My Jewish World: An Early Childhood Music Curriculum (Book/CD set)

Music can be a wonderfully effective teaching tool for preschool aged children. My Jewish World guides teachers through the process of introducing and utilizing song in the classroom to teach Jewish values.

In her comprehensive and easy to follow book, Judy Caplan Ginsburgh includes twenty-six songs, religious and secular, that will help to facilitate an environment of fun and learning. Each song addresses important Jewish concepts and many use Hebrew words and prayers. Judy provides comments, activities, and creative ideas, specific for each song, which can be used in the classroom to learn about being Jewish every day. The importance of saying the Sh'ma each morning, learning the Hebrew words for colors, understanding body parts, and the value of cooperation are only some of the Jewish concepts touched on in the book.

In addition, Judy Ginsburgh includes a list of suggested books for many of the topics. These books help to reinforce and expand the lessons laid out in the curriculum.

With a helpful glossary of Hebrew and Yiddish terms and the companion music CD, My Jewish World is a wonderful guide to making music significant in the Jewish classroom.

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CHAI Israel Strand Curriculum Core

The teaching of Israel has become a high priority for our congregational school system in recent years. There is a documented decline in commitment to Israel among young Jews. The Reform Movement is confronting this challenge in a number of ways. The CHAI Israel Strand Curriculum is a tool to be employed in our classroom to nurture our students' connection to Israel: the land, the people, and the culture. This strand is composed of nineteen lessons, two or three lessons for each CHAI level 1-7, and can be used on its own or complement the rest of your CHAI curriculum. Each of the seven levels focuses on one aspect of Israel and our connection to it as North American progressive Jews. As with each CHAI Curriculum Core, the Israel Strand Curriculum Core includes all the necessary teaching material for each lesson. The full-color workbooks are filled with photographs, maps, and student activities.

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Bridge to Our Tradition, A: Pirkei Avot

Finally, a Pirkei Avot textbook for 6th and 7th grade students!

Organized thematically, this text by noted educator and author Nachama Skolnik Moskowitz provides students the opportunity to study a selection of essential rabbinic texts.

The Hebrew of all texts is included with wonderful translations to encourage full student participation. The methodology stresses a cooperative chevruta learning style.

A Bridge to Tradition looks at the Pirkei Avot text with three questions in mind:

1. What are the character traits that help define who we are as individuals?
2. What are the ways we can interact positively with others?
3. What are our responsibilities to improve the world?

This approach helps students navigate the complicated journey of Jewish character development. In addition, they will learn the important task of asking questions of the text. With a complete copy of the text of Pirkei Avot and a glossary included, and an accompanying teacher's guide available, this title is a new and indispensable addition to your curriculum.

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