APRIL 2013-IYAR 5773 Update
Click Here for The MaToK Bible Curriculum brochure
Now available: 2013-2014 Order Forms for MaTok Materials
June 2012-Sivan 5772 Update
Now available: 2012-13 order forms for MaToK Materials.
All teachers guides (Hebrew and English) may be downloaded for $5 per copy at this link:
MaTok Teachers’ Guides
May 2012-Iyyar 5772 Update
Online vocabulary learning for your students!
New & Improved Dah Bear Now Available: www.dahbear.org
A message from Marci Karoll, Program Officer, Legacy Heritage Fund:
Legacy Heritage Fund is proud to announce the launch of the next phase of development for Dah Bear, a free online tool which assists students in mastering Hebrew vocabulary. Dah Bear contains over 1,200 word lists and is being used in the classrooms of more than 225 teachers in nearly 150 schools. Positive feedback from this dynamic new tool has been overwhelming; students and teachers alike have told us how much fun classroom and homework learning has become!
April 2012-Nisan 5772 Update
What does teaching Torah have to do with 21st Century Education?
Find out by watching this video.
These are some of the skills that our students need to succeed in the 21st century:
- Problem Solving
- Cultural Awareness
- Communication
- Collaboration
Share with your colleagues: What are you doing in your Torah classes to promote these skills?
Your replies will be posted in next month’s MaToK newsletter.
Digital MaToK
Imagine: The year is 2017 and your students walk into class with their tablets/iPads, but with no hard copy textbooks.
What does their digital MaToK text look like?
What features would like to see in the digital MaToK text?
Send your ideas to Galya.
Monthly Newsletter
If you do not currently subscribe to the MaToK monthly newsletter, and would like your name added to the listserv, please send an email to Galya. (It is easy to unsubscribe, should you change your mind, simply by clicking on a link at the bottom of each newsletter.)
March 2012-Adar 5772 Update
MaToK in the classroom: Digital Flashcards
www.quizlet.com
www.classtools.net (user name: matokbibleproject, password: 5772)
How do you teach and reinforce new vocabulary?
Have you or your students used flashcards from quizlet, classtools, or another web site? How has it worked? What are other ways that you deal with vocabulaty acquisition and retention in your classes. Let us know and we will feature your answers in next month’s MaToK newsletter.
February 2012-Shevat 5772 Update
Using the arts with MaToK
Here are websites that may be helpful in your teaching. One unit, about Ya’akov and the Ish, gives specific directions for implementing a project using depictions of Ya’akov’s encounter as interpreted by artists throughout history. However, artwork can be incorporated into almost any unit, particulary if you have visual learners and/or students with “artistic intelligence”. Please share your ideas and experiences about using art to supplement teaching Torah.
artwork:
http://www.tali-virtualmidrash.org.il/
videos:
http://mediamidrash.behrmanhouse.com/sub_search.php?search_term=22
http://www.g-dcast.com/
songs:
http://www.bibleraps.com/
Class Tools
Have you tried making your own flashcards with ClassTools.net? Students can play computer games to learn the vocabulary!
Go to Premium Login: matokbibleproject Password: 5772
Check out the set I made for one unit
Click on the link and then press “play” to see the choices.
Want more? Check out the Updates Archive »
MaToK Workshop June 17-19 in LA, CA
An orientation workshop for the MaToK Bible Curriculum will take place at the Valley Beth Shalom Day School in Los Angeles, CA, on Monday, June 17 through Wednesday, June 19.
Topics to be addressed include:
• MaToK Principles and Access Skills
• Differentiated Instruction
• Bible Standards and Benchmarks—How they “fit” with MaToK
• Technology in the Torah Classroom
• Backward Design in Curriculum and Lesson Planning
• Authentic Assessment
• Theology-What do I believe and how does that impact me as a Torah teacher?
• How to use the Teachers’ Guide
• Beginning to work on our first lesson(s) of the school year.
Who is eligible?
• Teachers and administrators new to MaToK
• Faculty from a school that may be considering the use of MaToK in their bible curriculum
• Teachers who have been teaching MaToK but have never been to an orientation workshop
• Teachers who were trained and have been teaching MaToK but are ready for a “refresher”
Costs: (includes kosher lunches and snacks on all three days)
• Early Bird-paid in full before April 1, 2013
o Schechter Network Schools: $250
o Non-SN Schools: $275
$25 deducted per person for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th person from the same school. Good for Early Bird option only.
• Registration fee after April 1, 2013
o Schechter Network Schools: $300
o Non-SN Schools: $325
• Graduate students in Jewish education at an accredited institution:
o Before 4/1/13: $200
o After 4/1/13: $225
DOWNLOAD APPLICATION FROM THE LINK ON THIS PAGE:
http://matok.wikischolars.columbia.edu/Professional+Development+Opportunities
Posters and Cards now for sale
Supplementary MaToK materials may now be ordered and purchased on-line from the MaToK Wiki. Pay on-line with PayPal and your order will be shipoped to you.
Colorful posters (12″ x18″) and cards (4″ x5″) that explain and demonstrate nine of the basic Biblical Hebrew access skills are now available for your classroom. You can see and download a pdf file of the posters, and place your order on the MaToK wiki at the page: Buy MaToK Materials
The Hebrew script and lyrics, as well a DVD of a performance are now available. Beatle/Bittul Torah is a musical performance about the Genesis stories with song lyrics set to familiar tunes by the Beatles. Performing this musical has become a meaningful and enjoyable way for students to review and celebrate their Torah studies. Order and purchase on the wiki at the page: Buy MaToK Materials.
English Shemot Choveret Published!
The Shemot Chovrot in English have been printed and shipped. If you did not receive your order, or would like to place a new order, please contact the USCJ Book Service at: 212-533-7800 ext. 1031. Order: 1-800-594-5617, Fax: 212-253-5422 or E-mail: booksvc@uscj.org
FREE SAMPLE! On-LIine PDF of the Yitro Choveret–Please review and send feedback! (Back to Top)
DOWNLOAD LINK: http://www.copysafe.net/shop/prod.asp?prod=102286&Cat=67
You will need to first download the free CopySafe PDF Reader software. Follow the instructions on the website.
FEEDBACK SURVEY LINK (It’s quick–nine multiple choice questions.): http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7G5Q3TQ
OPTIONAL: Leave your email address in the space for the last question of the survey and you will be entered in a drawing for a free pdf download of the unit of your choice.
Middle School Curriculum Development
Which units would like to see developed next? Yonah, Rut, Yehoshua, Shmuel, etc. Vote here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7KSTMYV
New Posters to Help Your Students
Todah Rabbah to Marcia Kaunfer for a jazzy and attractive new set of access skill charts for MaToK classrooms! Marcia was one of the original curriculum writers for MaToK, as well as an experienced teacher of Torah. She is now a trainer and consultant for the Bible Standards and Benchmarks Project. Please print out the posters in color, laminate, and put in your classroom for daily reference!
Download the charts here: access skills posters
Characteristics of a MaToK Classroom
What should teachers be doing ?
What should supervisors be looking for?
- Every class session begins with the brakha: . . .La’asok b’divray torah.
- The class period begins and ends with a reading of the passage under study in a “text yafeh” (a chumash or tanakh).
- The terminology for the literary access skills is posted.
- Words that are repeatedly used in directions and exercises are posted, if necessary.
- Student work reflecting critical thinking on previously studied passages is posted.
- Important vocabulary and shorashim are posted.
- An observer should be able to figure out by a glance around the room, what part of the Torah is being studied.
- There is a “question box” or updated digital equivalent such as a question blog, wallwisher question wall, space on the class website or wiki, etc.
TEACHERS- Please share how you accomplish these components of MaToK in your classroom!
Supplementary Materials for Teachers
Introduction for teachers new to MaToK
All teachers’ guides can be downloaded directly from the USCJ Book Service website
MaToK simaniyot (bookmarks) with the access skills listed and illustrated.
Worksheet with list of access skills and space to take notes.
Example of pages from the new English version of the LekhLekha student workbook: Lekh Lekha English sample
Assumed Vocabulary
When students begin their study of Torah, using MaToK, a certain amount of receptive vocabulary is assumed. These are words that can be used commonly in early childhood settings (pre-kindergarten through second grade) in informal (play, dance, conversation) and formal (story-telling, early reading and writing) activities. Obviously, we do not drill or practice word lists, but students can learn to comprehend and respond appropriately to these words.
We hope that you find them useful in preparing your students for Torah study.
Assumed vocabulary for Parashat Bereshit
Assumed vocabulary for Lekh-Lekha
An interesting article on vocabulary development
If there are materials mentioned in your teacher’s guide that you do not have, please contact Galya.
About our Design Partners
The full-color, professionally-designed MaToK student booklets are designed and printed in Israel by MaTaH (CET). MaTaH is the largest educational publisher in Israel. Their team is led by Zohar Harkov. The team includes specialists in layout, graphics and Hebrew.
To learn more about CET, please click here.