:: Gesher Curriculum ::
Our Gesher program is appropriate for children who have already completed a four-year old preschool program and would benefit from a "pre-kindergarten" bridge year.
:: Reading/Language Arts
Students begin the writing process by dictating and illustrating stories. Emphasis is placed on individual expression and creating the awareness that writing and drawing are used to represent ideas. Through modeled writing, children acquire knowledge of consonant and vowel sounds as well as letter formation.
The Gesher handwriting program
utilizes "Handwriting Without Tears", a simple developmentally based
curriculum for writing readiness and printing. A variety of
classroom activities encourage children to move and use their
muscles in preparation for writing. Many of the activities are done
with music. They encourage correct posture, pencil grip
(accomplished through the use of small crayons) and paper placement. :: Mathematics
The mathematics curriculum is
based on the "Math Their Way" program. "Junk boxes" are
utilized to reinforce concepts such as counting, patterning,
and classifying. The class also is introduced to the Venn
Diagram, which provides a hands-on alternative to the usual
methods of classification. Mastery of these skills indicates
readiness for Kindergarten as suggested by the Md. State
Dept. of Education. :: Science Science is also an integral part of the Gesher curriculum. Seasonal differences with an emphasis on environmental change and units such as camouflage and ecology provide many opportunities for learning and exploration. Our students develop the skills of scientific inquiry through hands-on activities and simple laboratory experiments. Our science teacher works with the children in a science lab and presents themes including the scientific method, the five senses, matter, light, the solar system and space travel, the human body, paleontology and geology. The students are encouraged to express what they have learned in writing or through drawing. All students are given an opportunity to share their knowledge with family and friends in our annual science fair.
The Gesher program also incorporates all aspects of Judaism into the Social Studies curriculum. The children study and celebrate both secular and religious holidays throughout the year. They learn basic Hebrew vocabulary and Jewish values, which are integrated into the practice of social and self-help skills.
By learning Hebrew as a modern spoken language, our students begin to develop a connection not just with their religion but with Israel as well. Kindergarten students learn vocabulary words and short phrases through a variety of games, books and hands-on activities. The letters and sounds of the aleph-bet are introduced. Our Jewish culture, heritage and values are brought to life in weekly celebrations of Shabbat and Havdalah with the caring and dedicated Rabbis of Washington Hebrew Congregation.
In our spacious and bright art room students learn to use a variety of media for communication and expression. They begin to develop an aesthetic knowledge of and appreciation for many forms of expression.
The children are exposed the the beauty of music, both secular and Judaic, with our experienced music teacher.
The physical education program develops skills in the areas of movement awareness, gymnastics and sports.
The main focus of the Media Center is to instill a love of books in our children. Our media specialist introduces students to a variety of genres and library skills. Our shelves are filled with hundreds of books on a wide variety of subjects including picture books, fairy tales, novels, poetry books and an ever-growing Judaic collection. Non-fiction works include biographies, history, geography, science, nature and reference books.
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The Gesher
language arts program includes listening, speaking, reading and
writing. Our goal is to generate interest and excitement about
language. To help develop reading readiness skills, children are
provided with a wide variety of experiences rich in language and
literature. Through exposure to a variety of books, poems and
shared-experience stories, children begin to develop concepts of
print and phonemic awareness skills. To build comprehension skills
children will relate events in a story to prior experiences, draw
accompanying illustrations and discuss characters and settings of a
book.