It's important to help students maintain their Hebrew progress while they are on winter break.
In a recent article from The Washington Post, they presented 4 tips for students during break. We were inspired and put a Jewish touch on their suggestions for a more Jewish focus.
Here is how families can prevent educational atrophy:
1. Read, Read, Read
Winter break is a great opportunity for students (and parents) to read for fun. When children are engaged in stories, they are immersing themselves in values they can carry with them forever. In a recent article, JD Schramm, professional lecturer, stressed the importance of storytelling.
According to Schramm, the best stories:
- Draw us immediately into the action
- Have a powerful opening and a compelling ending
- Have 'just the right amount' of detail
- Uses rich vocabulary to convey meaning effectively
Encourage your students with these Behrman House books:
It's Too Crowded in Here - This collection of Jewish folktales and midrashic stories reinforce the lessons of our heritage and entertain children. The stories provide a rich yet light-hearted resource for exploring key values such as self-respect, compassion, appreciation, tolerance, and thankfulness.
This is the Challah - Bubbe is preparing for Shabbat and her granddaughter gets to help with a very important part: baking the challah. Told in a cumulative rhyme, This is the Challah makes a perfect read-aloud for bedtime or anytime! (Comes with a challah recipe!)
Wise Men of Helm: And Their Merry Tales - These rollicking tales of the Helmites--full of both merriment and wisdom--are guaranteed to delight children of all ages.
More Wise Men of Helm: And Their Merry Tales - Even more episodes from the loveable, laughable wise men to amuse and enlighten the whole family.
2. Continue Learning Online
One huge benefit to learning online is its mobility! Take advantage of these Behrman House games and apps that can assist learning in students' own homes.
Unlimited Alef Bet interactive mobile app- Children won't get rusty with Hebrew letter recognition with help from this interactive mobile app. Families can use their iPhone, iPad, and Android devices to successfully learn to decode the Alef Bet with animated Hebrew words that talk!
Kol Yisrael: Batya's Bubbles and Blessings App - Families can play, listen, and record eight blessings and prayers from Kol Yisrael volumes 1, 2, and 3. Batya's Bubbles and Blessings supports your use of the Kol Yisrael Hebrew program to practice prayer reading, skills, and to review the prayers from all three volumes of Kol Yisrael on your iPad.
Alef Bet Quest: Days of the Week - This new game allows students to shoot basketballs in a three-point shooting contest. Students will learn to recognize the days of the week in Hebrew and work towards a high score!
Click here to see our full list of apps and games to encourage student learning during the holidays.
3. Build Something
Help students think creatively through play with Jewish values and Legos with this project idea from the Big Ideas for Jewish Learning extended book.
Using the Jewish Values Challenge Cards, write Jewish values on Lego blocks. Have your child (or children) build a village using the values to describe what makes a community Jewish. Make sure they show the family their hard work and discuss the values they chose!
4. Do Something Fun
Child psychiatrist Marilyn Benoit is a longtime advocate of playing.
"There's a lot of learning that takes place when kids have fun," she said. "Play has so many benefits for the brain."
You can encourage learning and playing with Jewish Values Challenge playing cards. Each deck includes instructions for 13 different games in three categories: 1- Values Clarification (e.g., "Judge and Jury") 2- Team Building (e.g., "What's Important to Us?"), and 3- Skills Development (e.g., "Say it in Hebrew!")
This year Leah Zimmerman, Director of Youth Education at Temple Beth Israel of Pomona, challenged her students with the deck of 58 Jewish values. Leah instructed her senior madrichim to lead of group of younger madrichim in an activity with 10 top values of their choice.
"We reflected on what we noticed, discovered, and what makes it a Jewish value." Zimmerman said. "I am excited how having this small tool is enabling a big conversation in our school."
Order your set of Jewish Values Playing Cards now!
Click here to read the full Washington Post article.
