This year we are using new Tal Am 2 curriculum in 2^nd Grade.

The main goal of TaL AM is to develop the Jewish identity of the students through shared language and knowledge of our heritage.  TaL AM 2 was developed as a continuation of TaL AM 1 and as a preparation for TaL AM 3.  

TaL AM 2 continues to develop Hebrew as a communicative language in a natural process guided and modeled by the students and teachers of the virtual classroom introduced in TaL AM 1.  I t is enhanced by the Hebrew environment created with the interactive posters, audio cassettes, library books, and games.  Modern Hebrew is presented through age-appropriate literature.  The texts focus on the development of concepts and values pertinent to Jewish life day-to-day. on Shabbat and on Holidays.

TaL AM 2 initiates the development of Hebrew as a Heritage Language through the learning of Torah, Tefilah and Parashat Hashavua.

TaL AM 2 is developed in four discipline-based tracks, aligned to reinforce the development of learning, thinking and language skills.  The brain-based design of the material and the congruence and alignment of its content and skills contribute to the acceleration of the learning process.

The four tracks of TaL AM 2 and their scope are:

1. שי – שנה יהודית   Shay - Shana Yehudit:  Exploring in Hebrew the personal meaning of Jewish life throughout the year  (day-to-day, Shabbat and Holidays).

2. התורה שלי   Ha’Torah Sheli:  Learning of the first four parashot of Bereshit.  First steps in the acquisition of biblical Hebrew and in the development of Biblical literacy.

3. פרשת השבוע   Parashat Hashavua:  Presenting some key issues in the parasha and the exploration of several verses, as well as of a message from the parasha for modern life. 

4. התפילה שלי ושלנו   Hatefila Sheli Veshelanu:  Offering experiential and functional acquisition of prayers, blessings, and Siddur literacy.  Learning the Halachot and exploration of the meaning of selected Tefilot from the daily morning, Shabbat, and Holiday services.

TaL AM 2 is comprised of the following materials:

For the student:  Workbooks and CDs for acquisition, mastery and creativity.
For the teacher:  User-friendly manuals, a planner, formative and summative evaluation tools.
For the classroom:  I nteractive posters, flash cards, games, guided readers, library books, audio cassettes and CDs.
For the parents:  An overview of the content and skills in the curriculum and information letters.
For the school:  Classroom album, reading, writing and speaking portfolio, and TaL AM 2 Curriculum I mplementation Report to facilitate the communication between teachers from year to year.

Areas of Learning:

1. Prayer- תפילה

1. Daily Shacharit Prayers (Facility with known prayers; introduction of additional Tefilot; including Shmoneh Esrei)
2. Rosh Chodesh Tefilot-Yaaleh VeYavo; Hallel(parts)
3. Yom Tov Tefilot (selected berachot melodies for each holiday)
4. Be'ur Tefilah (explanation of basic ideas and words)  

2. Dinim-  דינים

1. Mitzvot Yom Yom at Home and Away (Reciting Shema at night; Netilat Yadayim; Kippah; Berachot ;  Kosher foods; Derech Eretz; Tzedakah; Mezuzah)
2. Mitzvot Shabbat  (Preparation for Shabbat; Bigdai Shabbat; MaAchalai Shabbat; Laws of Kiddush; Shemirat Shabbat; Lechem Mishne; Shalosh Seudot; Zemirot; Havdalah)  
3. Mitzvot of the Moadim  
4. Middot: Respecting elders and teachers; Hospitality towards guests; Visiting the sick.  

3. Chumash- חומש

1.   Parshat HaShavua: The weekly Torah Reading ' s main Mitzvot and Middot.  The Parsha program will be enhanced by a weekly shiur with a Rebbe. This year we will also incorporate into our parsha class the Yachad lessons in caring community and anti-bullying.  
2. Parshiot  Beresheet, Noach, Lech Lecha; VaYerah
3. Lashon Hatorah: Highlighting Chumash vocabulary and phraseology; common prefixes and suffixes
4. Significance of Mitzvot; Middot Tovot; relevant morals, personalities and events.  
5. Kabalat Chumash- receiving the first Chumash  

4. לשון עם ישראל- Hebrew—Lashon HaKodesh; Lashon Am Yisrael, 

1. Oral Expression- שיחה
   1. I mproving pronunciation of words
   2. Developing spoken vocabulary relating to home/ school setting  
2. Phonetics  
   1. Developing facility with aleph-bet and vowels  
3. Reading - קריאה  
   1. Improving word attack skills  
   2. I mproving oral reading skills
   3. I mproving comprehension skills of units in basal readers  
4. Writing- כתיבה  
   1. Developing and improving skills in cursive writing
   2. Spelling words basic to this grade level  
   3. Using correct forms in writing simple sentences and paragraphs (masculine/feminine; singular/plural; present/past tense; numbers - masculine/feminine; possessive forms prepositions) 

The Tal Am curricular design, blueprint and scope of content and skills were developed on the basis of:  

• The compilation and analyssi of data from principals' and teachers' questionnaires that were designed in preparation for the TaL AM 2-8 curriculum development.
• Analysis of outcome of teaching TaL AM 1 and TaL Sela 2-6
• Feedback from TaL Seal grade 2 questionnaires
• review and analysis of video-taped lessons of TaL AM 1 and TaL Sela 2-6
• Think Tank conference with the participation of Jewish philosophers, lead educators, subject matter specialists and curriculum developers
• Review of research and its implications for Jewish education in the areas of:
  • Brain-Based Learning
  • Memory and Retention
  • The Art and Skill of Teaching
  • Evaluation
  • Curriculum Design and Implementation
  • Developing Hebrew as a Communicative and Heritage Language
  • Teaching Reading and Writing
  • Best Practices in Teaching Torah, Tefillah and Torah She-b'alpeh

Deliberations and creative work by the teams of curriculum writers.