Hebrew Tutoring for Touro Kids

Web materials for teaching prayers:
  1. Go to www.cantorkam.com/siddur  
  2. ​The password is TBT (in all caps)
  3. Click on the prayer you’d like to work on. (They are listed in service order)

Basic Teaching Tips

*For mitkadem, tutors should contact Cantor Margolius

All of our decoding textbooks feature one or more sets of reading lines per lesson. This is our primary mode of assessment, tracking, and advancement for students. 
  • Have a student read out loud. If a line is correct* put a sticker next to that line. *One minor consonant/vowel error for every 3 words is a good general benchmark for success. For monosyllables, one error for every 5-6 words.
  • Always have students follow along with a finger on the page.
  • I generally consider a student ready to move on when they have mastered 50% of the reading lines. This may mean skipping the others if they get things right away. The easier lines are listed first, followed by more challenging lines — make sure to do a mix.
  • ​When students know the material, move along, even if they haven’t done all of the written exercises for that lesson.

Level Aleph

Tutor Resource Folder (includes all student materials)

Student Materials:
  • Shalom Uvrachah Textbook
  • Binder:
    • T’filah Packet
    • Worksheet Pages (challenge sheets for Shalom Uvrachah)
    • Funbook Pages (bonus/extra worksheets for Shalom Uvrachah)


Objectives:
  • Master all consonants and vowels. Students should be able to read any line in the book with 90%+ accuracy.
  • Be able to lead Sh’ma and V’ahavta (with transliteration) independently. I begin with just 1 or 2 of the numbered lines in the t’filah packet, and slowly add throughout the year.
  • Practice Chanukah B’rachot and Four Questions. Begin approximately 4 weeks before holidays.
  • If there’s extra time and reading skills are strong, try learning an additional prayer (listed in order of priority):
    • Avot V’Imahot
    • G’vurot
    • Nisim B’chol Yom
    • Torah Blessings
    • Blessing Before Haftara
​

Level Bet

Tutor Resource Folder (includes all student materials)

Student Materials:
  • Shalom Hebrew Textbook
  • Binder:
    • T’filah Packet
    • Worksheet Pages (challenge sheets for Shalom Uvrachah)
    • Funbook Pages (bonus/extra worksheets for Shalom Uvrachah)


Objectives:
  • Master all consonants and vowels. Students should be able to read any line in the book with 90%+ accuracy.
  • Be able to lead Sh’ma and V’ahavta (with transliteration) independently. I begin with just 1 or 2 of the numbered lines in the t’filah packet, and slowly add throughout the year.
  • Practice Chanukah B’rachot and Four Questions. Begin approximately 4 weeks before holidays.
  • If there’s extra time and reading skills are strong, try learning an additional prayer (listed in order of priority):
    • Avot V’Imahot
    • G’vurot
    • Nisim B’chol Yom
    • Torah Blessings
    • Blessing Before Haftara

Level Gimel

Tutor Resource Folder (includes all student materials)

Student Materials:
  • Adler, Lillian. Reading Hebrew: Practice and Drill (peach book) This is the main textbook.
  • Adler, Lillian. Reading Hebrew (yellow book). This self-paced book asks 30 simple questions to drill new consonant and vowel sounds. Answers are on the following page. Some students roll their eyes at this one, but it can be a useful way to make new material stick.
  • Binder:
    • T’filah Packet
    • V'ahavta with Transliteration


Objectives:
  • Master all consonants and vowels. Students should be able to read any line in the book with 90%+ accuracy.
  • Be able to lead Sh’ma and V’ahavta (with transliteration) independently. I begin with just 1 or 2 of the numbered lines in the t’filah packet, and slowly add throughout the year.
  • Practice Chanukah B’rachot and Four Questions. Begin approximately 4 weeks before holidays.
  • If there’s extra time and reading skills are strong, try learning an additional prayer (listed in order of priority):
    • Avot V’Imahot
    • G’vurot
    • Nisim B’chol Yom
    • Torah Blessings
    • Blessing Before Haftara

Level Dalet

Tutor Resource Folder (includes all student materials)

Student Materials, Phase One (first 5-8 weeks)
  • Margolius, Kevin. Hebrew Rapid Review: Pilot Edition. 
    • Use at start of year catch any problem spots in Hebrew reading
    • It is a good "first pass" at teaching challenging reading rules. It's ok if they don't all stick; the next part of the curriculum reintroduces them as needed.

Student Materials, Phase Two (remainder of the year)
  • Mitkadem Ramah 3
    • Introduction to the Mitkadem program. Do this together with student.
  • Mitkadem Ramah (level) 4-23
    • Main lessons for Mitkadem. 
  • Binder:
    • T’filah Packet


Objectives—Phase 1 (move through quickly to get to Phase 2)
  • High accuracy on all consonants and vowels
  • Medium to high reading speed (not choppy, should not be overly taxing on kids to sound out words)

Objectives—Phase 2 
  • Work through a Ramah (lesson) of Mitkadem
    • Do some reading/chanting practice every time!
    • Do some vocabulary review every time! Flash cards in the teacher folder are a great help.
    • Slowly work through the written parts in order
  • At the end of a a Ramah, give the mivchan. Make it low pressure! Students can take it as many times as they need. 

Students are ready to move on when they are about 90% accurate on the written mivchan (exam) and can lead the prayer(s) well enough to do so from the microphone during a service.
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