Learning Goals & Logistics
We feel fortunate to be part of a people with such a long history and prolific legacy. Teaching our children about their connection to the Jewish past, present, and future is sacred work. And because the Jewish people have so much knowledge to pass along, we also know that there is no way that we can give children every bit of Judaism in eight short years.
We believe our core mission is to help students engage with and feel engaged by Judaism in a way that lights them up and helps them to feel a sense of Jewish joy. We seek to help them connect with Judaism in a way that inspires them to continue their Jewish learning long after they have left our school.
In addition, each grade focuses on different content areas:
Kindergarten-2nd Grade
Each year of kindergarten through 2nd grade has distinct content areas. But they all work toward the same ends: building a strong foundation upon which to build Jewish identity and joy. We want them to feel like they belong at any Jewish celebration or worship service.
The students learn about the places they will first encounter Judaism (the home and synagogue), the stories in which they will first encounter Judaism (Torah stories) and the symbols and customs of the holidays.
They will also learn the sounds of the Hebrew letters and begin to learn basic everyday prayers. Through this they will begin to explore their relationship with God as well as the concept of Jewish values through mitzvot that young children can grasp.
3rd-7th Grade
The 3rd grade class explores what is means to be part of the Jewish community, including what it means to participate in Jewish “time” and what it means to be a good friend. They learn the structure of the Tanakh (Jewish sacred texts) in a way that builds Jewish identity and teaches skills to be used the rest of their Jewish lives.
The 4th grade class learns that a mitzvah is more than just a good deed, as they explore the prophets and the legacies they left us.
The 5th grade class dives deep into their own personal family histories, learning about their ancestors and working towards a presentation at the end of the year. This exploration will lead to discussions of Jewish history and American life today.
The 6th grade class engages in discussion about the weekly Torah portion and the lessons that we can take with us when we go out into the world. They will also explore the concept of grit, what it means to struggle and how we overcome those struggles. They will also debate a favorite topic: Jewish food! What is Jewish about how we eat?
The 7th grade class learns about the horrific period leading up and culminating in the Holocaust, specifically focusing on how Jews maintained community under impossible circumstances. They also look ahead to the time of rebuilding that took place, and continues to this day, after the Holocaust and how we can make sure that we never relive those events.
Multiple Grades
All students learn how to be active participants in Jewish prayer. The curriculum builds throughout their time at Zeman School, teaching the prayers of the Shabbat service, how to recite them, their meaning and why they are important. Some of these prayers will be part of a student’s b-mitzvah.
They also engage deeply with the topic of Israel in increasing levels of complexity. Taught by a teen instructor visiting from Israel for the year, the students learn about Israel’s history, the diverse groups of people living there and the many challenges they face both internal and external.
Music (K-7th): A child’s Jewish education is not complete without some knowledge of Jewish music.
Art (K-7th): Our art teacher helps students express complex ideas through artistic expression. These are not regular crafts!
Library (K-4th): We are fortunate to have an extensive Judaic library and an experienced librarian who helps students develop a love of reading.
Israel special (K-2nd): Our Rishon (an Israeli teen instructor visiting for the year) engages our youngest students in lessons about Israel.
Holiday Celebrations (K-7th): We never miss an opportunity to celebrate the holidays! We have used drum circles, comedy troupes and craft fairs to help bring the holidays to life.
Logistics
We know that what we teach is important to the world. We also know that what we teach will never improve the world if children are not engaged in the classroom. Our program runs Sundays 9 am-noon (K-7th) and Wednesdays 4-6 pm (3rd-7th), and there are many activities and specials built into this schedule.