Bridge Hebrew Decoding and Meaning with New Hanukkah Resource

New readers become stronger Hebrew learners when they can use their new skills. 

Shalom, Reader: 57 Hebrew Activities to Show What You Know is a new resource that offers a way for emerging readers to practice decoding skills in a meaningful way. Shalom, Reader introduces students to a family and its pets, and follows them through simple stories and scenarios that are familiar to children, such as holiday celebrations, school, family, time, and the weather.

"It's so nicely done in its simplicity," says Sherryl Gutes, director of education and programs at MakomNY, has been using Shalom, Reader with her third graders. "We love it, and the Hanukkah pages work beautifully."

There's an entire chapter built around Hanukkah that includes:  

  • Hanukkah vocabulary
  • A short guided conversation with a friend in Hebrew about what they eat and drink during Hanukkah
  • A Hanukkah song
  • An interactive game of Connect the Dots to help students practice and demonstrate their Hebrew vocabulary comprehension
  • A short story with accompanying illustrations to aid comprehension 

As our Hanukkah gift to you, we're making the Hanukkah pages from Shalom, Reader available for free download. 

Much of the vocabulary in Shalom, Reader overlaps with the Bible and siddur, making Shalom, Reader an excellent bridge between a Hebrew primer and more complex texts from a reading or prayer learning program. 

"Students become stronger Hebrew learners when they can read text that balance between ease and challenge, are meaningful to them, and that provide context as they progress," says Dina Maiben, director of the Hebrew programs at Gratz College, and author of Shalom, Reader. 

A downloadable teachers' guide, also written by Maiben, provides specific ideas for enriching the activities, and also includes strategies for teaching the material in remote learning environments. 

Shalom, Reader is now available through Behrman House, or on Amazon. Also available with turn-page access for remote learning environments. 

 

 

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