For the last two years, pre-k has been utilizing the responsive classroom approach for their morning meeting. The second through fourth grades at JKHA also utilize Responsive Classroom. Responsive Classroom helps forge a relationship between academic success and social-emotional learning. In pre-k, each morning, the children sing a general “Hello” song, and then while making eye contact, they take turns wishing each other a great day and responding “Thank you, you too.” This routine helps the students feel special and welcome in the classroom as well as teaches proper etiquette when having a one-on-one conversation.

During this second half of the year, pre-k will be introducing more Hebrew language into their daily conversations. This includes switching the language of the morning greeting. After just a few days of switching to a full Hebrew greeting and response, most of the children have already picked up on the language and can say it themselves. The hope is that as the year progresses, more Hebrew can be incorporated into morning meeting, calendar and the end of the day wrap up, to immerse the children in the language and allow for a comfortable transition into the higher grades where Hebrew is spoken.