Welcome to the first volume of the Sarah and David educator newsletter. You may know that the Sarah and David product line was launched in August 2005. In our efforts to best serve the Jewish educational community, we are happy to bring you our Jewish educator’s newsletter.
At conferences and online, people have been asking similar kinds of questions. The goal of this first newsletter is to answer some of those questions and introduce you to the Sarah and David system for Hebrew reading. Questions are listed below. Click on the question to go to the answer. See our introductory prices for schools for the 2006-2007 school year.
Feel free to contact us with questions toll-free at 1-866-727-2432 or via email.
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What is the Sarah and David Hebrew Reading System?
Where does the Sarah and David approach come from?
What makes the Sarah and David system different?
Why do you take five books to teach Hebrew reading and writing?
Can students finish the five books in one year?
How early can I start using the Sarah and David books (in what grades?)
How do I use these materials with older students?
Do you teach reading through Tfila?
Your Hebrew reading primer is more expensive than others.
So, what’s been happening in classrooms this year? |
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What is the Sarah and David Hebrew Reading System?
This Hebrew Reading System consists of four parts that are designed
to work together.
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Where does the Sarah and David approach come from?
The Sarah and David Hebrew reading system evolved within the Religious School setting. We saw too many children beginning Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparation who were still confused about letters and unable to remember the vowels. Turning back to the primary grades and students’ first encounter with reading acquisition, we had two goals in mind. First, we wanted to reinforce letters and vowels. Second, we sought to introduce reading strategies that would enable students to become more self-aware, skilled and confident readers. |
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What makes the Sarah and David system different?
The Sarah and David system brings a problem-solving approach to the teaching of Hebrew reading. The design of the materials, the teaching techniques, and the learning strategies were developed to address common reading difficulties. The unique features of the curriculum, listed below, have been helpful to both mainstream and special needs learners.
Distinguishing features include:
- English language associations and alliteration to teach the letters (The Aleph Bet Story)
- CD tells the story. Each letter is a track.
- Big print (Sarah, David and YOU Read Hebrew)
- Black and white pages
- Limited number of reading lines on a page
- A specified goal for each page (reading, writing, speaking, activity)
- Teaching of syllables (count the beats)
- Shva taught in two parts (its role at the beginning and in the middle of the word
- Drills and repetition
- Picture words that teach vocabulary (The Sarah and David Picture Book)
(View these features in the TEACHER'S LOUNGE.)
Why do you take five books to teach Hebrew reading and writing?
Children need a lot of practice. We’re stretching the process out by dedicating up to ten pages to teach each letter and vowel. The teaching strategy is ‘repeat, repeat and reinforce’. By the time students reach the end of Book Five, their understanding of Hebrew reading goes well beyond phonetics to include a checklist of skills that they will continue to apply to any text on an ongoing basis.
The five books also create benchmarks for the student, the teacher, and the parents. Students are excited to reach the end of a book and motivated to move on to the next one. Certificates of Completion help mark the big occasion.
Can students finish the five books in one year?
Yes. The series can be completed in one year as early as second grade in a two day a week program when:
- a reading lesson of about forty-fifty minutes is part of each day's class
- children are trained to always bring their book with them
- some reading practice is assigned for homework
Please note that calendar breaks for Jewish and school holidays will require review. In general, the system is flexible and pacing is a school decision.
How early can I start using the Sarah and David books (in what grades)?
Depending on the structure and goals of your Hebrew reading program, the following are general guidelines for using the materials.
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How do I use these materials with older students?
The reading series can be used for late start students and adults. Older students tend to complete the series in a shorter amount of time. Students preparing for Bar/Bat Mitzvah without Hebrew reading skills can complete the series in as little as twelve tutorial sessions. For the upper grades, any book can be used as review, as a refresher at the beginning of the school year, or to re-teach specific letters and strategies. Books Four and Five may be useful for review in the upper grades.
Do you teach reading through Tfila?
No, we focus first on reading acquisition in order to teach letters and skills that will be useful for reading any Hebrew text. Some prayer vocabulary is included in the reading curriculum.
Your Hebrew reading primer is more expensive than others.
Yes, the Sarah, David and YOU Read Hebrew series is a little more expensive than other primers for several reasons. Our primer is as much as 100 pages longer than others due to activities created for reading reinforcement. Additionally, the TEACHER'S LOUNGE provides free materials to download and use in the classroom.
Downloadable materials include:
Additional support materials will be available in the TEACHER MANUAL (available summer 2006). Our goal is to make the curriculum as effective, affordable and user-friendly as possible. The Sarah and David curriculum will be available at special introductory rates for the 2006-2007 school year. Click here to download a copy of our school order form.
So, what’s been happening in classrooms this year?
Students are already using the Sarah and David system. Here are some outcomes.
- PIZZA PARTIES!! Students are motivated to get to the end of each book in the
Read Hebrew series. And then as they reach the end, they are celebrating.
- Kids are speaking Hebrew. “Kar hayome. Lo yored geshem.” Kids love the topics in
The Sarah and David Picture Book.
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All contents © 2006 Sarah and David Interactive
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