Elementary K-8 General Studies

Reading and Language Arts

• Our goal at Providence Hebrew Day School is to provide a language-rich environment and an exposure to literature, while ensuring the mastery of basic skills, within the time constraints of a dual curriculum.
• Our Pre-K children are exposed to letter and sound recognition, and in Kindergarten the children complete letter books that include both reading and writing skills. Children who have reading skills also enrich these skills through individual and small group instruction.
• The core of instruction in the primary grades is based on the Macmillan/McGraw Hill series, including the Anthology, Journals, Spelling for Writing, Resource and Theme books.
• Literature tapes, choral reading, partner reading, and independent reading are a few examples of the strategies incorporated into the classroom.
• At each grade level, students gain an appreciation for reading through assigned novels and “free choice” books. Time is set aside during the week for sustained silent reading and reading by the teacher to the class.
• Writing is viewed as a skill of primary importance for becoming a literate individual and, as such, is stressed daily.
• Reflecting this importance, our staff has participated in special in-services in the area of writing. These programs have helped the teachers to develop instructional strategies to ensure that the students learn to write effectively.
• The “writing processes” of pre-writing, writing, revising, editing and publishing are emphasized at all grade levels, with the level of sophistication increasing as the students’ skills are developed.

English – Grades 6-8

• In Grades 6-8, the goal is to help students become strong, analytic readers and writers.
• In each grade, students read major literary works, in addition to numerous stories, essays and poems from various literature compilations.
• To encourage students to write, teachers assign “journal writing” exercises on an ongoing basis.
• Students also learn the rudiments of how to write analytical essays as well as creative pieces, including poems, short stories and scenes from plays.
• One research paper, usually an integrated effort of the English and Social Studies Departments, is assigned each year. In the process, students learn to conduct research, take notes and organize their notes in an outline. They also learn how to compile a bibliography and footnote their sources.
• At each grade level, students are instructed in the rudiments of grammar and usage. In these grades, we use the Write Source 2000, and anthologies published by Mosdos Press.
• Vocabulary work is strongly emphasized as