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LOWER SCHOOL (K-4)

The journey of learning at Rashi begins in the Lower School.  Our classes provide a nurturing, joyful environment that fosters the emotional, social, and academic growth of each child.

Lower School teachers help students acquire foundational skills – the building blocks – of learning. Children learn to read, and then they read to learn. They also learn to read, write, compute, and understand the world around them through observation, exploration and inquiry. 

Thematic units provide many opportunities for integrating science, social studies, language arts and Jewish studies. Students grow as writers, understanding the concepts of the “6+1 Traits” approach to writing and sharing their work with their families at programs such as the grade 1 Authors’ Shabbat and grade 3 poetry slam. Students are introduced to research skills and write brief reports on grade specific content. Children learn to work both independently and with classmates in small groups.

Rashi students begin to appreciate their Judaism through their study of Torah, tikkun olam (repairing the world), tefillah (prayer), Israel, and Hebrew language. First graders shine with pride at their Siddur ceremony, proudly displaying their deepening understanding of prayers as they receive their own prayerbooks. Fourth graders study the Book of Genesis (Bereishit) and make contemporary connections to the family relationships and situations in the Biblical stories.

Teachers differentiate the curriculum to accommodate each child’s learning style. Beginning in third grade, students are grouped according to readiness for Hebrew and math. These groups are flexible and based on pre-assessments that students take at different points in the year.

In addition to academics, the Rashi educational program emphasizes socialization and engagement with the larger community. Beginning in kindergarten, students strengthen their self-confidence by appearing in grade-level dramatic productions. They engage in tzedakah (the joy of giving) in age-appropriate ways: kindergarteners collect and count cans of soup, then bring them to a food pantry; second graders learn about “tzedakah heroes” who work to improve rivers and water sources.

At the end of fourth grade, Rashi students advance to the Upper School eager to explore concepts at a deeper level and to challenge themselves to showcase their ideas and talents.