At Manhattan Day School, Jewish values, culture and practice are integrated into all aspects of learning. Throughout the day students utilize multiple disciplines of study to create a strong bond with their Jewish identity. In the kindergarten classrooms show the students in action learning math and tefillah!

Kindergarten students began their introduction to Singapore Math last week. In the Singapore approach, it is recognized that all children use their worldly knowledge to make connections, which improves their mathematical thinking. Manhattan Day School early childhood students reviewed the difference between right and left as a precursor to using a right to left progression when counting. The children integrated their knowledge of the hand that they use for Kriat Shema (right hand) by making beaded bracelets that they wear daily for tefilah until they master the difference between right and left.

“Differentiating right and left in this way is the perfect vehicle to integrating our Limudei Kodesh with our Limudei Chol curriculum,” commented kindergarten teacher Yona Glass.

Manhattan Day School students have been saying Kriat Shema as a community since attending the toddler program, creating a natural, daily connection to this mathematical concept.

Early Childhood Director Shani Skydell said, “The Shema bracelets incorporate the Singapore approach of children learning concepts in three specific stages starting with the natural reasoning and understanding of their unique world using concrete objects and manipulatives.”