The Hebrew Academy of Long Beach -Yeshivat Lev- offers a well conceived and challenging Torah and Hebrew language curriculum on every grade level.  Our staff is comprised of highly professional educators who are teaching our students using a variety of teaching methods, always sensitive to the needs of our Talmidim and Talmidot. 

We offer a full range of support services to our students, including resource and enrichment programs, to ensure proper learning of all Limudei Kodesh subjects. Each Tefilla from first grade through eighth grade portrays the importance of avoda shebalev, through Biur Tefilla, and by example. Yediot Klaliot and Midot Tovot lessons are a component of every grade level curriculum:

1st Grade- Proper Kriah, both phonetic and comprehensive, is the main curricular goal.  Ketivah, Parshat Hashavua, Yomim Tovim (chagim), Yahadut, midot and life skills are important components of the program.  Solid foundations are laid in the skills of reading, writing, listening (comprehension) and speaking.  Hebrew language is taught through “the immersion method.” Class trips and special in-school visitors round out the first grade experience.  Some highlights include, the Siddur Play, a special presentation given by the students as they receive their first Siddur, special trips to the Matzoh Factory and Jewish childrens museum as well as a trip to the zoo, as a culmination of a unit about animals and zoos, in hebrew, of course. 

2nd Grade- Chumash Bereishit is presented with a special eye towards Dikduk and Shorashim skills.  Parsha, Safrut, Sichot, Halacha, and Chagim are important topics as well.  The Chumash Chagigah is a special annual event. Students also anticipate the exciting visit to the Jewish Children’s Museum.
   
3rd Grade- Chumash skills are expanded as our students continue their study of Chumash Bereishit.  Rashi is now introduced to the students with a Rashi party. They work on increasing fluency and gaining proficiency in reading Rashi with its unique script. Dinim, Dikduk, Parshat HaShavua, Chaggim, and Yediyot Klaliot are important parts of the curriculum.  One highlight is Safrut where our students read and translate stories in Ivrit. Special Derech Eretz lessons using the Project Derech curriculum are introduced.  Beautiful performances and plays are also presented by our third grade classes on Chanukah and Purim.
   
4th Grade- Fourth grade completes Sefer Bereishit and Sefer Yehoshua is set in motion as Navi is added to the curriculum. In the fourth grade boys’ classes, Mishna begins with Mesechet Rosh HaShana and our students are introduced to the world of Torah Sheb’al Peh.  Parshat Hashavua, Dinim, Dikduk, Safrut, and organizational skills are important parts of the curriculum. An Intergenerational Program and year end siyumim to celebrate their successes marks the year.
   
5th Grade– In the fifth grade, students begin their studies of Chumash and hone their Rashi skills.  Other Limudim include Navi Shoftim, Dikduk, Lashon, and Sichot B’Ivrit.  It is an exciting time for our students as they end their elementary school years. The boys, in conjunction with their study of Mishnayot Sukkah, build creative models to illustrate the laws they have learned. Each year the fifth grade students take part in the prestigious Fifth Grade Choir and proudly perform in Yom Hashoah and Yom HaAtzmaut events respectively.
   
6th Grade- Six graders now begin life as junior high school students.  This comes with privileges and also extra responsibility as our students are now looked upon as role models by the younger students in our school.  Emphasis on Chumash and Navi is stressed, and in the boys’ classes we add Perek Elu Metziut, as haschalat Gemara.  Our Ivrit program is formalized as we introduce the NETA- Ivrit program to our sixth graders.  It is through this exciting new approach to learning that our students place all their Ivrit background into a sensible order and utilize it to grow forward. A joyous in-school Bat Mitzvah celebration is a yearly event. Our young women share this important milestone presenting a cantata to their parents and families. In conjunction with their Bat Mitzvah, the students undertake a meaningful chesed project which includes interacting regularly with the residents of local senior homes. The year end trips include an educational trip to Philadelphia, led by their Rebbeim and teachers.

7th Grade- Our seventh graders continue to grow in their intensity as they learn Chumash with Mefarshim. Our boys learn Gemara Arvei Pesachim and are introduced to the depth of learning Talmud.  Navi, Parsha and Dinim including the thirty-nine Melachot of Shabbat are important parts of the curriculum. The boys present a wonderful Bar Mitzvah Torah Fair where they present a project on the theme of Mitzvot to their families. The girls mark Rosh Chodesh with Tefillah B’Tzibur and special programs, including a breakfast complete with Divrei Torah. All seventh grade classes participate in ruach filled Shabbatonim and Melave Malkas.

8th Grade- Eighth grade is a year when our students work on their high school readiness. The boys continue their intense study of Gemara with Perek HaMafkid. All students further their Tanach Limudim with Chumash Devarim, Navi and Parsha. Midot lessons are gained through Pirkei Avot and other sources in Torah Sheb’al Peh.

The Neta program is continued.  This creative program has been growing in popularity among students and helps them recognize that Hebrew is a language that can be utilized in their daily lives, in addition to the study of Torah.  Students are prepared for the BJE exams as well as the Hebrew Regents Exam. Our daily Minyan is led by our eighth graders. The importance of Tefilla in our daily lives is taught at every opportunity. The yearbook and graduation celebration are lifelong memories of their wonderful years at HALB.

HALB’s General Studies academic curriculum is aligned with the New York State core
learning standards. What does this mean for our students? It means that we generally adhere to the core of instruction in the four main subject areas: English Language Arts (Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking); Mathematics; Social Studies and Science.

HALB focuses on students as active learners, responsible and knowledgeable about their own learning. To highlight each curriculum area, let’s look below:

ELA (English Language Arts): four main strands are woven into these ELA standards:

1. Students will read, write, listen and speak for information and understanding.
2. Students will read, write, listen and speak for literary response and expression.
3. Students will read, write, listen and speak for critical analysis and evaluation.
4. Students will read, write, listen and speak for social interaction.

• Conceptual understanding
  
• Procedural fluency
  
• Problem solving

1. Number sense and operations, e.g. make reasonable estimates
2. Algebra, e.g. recognize, use and represent algebraic patterns, relations and functions
3. Geometry, e.g. use visualization and spatial reasoning to analyze characteristics and properties of geometric shapes
4. Measurement, e.g. determine what can be measured and how

Social Studies: this spiraling curriculum begins in kindergarten with “Self and Others,” continues in grades 1-8 as follows:

1. My Family and Other Families, Now and Long Ago
2. My Community and Other United States Communities
3. Communities Around the World – Learning About People and Places
4. Local History and Local Government
5. The United States, Canada and Latin America
6. The Eastern Hemisphere, esp. Ancient Civilizations
7. American History, inc. European exploration

Science: Children’s natural curiosity leads them to explore the world. The elementary science program should emphasize a hands-on and minds-on approach to learning. Utilizing inquiry and process skills such as classifying, inferring, comparing and contrasting, observing, measuring, predicting, etc., students will investigate the main areas of Earth Science, Physical Science and Life Science. A science specialist is an integral part of the HALB science approach in almost every grade, and laboratory lessons, involving videostreaming and live experiments make science come alive!

Of course, these are the four main curricular areas. They are complemented by co-curricular subjects such as music, art, physical education, computer instruction, library, etc. Coupled with these weekly sessions are regular calendar-based special curriculum highlights such as Children’s Book Week in November, Music in Our Schools Month in March, and other unique offerings.

As a linchpin of HALB’s philosophy, there is integration of Judaic and General Studies whenever the occasion allows. For example, when studying ancient Greece, a rabbi might address the students about the Maccabees. In the lower grades, when studying Parshat Noach, students might look at sinking and floating in science.

As one can see from the above, the General Studies curriculum of HALB is rich and replete with opportunities for our students to flourish!