Discovering Hebrew: Nurturing Early Literacy in Hebrew Language Learners

Instructor: Dr. Tali Berkovitch
Dates: 3/3/25 – 4/7/25
Time: 8 – 9:30pm EST
Cost: $360/Prizmah or HATC School Network; $400/Outside Prizmah School Network
Location: Zoom

Description: In our first language, we all learn to read and write early on in our educational journey, after we already speak the language. However, when we teach Hebrew as an additional language, our students learn to read and write in a variety of ages, and more often than not, are new to the language altogether. How is teaching early literacy different in an additional language than in a first language? How to teach early literacy to students of different ages? Is there a specific order to learning to read and write? Should we follow the phonetic or the holistic approach? In this introductory course, we will find research-based answers to these questions and others. We will discuss central concepts and principles, such as phonological awareness and preparedness, the role of vocabulary and meaning in developing reading fluency, and the relationship between reading and writing. We will also consider elements that are endemic to Hebrew – the Nikkud, and print/cursive letters. By the end of this course, you will be able to explain how research-based principles inform the teaching of early literacy, and you will have a general plan of recommended stages in early literacy teaching and one or two lesson plans.

REGISTRATION