinner for Dalet-Hei on 1/31

Dear 4th and 5th grade Parents, 

I'm excited to get to spend Shabbat with you on Friday night, January 31. We will begin at 5:30 pm.  Based on feedback from last year's dinners, I wanted to do a quick poll about what you'd like to eat / pay / cook for next week's dinner. 

 

Please note, no matter which dinner option we choose, your 4th and 5th grade students are our guest and you don't need to pay for them.

 

We have three choices for food:

 

1. Get a catered (meat) meal from a local caterer - the cost would be about $18 per adult and $10 per child. 

 

2. Order pizza from Cafe Eilat. Families would be asked to bring contributions of salad, challah, wine, drinks, and dessert. The cost of this option would be $8 per adult and $5 per child, plus the cost of your contribution.

 

3. Make baked ziti in the KI kitchen. Families would be asked to bring contributions of salad, challah, wine, drinks, and desert. The cost of this option would be $5 per person, plus a contribution, plus volunteering to help cook on Thursday afternoon.  

 

I'd greatly appreciate it if you can let us know your preference ("no preference" is a fine answer too) by Wednesday afternoon (January 22) so we can make arrangements. Please email both Rinat Zyskind (rinat@congki.org) and me (sfein116@gmail.com) to RSVP, including how many adults and children will be joining us. 

 

Many thanks,

Sari 

Jan. 13, 2014

Today in class, the students worked on L'Cha Adonai and learned a new blessing, the blessing before the reading of the Torah. They sound great and I am excited to see them lead in Jr. Congregation and the Main Sanctuary this semester. They can practice with the recordings here (L'Cha Adonai) and here ("Torah Blessings: Aliyah"). They also reread Judges 14-15, the story of Samson, to try and understand it on an even deeper level.
Please be reminded that the students have a vocabulary quiz on Thursday 1/16 and should study vocabulary list 4 in preparation. They also have a homework packet for the Torah blessings, due on Thursday 1/23.
To start a conversation with your child about KIRS: Ask them if they would like to be Samson/his friend/his enemy. What are some details from the story that make them feel this way?

Jan. 9, 2014

Yesterday in Dalet-Hei, we continued building a positive classroom culture by doing some trust falls. The students all fell--and caught each other!--very well. We then learned 10 new vocabulary words from the siddur. Please note that the students have a vocabulary homework assignment due Monday, and a vocabulary quiz on Thursday. Finally, we began reading the story of Samson (Judges 14-15) and talked about the pros and cons of being the strongest person in the world.
To start a conversation with your child about KIRS: Ask them how being strong both helped and hurt Samson, or how it could help or hurt you.

Jan. 6, 2014

Welcome to the spring semester at Kitah Dalet-Hei! Today we began with a community-building exercise, the Human Knot. While it was a challenge, the students worked together and ultimately solved the knot! We then learned the prayer "L'Cha Adonai." Your children can practice here. In the coming few weeks, I look forward to completing our study of the prayers of the Torah service as well as our study of the book of Judges. We'll even find time to celebrate Tu B'Shvat next week!
To start a conversation with your child about KIRS: Ask them how they can develop and show trust for their classmates and other people in their lives.