Curriculum
JUDAIC STUDIES:
SIHA’s Judaic Studies curriculum is specifically tailored to children who come from homes of limited Judaic background, introducing students to Jewish values and traditions. Our program familiarizes the students with important events in the Jewish calendar, provides fluency in the Hebrew language and Jewish history, and also concentrates heavily on ethical development. We believe that when developed early on, qualities such as responsibility, respect for others, compassion and dignity will prepare our children for leadership positions among their peers. Our students are introduced to:
- Hebrew Language
- Jewish Culture
- Jewish History
- Jewish Ethics – Developing moral concepts such as: Kindness, Respect, Gratitude and Charity, Responsibility, Self-worth, Humility,
- Jewish Philosophy
- Participating in Charity & Public Service Projects
- Biblical Textual Studies
MATH:
We utilize the Singapore Math (SM) curriculum that is aligned to the NYS Common Core standards which can be shown here: Scope and Sequence. SM program involves children in a variety of activities that create a foundation for mathematical understanding, problem solving, developing logic and critical thinking skills. During the breaks, kids are provided with the intellectual creative games developing their imagination and intellectual abilities. Students are involved in math activities one academic hour every day. Math instruction occurs in both large and small group settings. Math skills are taught through the use of the SM curriculum that is based on Jerome Brunner’s Learning Theory. It is a multi-sensory tier approach of Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract (CPA). Children progress each stage once concept is mastered within the given stage of teaching. Math instruction occurs in collaborative and group related instruction. For more information about the specifics of Singapore Math and what grades K-5 learn please view: https://theclassicalclassroom.com/2020/03/26/why-singapore-math/
6th and 7th grade mathematics uses the Go Math! Middle School Advanced 1 and 2 Core, by Houghton Mifflin Publishing Company. 7th grade prepares for the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) to take it in October of their 8th grade. 8th grade is centered on preparing our students to take the Integrated Algebra Regent by the end of the school year.
8th Grade Honors students follow this curriculum: https://curriculum.newvisions.org/math/course/algebra-i/
More information on standards for all grades can be found here: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/ciai/common_core_standards/pdfdocs/nysp12cclsmath.pdf
Singapore Math Curriculum:
- Trends In International Mathematics & Science Study (TIMSS) – Singapore has been 1st since 1995, in 2011 USA was #15 out of 57 countries
Math Enrichment:
- Real life problem solving enrichment
- Challenging problems from Singapore Math
Regents:
- 8th grade students will be taking Integrated Algebra Regent
Competitions:
- Noetic Math Olympiad
ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS (ELA):
SIHA follows Hillsdale College’s K-12 Curriculum which can be found here: https://k12.hillsdale.edu/Curriculum/Overview/
SIHA’s focus is on higher order thinking, literature/reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Students will also develop their writing techniques through peer and individual conferences, grammar, and published pieces. The foundation of teaching is centered around the Orton Gillingham approach.
We offer students an in depth, comprehensive language based program in conjunction with our highly developed reading program. The program includes phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, reading comprehension, reading responses, grammar, spelling, written expression, speaking and listening skills, and general linguistic awareness. Classroom experiences are designed for communication enhancement and enrichment. SIHA utilizes; Trade books, Scott Foresman Reading and language based program, McGraw hill reading program, Willson Reading Program, Leveled Reading program by Fountas and Pinnell, 7 characteristics of Comprehension, Spelling workout, Recipe for Reading, Scholastic Articles, and 6+1 Traits of Writing. Orton Gillingham lessons focus on carefully sequenced skills that include print knowledge, alphabet awareness, phonemic awareness, phonological awareness, decoding, vocabulary, fluency, and spelling. Critical thinking, speaking and listening skills are reinforced during Storytime activities.
K-5th Grades:
- Literature and Analysis
- Poetry
- Spelling/Vocabulary
- Handwriting
- Various Writing Styles
- Reading Comprehension Utilizing a Variety of Genres
- Orton Guillingham Reading Instruction
- Authors tea
- Spelling Bee
6th-8th Grades:
- Poetry Festival
- Shakespeare Experience – Monolog memorization
- Newspaper club
- Yearbook Committee
- Implementing APA Writing Standards for Research Based Writing
- SCRIPPS National Spelling Bee
For more information about the specific standards and benchmarks that we teach to please visit:
https://k12.hillsdale.edu/Curriculum/Overview/
The Social Studies and Science curriculum at SIHA includes all conventional elementary and middle school content, using experiential learning to develop skill and ensure comprehension. The children are involved in observation, discussion, reading, writing, study skills development, projects, and field trips. Focused discussions take place in collaborative groups. Students close each experiment or discussion with a study sheet to assess their comprehension of material taught. To make lessons meaningful, interdisciplinary teaching is always woven into each instructional piece. Current event articles, experiments, and text books are used for teaching and learning.
SOCIAL STUDIES:
K-5th Grades concentrate on Community Development, Geography, Map Skills, and American History
6th-8th Grades Curriculum includes:
- Ancient Civilizations (Early Middle East, Africa, Ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, Ancient China)
- Present-Day Eastern/Western Hemisphere Geography
- Early European history (Roman Empire-WWI)
- Higher emphasis on Modern American history: Revolutionary War-WWII (7th grade), 8th grade (WWII and beyond)
- Analysis of American History: Influential Figures, Presidents
- Political Science: Supreme Court Cases, Law, Diplomacy
- Government/Economics
Social Studies Fair:
- Prior topics War and Peace in Israel, Notable people throughout time, Countries Around The World, Democracy, and Freedom
SCIENCE:
K-4th grades
– follows NY DOE suggested common core curriculum in combination with activities that make it hands-on learning. 4th grade participates in the Stanford Achievement science test
For more information about the specified standards for grades K-4 please visit:
http://www.p12.nysed.gov/ciai/mst/pub/elecoresci.pdf
5th grade
– Life Science, Environmental, Health, and Astronomy
http://www.p12.nysed.gov/ciai/mst/pub/livingen.pdf
6th grade
– Physical and Geological Science
http://www.p12.nysed.gov/ciai/mst/pub/phycoresci.pdf
7th grade
– Intro to Living Environment, Chemistry: lab science, periodic table, compounds, mixtures, electricity, magnetism, and waves. Reproduction, Heredity & Evolution, and Humans in their environment.
http://www.p12.nysed.gov/ciai/mst/pub/chemist.pdf
8th grade
8th Grade Regents is a High School Course earning High School Credits.
8th Grade Curriculum:
– Living Environment Regent Prep Scientific Inquiry (Science papers- qualitative vs quantitative research), cell structure/function, basic biochemistry, nutrition, photosynthesis, respiration, mitosis, meiosis, genetics, protein synthesis, evolution, classification, plants, animals, systems of the body, ecology, human impacts on the environment. 1,200 min of required lab
http://www.p12.nysed.gov/ciai/mst/pub/earthsci.pdf
Science Fair:
- K – 4th are involved with understanding the Scientific Method inclusive of the vocabulary associated within; health science, earth science, physics, and chemistry.
- 5th – 8th grades will be learning scientific facts and using the fair to demonstrate concepts learned
- 5th – Human Systems of the Body
- 6th – Law of Physics- “Make Sense of Magic”
- 7th – Chemical Reactions Come to Life
- 8th- Scientific Research – Does this Really Help the Environment
Regents:
- 8th grade students will be taking the Living Environment Regent
Discovery Day:
- An opportunity for SIHA students to be engaged within an educational setting that is multi-sensory and interdisciplinary about one topic. Studies have shown that such teaching modalities are one of the most effective ways that support students learning about any given subject. Some of the topics include; water, fire, energy, evolution ect…
Competitions:
- 3M/ Discovery Young Scientist Challenge
- Explora Vision for Science Club members
- National STEM Video Game Challenge for Science Club Members
- 8th Grade students will be participating in GOOGLE Science Competition
RUSSIAN:
Building a foundation of fundamental vocabulary and essential language structure. Develop the Russian language skills, such as reading, writing and social interactions. Students learn to read, write, and speak the basic dialect of Russian. They learn about the well-known artists, authors, and current politicians through various communicative devices. They also learn the basic language skills needed for shopping, visiting a doctor’s office, or spending time with family and friends. Additionally, they learn about famous poems and songs to memorize or present.
ART:
The Art curriculum includes Art Appreciation and Theory where students are learning about famous artists and their techniques. Students explore different media such as drawing, painting, and crafts and develop an understanding of design, including shape, line, texture, pattern, and color. Many lessons are incorporated with the holidays. We visit museums to visualize art from around the world.
MUSIC: K-5th
Music Theory and Appreciation
- Choir club performances in school, concert halls, and at various community events