Hebrew+with+Mrs.+Hainsfurther


 * January 2010**

Dear Fourth Grade Hebrew Parents,

We have just been informed that Karen Benezra will not be returning to teach in our school this semester. She had decided to leave in order to be able to devote more time to her studies. We wish her well in this new pursuit.

We are pleased to inform you that Betty Hainsfurther, a veteran teacher who recently completed her Masters in Education, will be stepping in to teach Karen’s class. We expect a smooth transition with minimal disruption to our students. Please feel free to call me or Judy Weiss with any questions you may have.

We wish you a happy and healthy secular new year.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Judy Spicehandler


 * September 2009**

I am so happy to have your children in my fourth grade class. Your children will be learning Hebrew, Torah and Jewish holidays.

The Hebrew curriculum has a heavy focus on the study of prayer through prayer book, text and workbooks. The following prayers will be covered throughout the year: Barchu, Maariv Aravim, Shema, Vehavta, Mi Chamocha, Brachot and Kiddush.

We will study all the Jewish holidays, covering the appropriate blessings, vocabulary and rituals. Our curriculum will also include the study of Jewish values, as our goal is to promote the synagogue and our classroom as a special holy place where we will treat each other with respect and kindness.

This year our Hebrew classes will use the Hineni Interactive CD to complement and enrich our Hebrew textbook, Hineni 1. The CD uses modern teaching technology to review and practice Hebrew at home. Students can click on Hebrew words and prayers to hear them being read out loud, complete interactive exercises, such as building prayer phrases and play Hebrew video games. Hineni 1 interactive will help make learning Hebrew fun.

The CD is easy to use. You will notice that we have already written your child’s name and serial number on the inside of the CD wallet. This serial number is used to enroll as a member of the Hineni 1 Interactive online. Your child should then follow the following steps.

1. Insert the disk into the CD rom drive. A sign-on screen will appear. 2. Click the new member button and enter the serial number 3. Enroll by creating a personal user name and password, the user name should be your child’s full first and last name-one word, as this will make it much easier for us to track your child’s individual progress throughout the year.

After enrolling, your child can log on to the program at any time, simply by inserting the disk into any computer and enter the same user name and password. Please be sure to be connected to the Internet while using the software, so that the program will remember where your child left off, and so that we can monitor their progress. To try out a demo of the CD, visit [|www.behrmanhouse.com/hin2cd]

Please feel free to call me at school with any questions at 847-835-7258. I am looking forward to a great year with your children.