Jewish Foundation School
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Curriculum at JFS
Limudie Kodesh
Tanach
Chumash learning begins in Second Grade. Navi begins in Fourth Grade. Using the Lehavin Ulehaskil curriculum from second to fourth grade, our students' acquire skills in reading, translating and understanding the Chumash text. The goals of the Chumash curriculum are to increase students' fluency in reading, comprehension, and grammatical skills; to develop a strong Chumash vocabulary; to develop a deep understanding of the Chumash text; to study Rashi's commentary and be introduced to additional commentaries. Throughout our student's years at JFS, we instill in our children, an appreciation for the lessons and values transmitted to us in the Torah. This enables our students to become lifelong learners of the Torah, while incorporating these values into their daily lives.
Dinim/Halacha/Mishna/Gemara
The Halacha Curriculum at JFS focuses on the laws pertaining to the Jewish calendar, Shabbat, brachot, and the basic halachot of the Jewish lifecycle .The middot portion of the curriculum focuses on the halachot of Bain Adam L'Chaveiro. In the middle school fourth and fifth grade boys classes, students are exposed to Mishna , studying Masechet Sukaah and Masechet Brachot. In the sixth thru eighth grade boys classes' students gain Gemara skills to enable them to learn Gemara independently at an age appropriate level. In Middle School Dinim classes the girls learn different Halochot by topic, Lashon Harah, 39 Avot Melacha, Hilchot Tefilla, etc.
Safa
Hebrew language reading (Kriah) is the foundation of all Torah learning, prayer, and Jewish knowledge. Precision and fluency are among the most fundamental skills that your child will acquire in his or her development as a student and as a productive member of the Jewish community. At JFS our goal is to establish reading skills that will last a lifetime. The main emphasis in the First grade classroom is to develop these skills in our youngest students. Kriah review continues throughout the elementary years, supplemented by reading in Chumash, Navi, Ivrit and other Judaic subjects, which further builds on students' reading fluency.
The development of fluency in Ivrit continues in our Second thru Eighth grade Safa classes. Students develop skills in reading comprehension, writing and understanding of the Hebrew language. They read and write stories, practice conversational Hebrew, play games and improve their grammar. Our Safa curriculum helps the students strengthen their connection to the State of Israel, by exposing them to the language, culture and history of the Jewish State.
General Studies
English Language Arts
The ELA curriculum at JFS concentrates on incorporating all five components of literacy: vocabulary, fluency, phonics, comprehension and writing to ensure that all students become fluent readers with increasingly insightful comprehension and proficient writers. All grades partake in a wide repertoire of reading material to include: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama and original documents. At the same time students explore and master five types of writing: descriptive, expository, narrative, persuasive and research. Students learn how to analyze literature and edit and revise their writing using the Common Core State Standards. From year to year students build on skills mastered in preparation for entry into high school.
Math
We provide a rich math environment that fosters curiosity and enthusiasm through the Envision Math series. Envision Math is a comprehensive mathematical curriculum that builds on focus, coherence and rigor of the Common Core State Standards. Students are exposed to the five major content areas: numbers and operations, algebra, geometry, data analysis and probability, and measurement. Through the spiraling curriculum, students' progress to advanced math concepts and topics in middle school. JFS is proud to offer an Integrated Algebra I High School level course in 8th grade. Upon successful completion of this course and taking the Algebra Regents Exam, students earn one high school credit.
Science
The Jewish Foundation School prides itself on a progressive and comprehensive science curriculum, scaffold from 1st-8th grade. Students in the elementary grades cover the basics of earth science and physical science, measurement and life science experiments coupled with the seasonal enjoyment of beetles, worms, fish or butterflies brought in to supplement the science concepts taught. Older students enjoy a more intense foray into the sciences, learning the basics of life science through interactive human body experiments, animals, physics and learning how to keep a detailed science notebook. Learning the protocols of variable based experiments is a skill students enter middle school having mastered. Middle school students concentrate on chemistry, advanced earth science, biology, and in 8th grade delving into our cutting-edge STEM curriculum.
Social Studies
The Social Studies curriculum at JFS is designed to help develop the children's understanding of themselves as individuals, as members of various groups within society, and as members of a global community. Lower elementary school students explore such concepts as friendship, cooperation and what it means to be part of a classroom community of learners. They then move on to exploring our local community, famous heroes and U.S. presidents. Students study various regions, countries and cultures different from their own. In addition, they begin to learn about the United States to build an understanding of the context in which they currently live. Older elementary students learn about New York State history, the basics of the American Revolution, U.S. federal, state and city government, Colonial America and our Constitution. Using Common Core State Standards, Middle School students concentrate on Western Civilization, and the history of the United States through current times. Throughout the years students learn to interpret and analyze primary documents, outline and summarize, as well as produce increasingly well-developed paragraphs and essays.