The Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy recognizes that all students have unique strengths and must be provided with learning experiences that will assist each to attain their fullest potential. Our DISCOVERY Program provides a continuous, systematic plan for students to develop their own skills and talents. There are individualized student assessments for identification and progressing purposes, individualized student education plans for students set up and consultation services for staff, students, and families. The DISCOVERY teachers employ both “push in” and “pull out” techniques reaching many students.

 

The Language Arts DISCOVERY program builds on the student’s existing knowledge and rich linguistic experience and focuses on developing an increased competence in the use of the language arts: speaking and listening, reading and writing. The reading and writing curriculum is carefully matched to the intellectual and developmental needs of our students and prepares them well for increasingly sophisticated tasks. The program ensures that students will use language to gain information and to develop critical thinking and comprehension skills. The Language Arts program emphasizes the interconnectedness between reading and writing through the development of the necessary skills for effectively communicating their ideas, opinions, and experiences in oral and written form, and for appreciating the oral and written expression of others. We believe that reading is not only a tool for learning that helps the student to make sense of their world but also an excellent vehicle for opening up dialogues about, values such as respect, sharing and giving, empathy, and community. Writing instruction, which takes place at each class, is an expressive, meaningful activity for the student. Students are encourage to put their own voices into print: their thoughts, ideas, illustrations, findings and discoveries.

 

The Math ENRICHMENT program addresses students who are accelerated in Math.  There are individual math curricula developed for those who are multiples levels above grade standards. There is involvement in a series of Nationwide Math competition such as Math Olympiad. The Math DISCOVERY consult coaches the teams and enables students to enrich their math repertoire. The Successmaker lab is utilized to address enrichment for grades 1 through 3^rd Grade.

 

Identification Process for “pull out” DISCOVERY

The Identification Process incorporates multiple criteria to identify as many students as possible. In general, we are looking to identify students who are in the top 2-5% of students their age.

1. Nomination – Student nominations can come from any source; teachers, parents, testing records are the most common.

2. Teacher Reports – Information about the child and his or her performance is solicited from teachers through report card grades and teacher evaluations.

3. Screener Testing – A screener is a group-administered test. The Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy uses the TerraNova test, a standardized test of Achievement. These tests may be given exclusively to assess eligibility for general school purposes.

4. Follow-up Testing – Further assessment may be done as indicated for borderline scores on one of the above measure or strong teacher or parent nominations with non-qualifying screener scores.

5. Appeals – Parents or teachers may appeal the conclusions of the evaluation by either providing further objective testing evidence from a qualified professional to support identification OR providing information showing specifically how their child’s needs are not currently being met in the classroom.

 

 

Language Arts Programs

 

*Whole Class Instruction – “push in” DISCOVERY

This program enhances all students’ learning experiences. DISCOVERY comes into the classroom to provide whole-class enrichment. These are investigative activities designed at allowing the students to discover fresh and fascinating subjects.

 

*Small Group Instruction

This program creates an opportunity for students to enrich their studies outside of the classroom. Students’ learning stretches beyond the curriculum provided in class. Students participate in theme related cross-curricular activities on a weekly basis.

 

*Individual Instruction

This program allows the student to develop a special interest through using their own Multiple Intelligences. Students will explore special interest topics through the lens of one of Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligences in an inquiry-based learning environment.

 

*Book Clubs

This program incorporates a student-centered, active learning approach focusing on discussion and examination of the text. Students make textual connections between themselves and other texts in order to strengthen their literary analysis skills.
Book List

Spelling Bee

Science Programs

Science Olympiad is a competition closely aligned with New Jersey Science Education Standards and includes strong components for problem solving, critical thinking and the use of technology. The competitions follow the format of popular board games, TV shows and athletic games. These challenging and motivational events are well balanced between the various science disciplines of biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, computers and technology. Students who participate in Science Olympiad go beyond their specific science curriculum to explore innovative science topics and build applications and connections to the real world.