CHALLENGE

= A CHALLENGE TO MY COLLEAGUES: Let's Transform Hebrew Education! =

I'm throwing down the gauntlet to my colleagues! I have created a proposal that outlines four shifts in practice that I believe would transform our students' learning of Hebrew in our part-time Jewish educational settings:
 * 1) Let's start teaching Hebrew language (yes, language!) the moment that our children enter our program.
 * 2) Let's focus on print pre-literacy skills.
 * 3) Let's connect students to the prayers of our people through consistent chanting of Hebrew prayers and spirituality-stretching exercises, beginning with our youngest children.
 * 4) Let's be brave enough to delay the teaching of Hebrew decoding/reading till a later grade (e.g., grade 5 or 6).

To gain the ** context for these conclusions, click "As we enter 5772" ** in the left side-bar. Then, ** read the full CHALLENGE here **** : ** It includes a few paragraphs of explanation of each of the shifts, plus links and resources that offer more information and support.

To ** enter into conversation about the CHALLENGE, click on the little THUMBTACK icon at the top RIGHT SIDE of the page (next to the EDIT button) and create a post ** ... or read and respond to others. What intrigues you? What are you wary of? [Those who post need to be a wiki-member. If you're not, click the JOIN button on the very, very top left of the page; you'll be approved to then post!]

There are a number of schools across the country that are beginning to focus on #1-3, but thought #4 is new and a bit scary (yes, there are a few congregations moving in this direction). I would love to know which educators across the country might be open to exploring these ideas further.

Nachama Skolnik Moskowitz JECC, Director of Curriculum Resources nmoskowitz@jecc.org