Sound-to-Print

Building the sound of Hebrew in a child’s head and heart before tackling print serves as the foundation of #OnwardHebrew's approach. Called to sound-to-print (S-2-P) learning, there are four legs to the process:
1) Creating a foundation of Hebrew language for children up through sixth grade;
2) Learning of Hebrew prayers by participating in regularly scheduled Hebrew t’fillah (worship);
3) Building Jewish life vocabulary, i.e., Hebrew words that may be sprinkled comfortably into English conversation (e.g., shofar, mazal tov); and
4) Waiting to teach Hebrew decoding and reading skills until the sounds of Hebrew are deeply embedded, ideally fifth grade or sixth grade.

Just as a tabletop is stablized when balanced on at least three legs, so it is with #OnwardHebrew. Three of the four legs create a strong foundation for 21st Century Hebrew learning. Which might you experiment with? And might your educational program be able to tackle all four?

NEW IN THE OVERVIEW SECTION: Sound-to-Print October webinar. Following the intro, the first part presents the basics of teaching Hebrew sound-to-print, followed by an interesting discussion that offers a great twist on teaching the skill of Hebrew syllabification (spoiler - a better term is suggested). The second part shares interesting research on the process of becoming a skilled reader in one's first language along with musings as it might relate to teaching Hebrew decoding/reading. And the third part shares comments and questions of webinar participants. The description on the YouTube page provides time-stamps for each of the three parts.

Resources are linked to the photos and videos below. Click on what interests you!

Overview: Teaching S-2-P

A booklet especially for decoding/reading teachers

Video modules that offer the skills to help students move from sound-to-print.

S-2-P webinar that offers techniques for teaching S-2-P, as well as what we can learn from research on teaching beginning readers.
Want more info?
Check the bibliography

A rabbi-educator and cantor discuss the transition to B'Mitzvah tutoring in a S-2-P educational program.
Stop at 50:15

S-2-P as a step in teaching decoding/READING

Overview blogpost

S-2-P presentation:
Why Wait to Teach Decoding?

S-2-P presentation:
Learning to Decode

In practice - Learning the sounds of Hebrew in HTM and then looking at the print
(Four Questions example)

CULTIVATING SOUNDS WITH HTM, JLV, T'FILLAH and more

S-2-P presentation:
Hebrew Through Movem't

S-2-P presentation:
Jewish Life Vocabulary

S-2-P presentation:
Hebrew During T'fillah

S-2-P presentation:
1-on-1 Learning

S-2-P TEACHING RESOURCES

Gold and Silver online challenges on the blessings of the Amidah (for S-2-P example, see the Ancestors Silver challenge (plus others)

Online program for teaching decoding to 5th and 6th graders, one-on-one

Curricular materials on Sh'ma and Its Blessings and the Amidah. It's all S-2-P. Includes Flashmob information.

Jewish Interactive, an app
that helps you create S-2-P prayer/blessing games.
Click link, above, to see how students hear the sound of Hebrew and connect it to print.

MISCELLANEOUS

S-2-P: Definition
(Start at 5:54 for excerpt)

Teach Kids When They're Ready (article)