Spring Update

Hebrew Through Movement is gaining steam!  Classes in New Jersey and California have experimented with Hebrew Through Movement this year, joining the teachers in Cleveland who have worked with Hebrew TPR for years.  All grew in their understanding of this engaging way to help students learn Hebrew.  

A dozen teachers from across the country are currently piloting an online learning seminar.  Nine modules guide teachers through about 10 hours of online learning that is supported by a very experienced Hebrew TPR teacher; you see her in a number of the videos on this site.  Once the seminar is revised, it will be open to teachers at any time of day or night (yes, there will be a tuition charge).

What have our teachers (us, too!) learned along the way?  

• That training is important. Teachers need to understand the principles behind Hebrew Through Movement to successfully sustain learning in their classroom.   http://www.hebrewthroughmovement.org/background.html 
• That planning is important.  TPR teachers can't just walk into their classrooms and "wing it," even if the lesson is "only" 10 minutes long.  Learning how to write fun and engaging teaching scripts is key, as is practicing the scripts prior to class so that the lesson flows.  Check out   http://www.hebrewthroughmovement.org/levels-1---3.html for video examples of a novice teacher (Level 1) and an experienced one (Levels 2 & 3):   Note the feedback given to the teacher in the Level 1 video; it's not as easy as it may at first seem!
• That fun and spontaneity is important.  Students shouldn't be able to anticipate what you will ask them to do.  Check this video example of a 6th grader who thinks he knows what comes next, but to keep him on his toes, his teacher throws a curveball: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DzHtYxWOCo  
• That having the needed supplies is important.  Check out the video at the bottom of this page:  http://www.hebrewthroughmovement.org/background.html.  Also, see how the teacher uses supplies in the Pesach video that you can find via the Holiday Unit drop down menu.
• That teachers need to have a basic command of the Hebrew language to teach TPR successfully.  A well-meaninged teacher who volunteers to teach TPR but has no language background cannot simply memorize scripts and hope that pronunciation and grammar are okay. In addition, we've learned that it's very important for someone with Hebrew expertise to regularly observe new teachers. It's not fair to the students or teacher for pronunciation and grammar errors to be left uncorrected for months. 
• That consistency is important.  For Hebrew Through Movement to really make a difference for our students, it has to be taught EACH time a class is in session.  That means 10-15 minutes minimum EACH time.  For some schools, having a roving specialist helps ensure that Hebrew is taught consistently.  For other schools, having teachers integrate TPR in their classrooms works best ... but the directors of these schools have learned that accountability for regular teaching lies with themselves or a department head.  It HAS to have priority.

Next steps for us? Over the summer we're going to be working on:

** Revising the curriculum guide (the experimental edition is available on the first page of this website for free download)

** Moving the online learning seminar from pilot to "real"

** Offering guidance for complementing one's decoding/reading program with principles from TPR

** Offering guidance for complementing one's prayer curriculum with TPR

Over the summer, perhaps a camp will take on TPR as a great way to teach Hebrew.

We'd love to know your questions, thoughts and feedback.  Feel free to add a comment here, or post something in the Teacher Talk section of this website.

Nachama Skolnik Moskowitz, JECC