The Inda Posner Religious School is pleased to be aligned with two different but excellent curriculums that have been written and evaluated by their own team of curriculum writers.

Please read below about Project Etgar (challenge), and The Institute of Southern Jewish Life (ISJL) Curriculums.

*6th Grade Project Etgar

Project Etgar is a Middle School Program, each year we will add an additional grade to include all Middle school students by the start of the 2011 – 2012 school year.*2010 – 2011 7th grade,*2011 – 2012
8th grade.

Starting with the 2009 – 2010 school year, we are excited to announce that the IPRS has been selected to pilot Project ETGAR, a new curriculum for middle school students in Conservative congregational schools. Together with ten other synagogues who are new to the program this year, they are joining 32 congregations throughout North America who have been testing the program for the last few years. Although these schools vary in size and location, they all share a passion for excellent Jewish education.

Project ETGAR is the first full-service Conservative curriculum for synagogue middle school students sponsored jointly by the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and the Melton Research Center of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. The curriculum has had rave reviews from students, parents, teachers, and administrators in its pilot schools. It includes a iyun tefillah (the meaning of the prayers) track and “core topics” with high-level, sophisticated content; detailed, easy-to-use lesson plans; all materials needed for instruction; formal training for teachers and education directors; year-around consulting from outstanding ETEs (ETGAR Teacher Educators); family programs; and KESHER letters to parents. Schools may use the Hebrew language programs of their choice, but recommendations are available through Project ETGAR.

Based on the cutting-edge 4MAT approach which accommodates multiple intelligences -- the affective and cognitive and both sides of the brain -- ETGAR features student-centered learning which integrates projects, art, music, films, games, primary text study and other meaningful activities. ETGAR also used research and experience with early adolescents in developing the curriculum. Written by and for the Conservative Movement based on the “Statement on the Aims of the Conservative Synagogue School” of the United Synagogue Commission on Jewish Education, Project ETGAR is ideally suited in both content and format to Conservative synagogue schools. Beginning in September, the curriculum will be tested in the 6th grade at the IPRS. The topics include four core units: Friendship, Sifrei Kodesh (Sacred Literature), Kashrut, Bikkur Holim (Visiting the Sick) as well as the Iyun Tefillah curriculum which includes the Amidah and Torah Service. Gemilut Hasadim/Jewish Living programs are integrated into the units, incorporating active informal learning experiences into students’ lives. Other components of the program include Project Box which offers students the opportunity to do individual projects that interest them and “Moach Madness,” 10 minute activities to be used at the beginning of class.

All grades (except 6th grade during 2009 - 10) Institute of Southern Jewish Life (ISJL) Curriculum

We are excited to be partnering with the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life (ISJL), by implementing their education program starting with the 2009 – 2010 school year. We will be joining a thirteen state regional network of other southern Jewish congregations that are using this three part program which provides a curriculum, a conference, and an education fellow to enhance and support southern religious schools. The new curriculum begins in Early Childhood and goes through to the 10th grade is spiraled, meaning that different Jewish content areas are covered in different years and are repeated at increasing levels of sophistication. The lessons include activities adapted to different learning styles to meet the needs of each student, ensuring that all students have a positive educational experience. The curriculum includes a common body of Jewish knowledge that is presented by a very innovative delivery system. During the school year, each community is visited several times by ISJL Educators and Education Fellows. The Education Fellow will not only help to implement the curriculum through the year but will plan two programmatic weekend visits to provide a variety of services, including teacher enrichment programming, classroom activities, holiday celebrations, text study sessions, and adult education programs.