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Program

Math

Mathematics​ ​instruction​ ​is​ ​based​ ​on​ ​research-based​ ​best​ ​practice​ ​programs,​ ​and​ ​is​ ​scheduled​ ​to allow​ ​for​ ​flexible​ ​response​ ​to​ ​individual​ ​students’​ ​needs​ ​and​ ​challenges.​ ​Students​ ​use​ ​Eureka Math​ ​in​ ​whole-class​ ​instruction​ for 60 minutes​ ​daily.​ ​Students​ ​get​ ​additional​ ​time​ ​every​ ​day​ ​to​ ​work​ ​in​ ​math​ ​stations​ ​to​ ​practice​ ​the​ ​skills their​ ​MAP​ ​scores​ ​indicate​ ​need​ ​strengthening.​ ​This is done​ ​through​ ​intervention​ ​in​ ​small groups,​ ​and​ ​through​ ​independent​ ​practice​ ​(via​ ​Compass​ ​Learning​ ​or​ ​with​ ​pencil-and-paper work).​ ​

Teachers​ ​plan​ ​on-grade-level​ ​Eureka​ ​lessons,​ ​and​ ​accompany​ ​these​ ​plans​ ​with​ ​small​ ​group​ ​and individual​ ​plans​ ​designed​ ​to​ ​reach​ ​and​ ​teach​ ​each​ ​student​ ​where​ ​they​ ​are.

Literacy

English​ ​Language​ ​Arts​ ​(ELA)​ ​instruction​ ​is​ ​rooted​ ​in​ ​two​ ​sources:​ ​carefully​ ​chosen, research-based​ ​instructional​ ​Language​ ​Arts​ ​programs​ ​like​ ​Core​ ​Knowledge,​ ​Wilson​ ​Fundations, and​ ​ThinkCERCA,​ ​and​ ​each​ ​student’s​ ​own​ ​learning​ ​needs.​ ​All​ ​students​ ​take​ ​the​ ​NWEA​ ​MAP, and​ ​while​ ​every​ ​student​ ​spends​ ​time​ ​every​ ​day​ ​working​ ​in​ ​whole-class​ ​Language​ ​Arts​ ​programs, they​ ​also​ ​get​ ​time​ ​to​ ​work​ ​through​ ​a​ ​customized​ ​Language​ ​Arts​ ​instructional​ ​program,​ ​based on​ ​their​ ​MAP​ ​performance,​ ​and​ ​developed​ ​and​ ​revised​ ​regularly​ ​by​ ​their​ ​teacher.

In​ ​grades​ ​K-2,​ ​the​ ​two​ ​main​ ​ELA​ ​instructional​ ​programs​ ​are​ ​Wilson​ ​Fundations​ ​for​ ​phonics​ ​and word​ ​study,​ ​and​ ​Core​ ​Knowledge’s​ ​Listening​ ​and​ ​Learning​ ​strand​ ​of​ ​sequenced​ ​units/learning modules.​ ​In​ ​their​ ​daily​ ​2+​ ​hours​ ​of​ ​ELA​ ​instruction,​ ​K-2​ ​students​ ​use​ ​Fundations​ ​for​ ​systematic phonics,​ ​spelling,​ ​and​ ​handwriting​ ​instruction,​ ​and​ ​Core​ ​Knowledge’s​ ​Listening​ ​and​ ​Learning program,​ ​built​ ​around​ ​a​ ​series​ ​of​ ​sequenced​ ​read-alouds,​ ​designed​ ​to​ ​help​ ​students​ ​build​ ​the background​ ​knowledge​ ​and​ ​vocabulary​ ​critical​ ​to​ ​listening​ ​and​ ​reading​ ​comprehension.​ ​During their​ ​2+​ ​hour​ ​ELA​ ​block,​ ​K-2​ ​students​ ​also​ ​spend​ ​time​ ​in​ ​reading​ ​rotations,​ ​where​ ​they​ ​work​ ​in Guided​ ​Reading​ ​groups​ ​(including​ ​Fountas​ ​and​ ​Pinell’s​ ​Leveled​ ​Literacy​ ​Intervention),​ ​use Compass​ ​Learning​ ​for​ ​extensions​ ​and​ ​intervention,​ ​and​ ​do​ ​independent​ ​reading.​ ​They​ ​also work​ ​daily​ ​on​ ​handwriting​ ​and,​ ​2nd​ ​graders​ ​begin​ ​typing​ ​practice.

Science

Our​ ​Science​ ​program​ ​is​ ​built​ ​around​ ​Houghton​ ​Mifflin​ ​Harcourt’s​ ​Science​ ​Dimensions curriculum.​ ​The​ ​course​ ​of​ ​study​ ​is​ ​integrated​ ​science, which will provide the foundation for later studies in engineering and design, life sciences, physics, and Earth and space science.  Engineering​ ​design​ ​is​ ​integrated​ ​into​ ​all​ ​scientific disciplines,​ ​as​ ​is​ ​critical​ ​thinking​ ​and​ ​extensions​ ​to​ ​STEM-based​ ​careers.​ ​Reading,​ ​writing,​ ​and vocabulary​ ​strategies​ ​are​ ​also​ ​embedded​ ​in​ ​all​ ​daily​ ​work.

Every​ ​lesson​ ​includes​ ​a​ ​hands-on​ ​activity and​ ​is​ ​organized​ ​so​ ​that​ ​students​ ​drive​ ​the learning:​ ​they​ ​start​ ​by​ ​​engaging​​ ​with​ ​a​ ​question​ ​or​ ​discrepant​ ​phenomenon,​ ​​exploring evidence,​ ​and​ ​then​ ​attempt​ ​to​ ​​explain​​ ​their​ ​claims,​ ​elaborate​ ​on​ ​and​ ​apply​ ​new​ ​understandings to​ ​the​ ​real​ ​world,​ ​and​ ​​evaluate​​ ​their​ ​learning​ ​throughout.​ ​This​ ​“5​ ​E”​ ​instructional​ ​approach lies​ ​at​ ​the​ ​core​ ​of​ ​Dimensions​ ​instruction​ ​in​ ​all​ ​grades.

The Founders of Philadelphia Hebrew Public Charter School believe that students learn best when they are in a context of diversity, surrounded by clear, consistent systems of support, and when given opportunities to learn individually and together.

We are strong believers in personalized learning – ensuring that each and every child has the opportunity to grow academically and socially in ways that are tailored to their needs and learning styles. Our personalized approach to learning is enhanced by our small student to teacher ratios – transforming the classroom experience into one of a genuine community which in turn promotes positive emotional development in each child.

HEBREW PUBLIC’S UNIQUE MODEL FOCUSES ON:

  • Rigorous instruction in English Language Arts, math, science, social studies, Modern Hebrew language, music, art, and physical fitness
  • Racial and economic diversity
  • Long-term connections to post-secondary and career opportunities in Israel and with Israeli organizations
  • A commitment to global citizenship – helping students become intellectually curious, globally aware, civically engaged, and skilled in cross-cultural communication
  • Immersive instruction in Modern Hebrew for part of each day

SPOTLIGHT ON MODERN HEBREW

Our school is part of a growing movement of linguistically diverse public charter schools, teaching languages as varied as Modern Hebrew, Greek, Mandarin, French, and Arabic. This movement is based in part on a wide body of research showing the many benefits of learning a foreign language:

  • Improved school performance
  • Problem-solving skills
  • Cross-cultural communication
  • Understanding of different perspectives

At PHP, Modern Hebrew is taught through the proficiency-based approach, which is considered the gold standard in foreign language instruction in the United States and around the world. Students receive one hour of Hebrew language instruction four days per week. They engage in meaningful interactions in the language, developing their speaking and comprehension skills at a rapid pace. As students advance through the grade levels, speaking and listening skills continue to be developed and reading and writing are introduced, developed and strengthened.

Modern Hebrew is taught by native speakers, who only speak to their students in Hebrew. In just a short time, students are able to understand Hebrew and speak in simple sentences. As their skills grow, they are introduced to more complex topics and are able to communicate in Hebrew in more sophisticated ways. As students learn Modern Hebrew, they also have the opportunity to learn about the culture and history of Israel, which provides a link to other subjects such as social studies and the arts.

Want to learn more? Check out the Hebrew Public website.

SPOTLIGHT ON GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP

“Global citizenship” education is a big part of the school’s focus. It includes the development of student skills in communication (including learning a foreign language), collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity. It also includes an emphasis on empathy and emotional intelligence. In Hebrew Public network schools, including at PHP, global citizenship education is supported through the daily study of Modern Hebrew, the comparative study of Israel and of students’ local community, the use of small group instruction, and through our focus on diversity and inclusion. We prioritize developing students as global citizens who are bilingual or multilingual; develop skills of empathy, teamwork, and cross-cultural communication; and who actively engage in solving problems in the local, national, and global communities.

PHP infuses global citizenship values across the curriculum through a cycle of action and reflection.  Students apply what they learn to community problems and plan community service projects using the Asia Society’s Global Competence Framework. This helps students develop the global citizenship values of empathy, citizenship, community, and social responsibility, which are critical to thriving in the global 21st century. We bring this values to life through community and school-based service learning projects. Global citizenship is infused across the curriculum and weaved throughout the day in small group instruction, Morning Meeting, and all subjects.