Learning at Rashi
TZOFIM (GR. 3-5)
In grades 3-5, Rashi students continue to build on the strong foundation of basic skills that they have learned in the early elementary grades. We continue to focus on developing students’ academic, emotional, and social skills through an integrated curriculum.
Students explore more complex ideas and concepts while developing independence and both personal and academic responsibility. This exploration enables students to gain a better understanding of themselves as learners and adopt strategies and approaches that best suit their learning styles. While learning how to tackle an independent research project, students also gain appreciation for the value of working cooperatively with others in small groups. When advancing to Rashi’s middle school, students take with them strong study skills and the self-confidence that helps to guide their interests, decisions, and motivation as young adolescents.
Advancing the Depth of Study
Grade 3: The curriculum exemplifies Rashi's cross-disciplinary approach to learning. When third graders study classification in the animal kingdom, they explore similarities and differences among animal types and use language arts skills to research, organize, synthesize and write a five-paragraph animal report. Students also read animal fables from around the world, reinterpret traditional fables and write their own fable scripts for a school-wide performance.
Grade 4: The curriculum exemplifies the integration of secular and Jewish studies. Students read a novel about the relationship between a boy and his grandfather, while learning about Jewish mitzvot relating to honoring the elderly. Reaching out to the community, the children develop relationships with residents at local Hebrew SeniorLife facilities, visting them on holidays and engaging in intergenerational discussions about the book they read.
Grade 5: Children take on leadership roles and receive increasing autonomy and responsibility in their classroom. Their ability to manage more complex assignments is exemplified by the Science Fair, for which they choose an area of interest, develop a question related to that area, and design a scientific experiment to answer that question. Guided by mentors, they research the topic, conduct the experiment, analyze results, and share their learning at the Fair.
Rashi fifth graders proudly advance to middle school as learners who ask probing questions, confidently seek answers, and present their learning in organized and unique ways.
