Temple Beth Emet Day School was founded on the belief that children flourish intellectually in a caring and supportive environment. Through an holistic approach, which focuses on all aspects of growth – social, physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual – children, Grades K – 5th, discover and maximize their potential.

Class size is kept small and instruction is individualized in order to respond to each child’s interests and needs. Our integrated curriculum nurtures the students’ critical thinking, creative expression, and self esteem. General and Judaic studies are developed hand in hand, enabling children to build strong academic skills and an understanding of Jewish values and traditions.

Temple Beth Emet Day School provides a supportive and trusting environment which enables each student to gain confidence, grow and take risks. Our learning environment stimulates and challenges children to develop and enhance the academic skills, leadership skills, and character values, necessary to succeed beyond our school and in life.

In accordance with our philosophy of teaching to the individual child, Accelerated Reader has been incorporated into our Language Arts curriculum. This program enables students to learn and progress at their own personal pace. Through Accelerated Reader, students have the opportunity to select texts at their level, and then proceed to go online for quizzes on various components of the text such as comprehension, literacy, and vocabulary. An online database maintains each student’s records and keeps track his/her progress. In addition, we have a reading reinforcement program that provides students with a small group instructional setting, where they work on mastery of fluency and reading comprehension skills.

Texts used in Language Arts include the following:
Rigby Literacy (K-2), Harcourt Brace Trophies Reading (3-5), Houghton Mifflin (Grammar), Elements of Reading (Vocabulary), Zaner Bloser Spelling Connections, and Zaner Bloser Manuscript and Cursive Handwriting.

Mathematics permeates all facets of life and is an integral part of our everyday learning. At the younger levels, the investigation and construction of mathematical ideas are facilitated by each child’s interaction with manipulative materials on a daily basis. This enables students to discover for themselves mathematical concepts, and how to apply them in daily life. Students explore concepts, then practice and apply skills, reinforcing concepts through problem solving as well.

Our math curriculum is comprehensive at all grade levels, and designed to help build conceptual understanding, skill proficiency, problem solving facility, and logical reasoning. It provides thorough coverage of state and national standards, and allows teachers the flexibility to customize the program.

Science is a systematic investigation of the ever-changing world around us. The study of science enables students to develop skills and learn methods of scientific inquiry including observation, prediction, measurement, estimation, experimentation, classification, formulating hypotheses, interpreting data, drawing conclusions, developing models, and communication, to derive specific concepts or ideas. These concepts become the basis for further exploration of our scientific world. Students actively construct ideas through their own inquiries, investigations, and analyses, and gain an understanding of scientific topics through hands-on experiments. At each grade level there are physical science, life science, and earth science units that are often connected to other subject areas.

Texts used in the science program include Harcourt Brace Science and Full Options Science System (FOSS Kits).

Social Studies education helps students acquire the historical perspective to appreciate their roots and understand modern society. It fosters respect for the dignity and worth of all people, loyalty to democratic ideals, and the skills necessary to accept the right and responsibilities of citizens. Through the Social Studies curriculum, students learn to integrate significant facts, concepts, and generalizations from history into their own experiences. Derech Eretz, making the world a better place for all to live, is a central theme in all social studies teaching at Temple Beth Emet, and as students increase their knowledge of world history, they develop an awareness and appreciation of ethnic and cultural differences, and become capable of connecting personal experiences to people of other cultures.

Texts used in the social studies program include Harcourt Horizons, as well as supplemental material to add depth of understanding.

In Jewish Studies, we not only focus on providing knowledge, understanding, and skills, but also, on the students’ commitment, values, and behavior. Jewish life will be taught and experienced in school through holiday observances, Israel education, Jewish life cycle events and customs, Torah studies, and prayers.

For Hebrew Language Arts, we have adopted the TalAM curriculum, which is based on the principles of communicative-heritage language acquisition, the development of Jewish concepts and values, and reading and writing skills. Starting at the second grade, students will have the opportunity to try out for a Hebrew Spelling Bee team and participate in the tri-county Hebrew Spelling Bee.

Chess is introduced into the curriculum by Cornwall Chess Services – a leading organization for scholastic chess training. Playing chess facilitates the development of mental skills by sharpening analytical thinking, increasing concentration and expanding the imagination. The students will learn to develop a competitive spirit, practice patience, and experience mistake making and problem solving. Starting at the kindergarten level, students will have the opportunity to participate in chess tournaments.

Our physical education program focuses on a variety of progressive and developmentally appropriate learning experiences, through which students will develop motor skills, movement concepts, and health related fitness, providing a foundation of physical activity that will pave the way to a healthy lifestyle.

Our sports program is led by Playball, an educationally based program with positive coaching methods that actively incorporates the development of life skills alongside sport skills and team sports. In addition, students enjoy a semester of instructional swimming, utilizing teaching techniques that ensure they have fun while learning water safety and swimming skills. For our intermediate and advanced students we also focus on water safety, while improving their swimming skills and endurance.

Art studies encourage self-expression through projects that strengthen conceptual and emotional development. Through theoretical and practical application, students are introduced to the great masters, while focusing on techniques, elements, and principles of design. This hands-on introduction to art history, aesthetics, appreciation, and production, in addition to aesthetic conversations about art and artists, enables students to value their own original ideas, and recognize there are many avenues for artistic expression.

The rhythm and dance program consists of a blend of traditional and modern concepts. Students will work on coordination, timing, and balance, as well as team work and self expression. Through our song program, students will learn a variety of pieces – from songs of Israel that tell of the land and history, to pop culture music.

The world of music is one that encourages imagination, creativity, individuality, and discipline. Our music appreciation program encompasses various areas of study, from guided listening to classical pieces, to recognition of notes and rhythms. Students will expand their music related vocabulary, experience playing on various instruments, and develop a musical outlook that will accompany them throughout their lives. The program evolves for our upper division students to include guitar lessons.

Our technology curriculum, implemented through the Futurekids program, is designed to teach computer mastery skills. Through the use of various child oriented themes and software, the goal is to provide students with practical computer literacy and computer mastery training in a challenging academic environment. The curriculum is based on hands-on experience with a focus on students learning how to use the computer by creating practical projects using a variety of computer application software (from Kid Pix and Word Processing to MS Office and Internet). Technology is further integrated inot the curriculum through computers with Accelerated Reader in every class, and SMART Boards in select classrooms and the resource center.

Family programs and Shabbat Services are part of Day School curriculum enrichment. Their significance is rooted not only in the practice of tradition, but further in the value of bringing together of the entire family, and allowing the parents an opportunity to glimpse into their children’s world and share their learning experience.

Field trips are an integral part of the curriculum and serve to introduce, enrich or reinforce subjects taught in class. Students will be transported in an air conditioned school bus with seat belts, unless otherwise noted.

For your convenience, our school offers a variety of optional afternoon enrichment programs, which vary from semester to semester. Examples of offered courses include: Visual Art & Filmmaking, MindLab, Art, Karate, Basketball, and Chess.