Beit Rabban has a highly effective approach to teaching Hebrew to young children. Children in The Gan at Beit Rabban are exposed to Hebrew language in a wide variety of ways. They see words posted around the classroom, read and hear stories read to them from books, sing songs, play games, and are encouraged to respond to the Hebrew their teachers use in and around the classroom. They also participate regularly in Hebrew-only activities with a fluent Hebrew speaker to build on their familiarity and exposure to Hebrew language, and have time with a supplementary Hebrew teacher integrated into their classroom each week.
Once in Garinim (Kindergarten/1st grade), students participate in a natural language, partial-immersion program of Hebrew study, which is designed to develop beginning fluency in Hebrew communication, reading, and writing. Children spend two periods of the day being spoken to and speaking only in Hebrew. They eat snack, play critical thinking games, read books, sing songs, and develop their vocabulary through specific units of study that are often related to their interdisciplinary unit. Children learn Hebrew in groups appropriate to their level of experience and knowledge.
As children grow older, they begin their formal study of classical Jewish texts in which the language of instruction is Hebrew, alongside their continuing education in Hebrew grammar, vocabulary, and communication. In addition, Hebrew is the language of informal communication within the school throughout much of the school day.
