Welcome to the Rabbi Jacob Pressman Academy
of Temple Beth Am
Early Childhood Center

Developing minds.   Nurturing hearts.   Instilling Jewish values.

Philosophy   Curriculum   Parent Handbook    Hebrew Immersion    Parent and Me Classes        

EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY

At the Pressman ECC we use a developmental approach to learning; our instruction considers the student's developmental level.  Teaching in this way produces children who are confident in their ability to learn.  Preschool children are making developmental strides and express an interest in the world around them.  They want to touch, taste, smell, hear, and test things for themselves.  They are eager to learn.  They learn by experiencing and by doing.  Preschoolers learn from their play.  They are busy developing skills, using language, and struggling to gain inner control.

We also promote individual learning.  Though children develop in certain predictable ways, all children are unique.  All students have their own strengths and weaknesses.  The ECC tries to respect and meet these individual needs.

We believe that cooperative learning promotes social skills and independent thinking. When students work together in groups they learn to compare ideas, to consider other points of view, and to take turns leading and following.

Finally, learning is an active process. Children learn best when they can explore a subject through many different venues.  We pride ourselves in providing a learning environment replete with the tools to create experiential learning.

CURRICULUM

EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

Judaic Curriculum

Our goal is to help children develop a Jewish identity by introducing them to Jewish culture and practice in developmentally appropriate ways.  In school, we celebrate Kabbalat Shabbat and all Jewish holidays, and we strive to include family members in the preparation and celebration of these events.  We teach Shabbat and holiday songs.  We expose our children to Jewish and Torah stories.  We teach a love of Eretz Israel.  Our Judaic curriculum includes:

• God, Torah, mitzvot, prayer, Hebrew, Israel, Shabbat and festivals, Jewish identity, Jewish life cycle events, Jewish values, and Jewish community
• Holidays celebrated include: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Chanukah, Tu B’Shevat, Purim, Pesach, Yom Ha-Atzmaut, Lag B’Omer, and Shavuot
• Immersion program introduces Hebrew through conversation, song, dance and stories
• We emphasize teaching the following Jewish mitzvot:  Kibbud Av Va’aim - Honor your father and mother, Hachnasat Orchim - welcoming guests, Bikkur Cholim - visiting the sick, Hashavat Avaydah - returning lost items to their owners, and Tzedakah - charity
• We say the following tefilot and berachot:  Modeh Ani, Shema, Adon Olam, Borei minei mezanot - blessing over snack, Ha-motzi - blessing over bread, Borei p’ri ha’etz - blessing over fruit, Birchat Ha-mazon - grace after meals, Le-hadlik ner - blessing over the Shabbat candles, Borei p’ri ha-gafen - blessing over wine (grape juice)

General Studies Curriculum

Our goal is to provide a safe and nurturing environment to meet the individual needs of our students.  We make a strong commitment to respect the dignity, worth, and uniqueness of each child.

• We teach our children to think for themselves, to solve problems, and to get along well with others.
• We place a high value on play and its role in helping our children acquire the abilities that will ensure future academic success.  Play, and the social interaction that occurs through play, is the child’s prime educator.
• We place great emphasis on developing pro-social behavior among the children.  With the assistance of the teacher, children learn to resolve their conflicts verbally, share toys and materials, help others in need, and respect the rights of others.
• Helping children experience a sense of self-esteem, one of the main factors influencing future success, is a very important goal of our school.  We want the children to feel proud of their heritage, stand up for their rights, and demonstrate increasing independence.
• We strive to help children develop physical skills, become more coordinated, master their environment, and develop a better self concept.  Many activities are provided to enhance and refine gross and fine motor skills.  Blocks, climbing equipment, tricycles, slides, painting, play dough, and cutting are some of the activities that help children develop physically.
• Cognitively, we want the children to acquire learning and problem solving skills and expand logical thinking skills so that they can classify objects, recall sequences, and recognize patterns and repeat them.  We are constantly expanding verbal communication skills.  Some children will develop beginning reading and writing skills.

Hebrew Immersion in the  Early Childhood Center

Pressman Academy Early Childhood Center was originally chosen by The Jewish Theological Seminary's Melton Research Center for Jewish Education to participate in a program called Ma’alah.  Ma'alah, which is a Hebrew acronym for Mivtza Ivrit Lagil Harach, is translated as Early Childhood Hebrew Language Immersion Project.  What began as a pilot program has now evolved into a new model of excellence in utilizing Hebrew language immersion techniques to create proficient young Hebrew speakers.  In addition to our staff being trained in this method of education, continuing education is provided at various seminars throughout the year.  Our lead Hebrew Immersion teacher is now working with the Bureau of Jewish Education to train other Hebrew educators in this unique and highly successful method.

The research on language immersion has consistently shown that young learners exposed to a second language continuously and exclusively for a minimum of three hours daily, demonstrate enhanced intellectual prowess and general academic growth.  As well, students will have the advantage of Hebrew fluency.  From this foundation, we know that our students will be positioned to gain a more meaningful and powerful subsequent Jewish and general education.

Hebrew Immersion is available for children 3 – 4 years of age in September in a full day (9:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.) setting.  There is an additional $400 materials fee for students enrolled in Hebrew Immersion.

The Benefits of Bilingual Education

 Starting at an early age: 

• Has a positive effect on intellectual growth
• Enriches and enhances a child’s mental development 
• Leaves students with more flexibility in thinking, greater sensitivity to languages and a better ear for listening 
• Improves a child’s understanding of his/her native language 
• Gives the child the ability to communicate with people s/he would otherwise not have the chance to know 
• Opens the door to other cultures and helps a child understand and appreciate people from other countries 
• Gives a student a head start in language requirements for college 
• Increases job opportunities in many careers where knowing another language is a real asset 

The Benefits of learning Hebrew 

• Creating a deeper Jewish identity 
• Creating stronger ties to Israel and its culture 
• Permitting full entrée to classical and modern Jewish tests 
• Connecting families to Jewish life

  Parent Handbook 

 Early Childhood Center Parent Manual