Curriculum

for

HaCheder

HaCheder is the part-time education centre for the United communities of Stanmore & Canons Park, Belmont, Edgware and Kenton

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HaCheder Curriculum Introduction

Dear Parents,

I am delighted to introduce our curriculum, which has been developed in order to ensure that your children are learning in the manner most appropriate to them.

Cheder means different things to different people. Here at HaCheder, we are offering a learning experience that is up-to- date and modern, in both its focus and presentation, without losing any of the traditional values that we cherish.

At HaCheder we utilise technology and workshops as well as traditional learning techniques in order to make cheder an enjoyable and worthwhile experience.

Alongside our traditional curriculum we have annual events such as our Fair, Pesach Seder and Chanukah plays as well as exciting practical workshops where students learn not only about a Festival but actually get hands-on experience in creating something special for that festival.

I would like to assure each and every parent that HaCheder will not only continue to grow in strength through this curriculum but that we will continually strive to meet the needs of your children.

With very grateful thanks to Sorrel Fisher at the Agency for and our former Head Teacher, Mrs Taylor- Abt, for their input with regard to the development of this curriculum.

Mr Alan Wilkinson Head Teacher, HaCheder

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Welcome To Our Curriculum

One of the most fascinating and rewarding experiences in life is watching a child develop and grow. First they crawl and then they stand. Very quickly the youngster will be both walking and talking. The earliest sounds soon develop into the spoken word. The world of surprise and wonder rapidly moves on to a world of communication, specifically with other human beings.

As parents, we are the ones entrusted with the mission and responsibility of raising the next generation of adults, who will contribute towards society. As Jewish parents, we will also want to see our children hold the torch of our faith proudly and strongly.

For centuries, we have always focused on education. We have survived and flourished because of it, and our future is dependent upon it. It is this need that has inspired generations to give up their Sunday mornings to come to cheder and discover their heritage. Invariably, our best memories – and our Jewish knowledge – can be traced to those hours spent in cheder.

In line with current teaching methods and practice, a dynamic curriculum is offered. This excellent document explains all about planning from your child's first infant steps in the world of until his or her graduation. During this time, many concepts and ideas will be taught and reinforced, expanding your child's horizons.

One crucial feature is the parents’ involvement, which can not be emphasised enough and which holds the key to the success and happiness of our children. Your encouragement and support, in its most subtle and gentle manner, will go a long way to guaranteeing that your child's experience at cheder is productive and pleasant.

So, take a look at the curriculum. Identify its many strengths and its structure. Then watch your child grow and develop in an enjoyable and friendly atmosphere, helping the transfer from shy, inquisitive youngster to a fully developed graduate!

Rabbi Mendel Lew Senior , Stanmore & Canon’s Park Synagogue

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Curriculum Progression – What Next?

We are very proud at Stanmore that we have in place a superb educational curriculum that supports our children from age 5 all the way through to AS level at age 17.

After HaCheder finishes at the end of year 6, SMILE continues for years 7 and 8. SMILE stands for Sunday Morning Interactive Learning Experience and is currently in its 7th successful year.

About 60 children gather every Sunday morning for innovative, dynamic and enjoyable Jewish education. We utilise movies, drama, weekends away, educational trips as well as a terrific young staff who relate to the children to get over our message that Judaism is relevant and meaningful to their young lives.

After graduation from SMILE the children move onto FILE – a Further Interactive Learning Experience. This is for children in years 9 and 10 and takes the format of a GCSE course taught currently by the excellent Rabbi Jeremy Bruce who is Deputy Head at King Solomon High School.

Several classes have now graduated with stunning success; so much so, that a number of students have continued to study for an AS level in Judaic Studies.

Stanmore prides itself not only on its formal education but also informal programmes for all ages. Please do contact the Youth Department at any time if you wish to know more about any activities for your children.

Rabbi Andrew Shaw Community Rabbi, Stanmore & Canon’s Park Synagogue

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HaCheder Curriculum Overview Year 1 Year 2

Introduction to Tephilah Focus on Jewish Values & Mitzvot Hebrew Letters recognition and usage Hebrew Reading Rhythms of the Jewish Year Letter Sound Relationships Introduction to Festivals Sound Blends and word recognition Weekly Parasha Print Writing Jewish Music Festival Cycles Continuation of Tephillah Jewish Music

Year 3 Year 4

613 Mitzvot Introduction to General Studies Curriculum Gematria/Numerical Values Bereshit and our Avot and Imahot Tephillah for selected Festivals The Five Books of the The Synagogue Days of the Week The Sefer Torah The Jewish Calendar Reading from the Torah Emphasis on traditions of Festivals The Jewish Calendar/ 3 Pilgrim Festivals Specific Prayers and Prayer Structure Script Writing Key prayer concepts /Mezuza Chagigat Hasiddur Kindness/Tzedakah Jewish Music 7 Mitzvot of the Shema Jewish Music

Year 5 Year 6

Shabbat Project The Modern State of Israel Candlesticks/ Havdalah History of Israel Brachot/ Kiddush Private and Communal Prayer Sofer - writing a Sefer Torah Parashat Hashavuah with Commentaries Parashat Hashavua Tikkun Olam Introduction to Commentators Jewish Values Animal Welfare Tzedakah Projects Bikur Cholim (Visiting the Sick) Pesach Newspaper Tephillot for Cheder Calendar Jewish Life Cycle / Bar Mitzvah Jewish Music

5 Jewish Year Year 1

Educational Festival Learning Objective Art / Activity Outcome

Rosh Hashana is the Rosh Hashana Honey Pots To familiarise the children Rosh Jewish New Year with the concept of a sweet Hashana New Year

Yom Kippur is the Day of Jonah and the Whale craft To teach the children that we all have consequences Atonement which means activity for we say sorry our actions

Succot is the festival where Decorations for the Shul This enables the children to we make temporary Succot Succot Succah decorate the Succah and in our gardens like when we feel part of the Shul were in the desert community

The children will learn The Story of Chanukah Song: One little Candle about Chanukah lasts eight Chanukah days adding a candle each night The oil lasted eight days tying in with Numeracy

Tu Bishvat is known as the Make paper flowers and By taking the baskets to a bring in fruit for Fruit Tubishvat Birthday of the Trees Baskets Jewish old age home the children are enabling others to participate in the Mitzvah

The Story of Purim Make Noisemakers This enables the children to have an active part in Purim listening to the

We have a Seder and they Song: Mah Nishtana Children can participate in Pesach ask questions the Seder service Pesach is when we came

out of Egypt

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We count seven sad weeks Decorate an Omer Chart The children will be able to Omer from Pesach to Shavuot Count the Omer at home using their chart

Shavuot Song: Ten Commandments This song will teach the basis of the The Ten Commandments commandments Shavuoth in a fun and positive manner

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Jewish Year Year 2

Festival Learning Objective Art / Activity Educational Outcome

Jewish New Year Make Tzedakah Boxes Reinforce the importance Rosh Tzedakah/Charity of giving tzedakah, which Hashana is given in particular on Rosh Hashannah

To reinforce the concept Saying Sorry Make a poster with things that we do not do on Yom on Yom Kippur we do Yom Kippur Fasting Kippur things differently ie: say shema and things we must do loud

This enables the children History of Succot Decorations for the Shul to Succot Making a Succah Succah decorate the Succah and feel part of the Shul community

The Eight days of Reinforces the concept Chanukah Make Sevivonim that Chanukah Sevivonim/Dreidles Learn the Game in order to practice our "Nes Gadol Haya Sham" religion we had to do it in The reason for Sevivonim secrecy

Tu Bishvat is the New Year Make paper flowers and By taking the baskets to a bring in fruit for Fruit for Trees Baskets Jewish old age home the Tubishvat children are enabling others to participate in the Mitzvah

This enables the children The Story of Purim Make to fulfil one of the Four Purim Mishloach Manot mitzvot of Purim

The children will Pesach The Exodus of Egypt Song: Said the Father understand Four Questions and Answers the meanings of the Four

8 questions and the reason for them

Counting the Omer Make an Omer Chart to The children will be able to Forbidden Activities count the days Count the Omer at home Omer using their chart

To reinforce the Shavuot Song: Celebrate celebration Shavuoth Ten Commandments of Receiving the Torah Moses on Har Sinai

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Jewish Year Year 3

Educational Festival Learning Objective Art / Activity Outcome

Jewish New Year Make an Apple and Honey To understand that some things are law and others Rosh Tzedakah/Charity Mat are Hashana Minhagim/Traditions traditions

Reinforce the importance Yom Kippur The children will create a of Yom Kippur Saying Sorry class prayer Prayer on Yom Kippur Fasting (based on Ve'al Chet) Minhagim/Traditions

This enables the children The History of Succot Decorations for the Shul to Succot Having a Succah Succah decorate the Succah and and Etrog including feel part of the Shul Brachot community

The Eight Days of This will symbolise the Chanukah Making Doughnuts fried Brachot for Lighting Chanukah Candles food which traditionally Sevivonim represents the oil Minhagim/Traditions

Tu Bishvat is the New Year Make paper flowers and By taking the baskets to a bring in fruit for Fruit for Trees Baskets Jewish old age home the Tubishvat children are enabling Fifteen types of fruit others to participate in the Mitzvah

The Story of Purim Mask Making The children will follow one Mishloach Manot of the Purim minhagim of Purim Minhagim/Traditions "dressing up"

This will enable the Pesach Exodus from Egypt Song: Ten plagues children Four Questions to remember the plagues Ten Plagues and the consequences for

10 Pharoah and the Egyptians

Counting the Omer Measure Feet and Arms The children will learn that Forbidden Activities and draw along them for in ancient times they used Omer An Omer was a measure of comparisons different units of measure Wheat

Shavuot Story: Modest Mount Sinai This will teach the children The children can listen to Shavuoth Ten Commandments the about modesty and that Mount Sinai story and act it out goodness is found within Minhagim/Traditions

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Jewish Year Year 4

Educational Festival Learning Objective Art / Activity Outcome

Jewish New Year incl. dates Greeting cards divided into The concept of four is one Rosh that appears in a number Hashana Tzedakah, Minhagim four depicting relevant of Four Names of Rosh themes Chagim, Rosh Hashannah Hashannah being the first

Yom Kippur incl. date Act out the story of Yonah Creating their own drama Teshuvah, Fasting, activity will help the Yom Kippur Minhagim and then make up their own children The Book of Yonah play along similar lines understand the concept behind the story

This enables the children The History of Succot Decorations for the Shul to Succot Having a Succah Succah decorate the Succah and Lulav and Etrog feel part of the Shul Leshev Basuccah community

The Eight Days of Chanukah Pick a Jewish heroine and We learn about Judah and Brachot for Lighting Chanukah Candles draw their impression of her the Maccabees, this Sevivonim, Minhagim with deed of bravery written reinforces that women also Heroic Jewish Women underneath had a very important role

Tu Bishvat is the New Year Make paper flowers and By taking the baskets to a bring in fruit for Fruit for Trees Baskets Jewish old age home the Tubishvat children are enabling Fifteen types of fruit others to participate in the Agricultural Year Mitzvah

The Story of Purim Purim Puppets and write This will help with the story Mishloach Manot play telling at the Purim Fair Purim Minhagim/Traditions The Four Mitzvot of Purim

Exodus from Egypt Door hangers: The children will learn the Pesach "This Room has been difference between Questions, Plagues cleaned Bedikat Chametz for Pesach" and chametz free

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Chalk pictures on black Counting the Omer card To establish the different Forbidden Activities for the bonfires ways of commemorating Omer An Omer as a measure Lag BaOmer Lag BaOmer and its customs

The Golden Calf was Shavuot Make Cheescake idolatry Shavuoth Ten Commandments and the children should Mount Sinai, Minhagim learn that we are taught to The Golden Calf have faith in Hashem

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Jewish Year Year 5

Educational Festival Learning Objective Art / Activity Outcome

Jewish New Year Write a letter of apology Enable the children to Rosh Tzedakah, Minhagim understand the concept of Hashana Four Names remorse Teshuvah and Tashlich

Yom Kippur, Yonah Write individual Prayers This will allow the children Teshuvah, Fasting, based on the Tephillot in Yom Kippur Minhagim the to better understand the Machzor, special services Machzor prayers in shul on Yom and Tephillot Kippur

The History of Succot Decorations for the Shul This enables the children to Lulav and Etrog Succah decorate the Succah and Succot Leshev Basuccah feel part of the Shul Laws of Building a Succah community

The Eight Days of Chanukah Song/Prayer: Al Hanissim The children will be able to Chanukah Sevivonim, Minhagim sing Al Hanissim both at Heroic Jewish Women, candle lighting and at Shul Al Hanissim

Tu Bishvat Tree New Year Make paper flowers and By taking the baskets to a bring in fruit for Fruit Fifteen types of fruit Baskets Jewish old age home the Tubishvat children are enabling Agricultural Year others Seven species to participate in the Mitzvah

They will make Purim The Story of Purim Spiels This will enable the children Mishloach Manot, to experience another Purim Minhagim to be performed at the Fair aspect The Four Mitzvot of Purim of Purim, this one involving Purim Spiel / Tzedakah raising tzedakah monies

Exodus from Egypt Make a seder plate By creating a "seder plate" Questions, Plagues the children will be familiar Pesach Bedikat/ Beeur Chametz with the real plate and the Seder Plate significance of its contents

Omer

14 Counting the Omer Poem: "Where is Shimon This is another example of the having to hide Forbidden Activities Bar Yochai" their religion in order to practice An Omer as a measure it Lag BaOmer/ Mount Meron

Shavuot Discuss the story of Ruth The children will learn from Ten Commandments the story of Ruth, humility, Shavuoth honoring elders and Mount Sinai, Minhagim tzedakah Golden Calf, Megillat Ruth

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Jewish Year Year 6

Festival Learning Objective Art / Activity Educational Outcome

Jewish New Year Blowing the Shofar The sounding of the Shofar Rosh Tzedakah, Minhagim and its inherent message as Hashana 4 Names, Tashlich, Teshuvah being central to the celebra- Aseret Yemai Teshuvah tion of Rosh Hashannah Shofar

Yom Kippur, Yonah Discussion: Purity By discussing the concepts Teshuvah, Fasting, covered, the children have Minhagim "Does fasting help?" an Yom Kippur Machzor, Services, Tephillot opportunity to understand Vidui them at their own level

The History of Succot Decorations for the Shul This enables the children to Lulav and Etrog Succah decorate the Succah and Succot Leshev Basuccah feel part of the Shul Laws and a guide to Succot community

The Eight Days of Create a Chanukah Chanukah Funsheet Reinforce elements of Chanukah Sevivonim, Minhagim Chanukah by creating a fun Heroines, Al Hanissim sheet which all the children Chanukah overview can use.

Tu Bishvat Tree New Year Make paper flowers and By taking the baskets to a bring in fruit for Fruit Tubishvat Fifteen types seven species Baskets Jewish old age home the Agricultural Year children are enabling others Tu Bishvat Seder to participate in the Mitzvah

Year 6 have overall The Story of Purim responsi- This allows the children of Mishloach Manot, Purim Minhagim bility for the annual Purim Year 6 to act in their role The Four Mitzvot of Purim Fair as the leading class of the Purim Spiel / Tzedakah Cheder

Exodus from Egypt Year 6 will create a Pesach This will enable the children Questions, Plagues Magazine to take all the relevant Pesach Bedikat/ Beeur Chametz information and put it in a Seder Plate, Magazine format for all the cheder

Omer

16 Poem: David and the Jewish Values such as Counting the Omer Lashon Kind- Forbidden Activities Harah ness, Charity and lashon Harah are reinforced with Lag BaOmer/ Mount Meron this Rabbi Akiva and his students look at Rabbi Akiva

Shavuot, 10 Commandments Discussion: Learning We teach the children that although Shavuot is a Shavuoth Mount Sinai, Minhagim "Why do we stay up all joyous time as we received the Golden Calf, Megillat Ruth night?" Torah Tikun Halel it also has a serious side

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Assessments

Students

The children in the lower school, Years 1, 2 and 3 are monitored continually on their general progression as an ongoing assessment by the individual teachers.

Reading throughout the cheder is assessed by the team of Reading Assistants and this is overseen by the Reading Coordinator which is in turn monitored by the Head Teacher.

The children in Years 4, 5 and 6 are subject to the same teacher assessment regarding their general studies. However, they are also expected to sit an annual exam at the end of each academic year.

The exam is set by the Head Teacher based on the curriculum of each individual year group. It is marked by the teachers and ratified by the Head Teacher.

Teachers

The teaching staff are expected to fill in term planning sheets and then additional lesson plans are given in by the teachers at the end of each teaching morning.

This enables the Head Teacher to confirm that the curriculum is being followed and the resulting evaluation section in the lesson plans each week enable the staff to see how well the children have absorbed any particular topic.

The Head Teacher regularly sits in on lessons and also undertakes personal appraisal and review of teaching staff activity.

The Head Teacher liaises weekly with the co-chairs of the Youth & Children Committee and gives a report to the entire Youth & Children Committee once a term. The Youth & Children Committee in turn reports to the Stanmore and Canon’s Park Synagogue’s Board of Management.

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Supporting Resources

• AJE publications

• General Knowledge books 1 and 2

• Lubavitch Cheder classes of Scotland Publications

• Tzivot hashem workshops

• Lamdeni series of books

• Siddur

• Chumash

• Internet sources

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