“ In the few months since we ’ ve launched this program , I ’ ve seen tremendous results , both in terms of accuracy and speed . The boys I ’ ve tested just this week are reading 70 syllables per minute . That ’ s a very impressive statistic for this early in the school year .”
Pre-1A and first grade are two of the most important years in a boy ’ s education . Yeshiva Darchei Torah ’ s goal is to give the talmidim an excitement and passion for learning – as well as the skills they will need to succeed as future B ’ nei Torah .
One of the major components in the curriculum of these early grades is kriah , the foundation of davening , learning , and so much more . Knowing the critical importance of the talmidim being able to read with confidence and proficiency , there has always been a tremendous emphasis on kriah in these formative , pivotal years . This year , to raise the bar in kriah , and to ensure that not a single child falls behind , Yeshiva Darchei Torah launched an exciting new kriah program in pre-1a and first grade , led by Mrs . Jill Kay and Rabbi Eliezer Braun .
Mrs . Kay , the director of the Rabenstein Learning Center , explains that it is not uncommon for children to struggle with kriah . “ This new program , Kriah Ne ’ imah , is research-based and systematic in its approach ,” she says , “ giving us the ability to closely monitor each boy ’ s progress and then target any weaknesses .”
The kriah team is there to support each child on his kriah journey . Whether it ’ s small group work or individualized assessments , each boy is given the support he needs .
Rabbi Shmuel Strickman , menahel in the elementary school , says the goal of this program is to ensure that no child slips through the cracks . “ There ’ s a huge amount of individualized instruction ,” he explains . “ And in the few months since we ’ ve launched this program , I ’ ve seen tremendous results , both in terms of accuracy and speed . The boys I ’ ve tested just this week are reading 70 syllables per minute . That ’ s a very impressive statistic for this early in the school year .”
Rabbi Braun is working closely with Mrs . Kay , helping to bring all the pieces together . He is constantly putting together new activities , props , and manipulatives to help bring the concepts to life in a hands-on way . “ This week we ’ re using custom-made puzzles that form the
Rav Eliezer Braun is leading a brand-new kriah program that is elevating standards across the Yeshiva with a focus on each talmid ’ s reading readiness .
shapes of the individual letters ,” he relates . “ We also used some fun tubs that contain letters and objects to be matched together .”
Mrs . Tzipi Fisher , the new assistant preschool director with responsibility for pre-1A , shares that “ the classrooms are alive . There is a palpable energy — and the smiling faces are testimony to that .”
The Yeshiva is confident that the professionalism of the kriah staff , the enthusiasm of the rebbeim and moros , and the support of the hanhala will all help raise the level of kriah in the school and empower the children to develop into readers who will open their Siddurim and Chumashim with rightful confidence .
“ In the few months since we ’ ve launched this program , I ’ ve seen tremendous results , both in terms of accuracy and speed . The boys I ’ ve tested just this week are reading 70 syllables per minute . That ’ s a very impressive statistic for this early in the school year .”
BEDARCHEI HATORAH WINTER 5784 / 2024 21