Instilling a Love of Learning
At Golda Och Academy, we believe that the first few years of school provide an opportunity to instill in children a love of learning. In our early childhood program, the children learn through play and through interactions with other children and caring adults. We provide daily opportunities for each child to grow in a number of dimensions – social, emotional, creative, moral, intellectual and spiritual. Children develop new skills and competencies through linguistic, logical, kinesthetic, artistic, musical and self-expressive tasks. Our school provides developmentally appropriate experiences that challenge them to observe, explore, experiment, draw conclusions, ask new questions and enjoy the satisfaction of solving problems. Our teachers foster the children’s natural curiosity and inquisitiveness while stimulating their cognitive growth through a wide variety of hands-on activities that extend and enrich the children’s interests and experiences. During the early childhood years, the children learn to be part of a community. Kabbalat Shabbat, daily tefillah, and holiday preparations are joyful, shared experiences where the children become familiar and comfortable with basic Hebrew vocabulary and Jewish behaviors, rituals and concepts, including mitzvot, God and tzedakah.
The elementary grades build the foundation and motivation for life-long learning. Our students experience successes – as well as disappointments and conflicts – in the context of a supportive school setting that fosters independence and self-esteem. Caring, nurturing relationships between teachers and children enable our students to question thoughtfully and think for themselves. As they interact with each other, they grow to understand the value of belonging to a group, a family, a community and the Jewish people.
To download a copy of our school Curriculum Guide, click here.
