This past Pesach Sheini, parents and educators of Oholei Yosef Yitzchok Lubavitch of Crown Heights held their annual Open House – Curriculum Night at Levi Yitzchok Library.
Parents and students had an opportunity to hear and participate in discussions pertaining to the school’s curriculum as well as partake in questions and answers session.
The introductory words by Rabbi Mottel Schneiderman, founder and Director of the school, described the importance of constant improvement of chinuch strategies to cater to each and every student.
Rabbi Schneiderman expressed his gratitude towards the school’s teaching team who passionately succeeded in implementing the curriculum in their classrooms and went beyond their ways to accommodate each and every student. All those efforts positively influenced the absorption of the teaching material as well as overall growth in all areas of development.
Rabbi Schneiderman told of an educator who shared with the Rebbe 10 rules which, in his opinion, ensure the success in Chinuch. The Rebbe replied that there is 11th rule, which points out that there are no rules in chinuch!
“Each and every educator should evaluate the strengths and the weaknesses of his students to plan and deliver instruction effectively,” said Rabbi Schneiderman who also pointed out the importance of Parents-School communication which is vital for successful chinuch.
Rabbi Chayim Zylbernagel, the Chumosh Vocabulary System (CVS) Coordinator at the school, spoke at length about how the program is being incorporated into the general curriculum, as well as it’s tremendous positive impact.
“This is the second year since CVS (Chumash Vocabulary System) has been introduced to OYYL students, and we see unbelievable success, almost all students in the elementary division have completed the 3 piles, which are over 800 shoroshim, and students are able to teich pesukim with minimal intervention from their teachers. This shifts the focus of students from decoding words towards understanding the deeper meaning of the text.” Says R. Zylbernagel.
Rabbi Shoul Klein, who founded the Chumash Vocabulary System, addressed the parents with his insights into the program. This program has been successfully implemented in over 35 schools around the globe. The main goal of the program is to get students to a level where Loshon Hakodesh becomes a comfort zone and the word retrieval is fast that the responses are automatized so the student’s mind is now busy to understand the text.
Parents had opportunity to approach speakers and teachers and engage in meaningful discussions pertaining general chinuch in the school, as well as specific details of school’s multi-sensory curriculum.
Mordechai Sogomonian, has a son learning in the school for the past 7 years. He said, “One of the things that impress me most, which really distinguishes this school, is the clear direction and mission that the entire staff buys into, and an unprecedented level of professionalism across the board.”
Yonason and Chaya Kahanovitch said the teachers of their 4 sons in the school are always in communication “through email, phone, texts and the school’s Facebook group in unparalleled and invaluable in making sure parents and school are working together.”
Second-grade teacher Rabbi Yaakov Bock says other schools tend to be “very firmly fixed in their structure, meaning that a child that doesn’t fit that structure might have a hard time succeeding, and sometimes such students will simply not be able to succeed.”
Rabbi Bock said he found Oholei Yosef Yitzchok Lubavitch to be “oriented to the success of all students, and the structure here is one of flexibility, not being afraid to make adjustments for the sake of finding the path of success for every student.”
Rabbi Yisroel Kaplan, first-grade teacher, commented that at this school, a “passion for Chassidishkeit is interwoven with a healthy approach of understanding the child’s perspective and building their self-confidence.”
May the school see much grows in ruchnius and gashmius!
So nice to see that CH has this to offer! Thanks for keeping us in the loop, col.