Regarding Rabbi Nachbar's Parasha Curriculum query, we have a wonderful scaffolded curriculum that we have been using for close to a decade b'Chasdei Shamayim. The content is based on the expectation that if parents are paying tens of thousands of dollars for their children's Day School education, they should come out with a very strong foundation in "general Judaic knowledge." (Names, dates, places, actions, life lessons.) The skills are ones that are necessary for future success in school and in life. They are selected based on age-development.
Here is the curriculum:
Kindergarten, First, Second: Goal: Develop a foundation of Torah knowledge.
Method: Teach the parasha story in class. No homework.
Third, Fourth: Goal: Develop and master general Judaic knowledge. Develop the life skills of time-planning and personal responsibility.
Method: Teach parasha in class (approximately 30 minutes), focusing on specific stories and/or lessons based on need of class. 10-question quiz every Monday (on previous Shabbos's parasha), based on Bais Yaakov Baltimore's Parasha Curriculum. Q&A sheet is handed out every Tuesday, allowing six days for independent study at home. (Answers are on the sheet.)
Note: Whether fourth grade follows the third grade curriculum or the fifth grade curriculum is based on the level of the class. Modification of the curricula is recommended to accommodate the class's needs and level.
Fourth, Fifth: Goal: Reinforce and expand the student's general Judaic knowledge. Continue to develop the life skills mentioned above. Method: Weekly quiz as described above. (Answers are on the sheet.) Add detail to the questions from the previous year. Always make sure to include the information from the previous years. Example question for third grade: Which shevet worked in the Mishkan? Example question for fourth grade: What is the difference between a Levi, a Kohen and a Kohen Gadol? Example question for fifth grade: What is the difference between a Levi, a Kohen and a Kohen Gadol? List two specific jobs for each. Note: This does not demand any class time besides for the Monday quiz.
Sixth: Goal: Learn how to write a dvar torah independently (in preparation for Bnei Mitzvah). Method: Begin with giving the students a fully written dvar torah. (Summary of story in parasha, quote in Hebrew with English translation, question, answer, life lesson.) Encourage children to share at the Shabbos table. By Kislev, have one part missing for the children to fill in for homework. By Pesach, have children write up their own. Note: This year, Parasha will take 20-30 minutes of class time.
Seventh, Eighth: Goal: Critically analyze the Parasha. Summarize the main point of Rashi. Quickly locate a pasuk in a Tanach (or Chamisha Chumshei Torah) when given Perek and Pasuk in English. Ex. (22:13) Through this, students will master gematriyah and knowledge of which parasha belongs in which sefer of the Chumash. Method: Students receive a fill-in-the-blank summary of the parasha with a source (perek:pasuk) beside each blank. Some blanks may be Rashi. Students fill in the blanks for homework. Review together in class. Quiz on Monday (optional). Note: This takes 40 minutes of class time. Same method for both grades. Content varies according to class level.
Please contact me if you would like more details.
B'Hatzlacha,
Rivka Gross
Denver Academy of Torah
rgross@datcampus.org
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/18/2016 08:00PM by mlb.
