Nativ at a Glance

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Nativ: A Path for Learning Program Overview

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MISSION NATIV PROGRAM MISSION Through Nativ (Hebrew for path), Scheck Hillel Community School educates students with language-based learning differences so they become independent and successful learners, able to maximize their achievement, create opportunity and foster identity in an inclusive community.

ABOUT SCHECK HILLEL COMMUNITY SCHOOL From early childhood through Grade 12, Scheck Hillel Community School educates and inspires students to become exemplary global citizens with enduring Jewish identity, values and a commitment to the State of Israel, through a college preparatory curriculum and meaningful co-curricular experiences guided by Orthodox teachings and set within a nurturing, diverse community. Scheck Hillel is one of the world’s largest Jewish community day schools and a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.

Scheck Hillel Community School Nativ Program Overview

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PROGRAM OVERVIEW ABOUT NATIV Nativ serves students in Grades 1-5 whose language-based learning disabilities require the structure of small-group instruction and multi-sensory learning approaches. Specific disabilities in this category include dyslexia, writing difficulties, auditory processing and math disorders. Nativ educators view their students as unique individuals, designing learning plans accordingly and guiding each child on a path toward academic independence and confidence.

As students progress in skills acquisition and reach established developmental goals, the Middle School Transition Program (Grades 6-8) places them in the appropriate mainstream classes while still delivering specialized instruction in language arts and math.

Admission to Nativ is based on a current comprehensive neuro-psychological evaluation.

NATIV STUDENT PROFILE A candidate for Nativ is bright and excels in many areas, but finds reading and written language challenging. The child can thrive in a language-based program that targets areas of need. A Nativ student is often involved in extracurricular activities like school government, community service, athletics and the arts.

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PROGRAM LEADERSHIP EILEEN HAZAN GINZBURG, SCHECK HILLEL DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROGRAMS Eileen Hazan Ginzburg leads Nativ and brings to the program her expertise in assessment, diagnostic teaching and staff coaching. Under her leadership, Nativ educators work collaboratively with therapists and parents to create personalized plans for their students. Eileen is an energetic team leader and advocate on behalf of Scheck Hillel’s Nativ students. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in medical science from Emory University’s Department of Communicative Disorders. With more than 25 years of special education experience, Eileen serves on the executive board of the Florida branch of the International Dyslexia Association.

CONTACT NATIV The Nativ team looks forward to meeting with you and answering your questions about the program.

Eileen Hazan Ginzburg, Director of Special Programs P: 305.931.2831 x149 ginzburg@eHillel.org Scheck Hillel Community School Nativ Program Overview

MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM

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FACULTY COLLABORATION MAXIMIZES STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT Child Study

Nativ educators, therapists and parents work collaboratively to review a child’s academic and social-emotional development. This collaboration results in personalized educational plans and evaluation protocols. Communication between families and educators is essential. To determine the child’s readiness to move into a mainstream setting, the child-study team uses criteria including performance data, a demonstrated level of independence and the ability to apply executive functioning in a larger classroom setting.

Clinical Staff

Clinicians are members of the multi-disciplinary Nativ team. They evaluate students holistically to identify required complementary services. Their recommendations are added to a student’s comprehensive educational plan in consultation with the Nativ classroom teacher and parents. Sessions with clinicians are conducted in small groups.

Occupational Therapy Services

A licensed occupational therapist assesses sensory, motor and perceptual functioning of students in primary grades. The occupational therapist designs targeted programs to enable students to advance in these areas. Nativ’s occupational therapy is conducted in small groups.

Scheck Hillel Community School Nativ Program Overview

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MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM

Learning Specialists A licensed learning specialist evaluates students and provides additional remediation, enhancing Nativ classroom instruction. Our clinicians focus on decoding, fluency and reading comprehension skills.

Speech and Language Services Nativ’s ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) licensed specialist assesses speech and language abilities and leads small group sessions to enhance auditory processing, vocabulary building, expressive language, critical thinking and pragmatics.

Professional Development Scheck Hillel educators participate in seminars and training to remain on the cutting edge of child-centered research and teaching approaches. Advances in neuroscience research, in particular, have had far-reaching, exciting implications for children with learning differences. Continuous instructional improvement is a hallmark of Nativ professional development.

Scheck Hillel Community School Nativ Program Overview

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ACADEMICS SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTIONAL DELIVERY The Nativ curriculum reflects Scheck Hillel’s Program of Studies with one key distinction: The structure of program delivery is enhanced to serve the unique needs of Nativ students. All the academic, social, emotional and behavioral supports are woven into the program, regardless of content area.

Nativ is not a “one-size-fits-all” program. Educators take great care to evaluate and design personalized learning plans targeting each child’s unique goals.

Nativ classrooms best exemplify the blended learning approach, where students receive direct instruction from the lead teacher, reinforcement from a paraprofessional, and also work independently using technology to reinforce related skills.

Executive Functioning Executive functioning allows students to organize, plan and complete tasks.

These skills include paying attention, organizing and planning, initiating and staying focused on tasks, regulating emotions and self-monitoring. Nativ educators integrate these essential skills across subject areas.

Reading, Language and Literacy Current research demonstrates the value of explicit, structured language teaching for students with language-based learning differences. Nativ incorporates multi-sensory, research-based strategies to teach reading.

Students learn letters and sounds using their eyes, ears and bodies; concurrently, they learn reading and spelling rules to decode and encode language. Reading fluency, which leads to comprehension, is also emphasized.

Assistive technology is utilized selectively to support students in achieving learning objectives.

Scheck Hillel Community School Nativ Program Overview

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ACADEMICS Mathematics

Students with language-based learning difficulties can also find challenges with the language of mathematics. Our multi-sensory program enables students to investigate concepts utilizing manipulatives and real life situations.

Students are assessed to determine their current level of knowledge and an appropriate plan is created. Instruction takes place in a small group setting with computer based reinforcement. These blended learning opportunities enable our students to advance and even accelerate in the area of math.

Design/STEAM

In the I Lab, students are introduced to the innovative world of technology in a safe and developmentally appropriate manner. Students utilize laptops, tablets, 3-D printers, green screens, a maker-wall, interactive white boards and web-based applications to enhance and expand classroom learning.

Social Studies

Nativ students learn about the many facets of a global society, including the role they play in their community. They are integrated with their mainstream peers in annual field trips and experiences that bring classroom learning to life.

Science

As an adjunct to classroom learning, Nativ students participate in a weekly science lab. The hands-on approach stimulates inquiry and curiosity. Students collaborate to form hypotheses, perform experiments, record observations and reach conclusions.

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JEWISH LIFE FOSTERING IDENTITY: JUDAIC STUDIES AND HEBREW LANGUAGE PROGRAM Scheck Hillel students are immersed in a dynamic and exciting Judaic Studies and Hebrew Language program, through which they explore, discover and internalize their Jewish heritage and roots. Nativ students take part in all program components, developing Hebrew language skills that enable them to pray from their Siddurim (prayer books) in Grade 1, and progress to their Chumashim (Bibles) in Grade 2. They are introduced to Hebrew print only when developmentally appropriate. Weekly Kabbalat Shabbat, daily Tefilah (prayer) and celebration of chagim (holidays) complement a joyful Jewish experience.

Scheck Hillel Community School Nativ Program Overview

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CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMS Arts and Athletics

From flag football to soccer, many students participate in Scheck Hillel’s athletics program. Sports play an integral role in teaching the whole child, fostering strength of character and school pride.

The Jordan Alexander Ressler Arts Program provides Scheck Hillel students with creative outlets in the visual and performing arts. Whether a child’s passion is learning to play the violin, paint a masterpiece, star in a musical theater production or work behind the scenes as part of the tech crew, there is a place for everyone. Nativ students continually demonstrate excellence in Scheck Hillel performances and artistic genres.

Field Trips & Overnight Travel Experiential learning takes place beyond Nativ’s classrooms. Students participate in overnight adventures like Shabbatonim and field trips to further reinforce classroom instruction alongside their peers.

Scheck Hillel Community School Nativ Program Overview

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FAMILY REFLECTIONS “Nativ has the most supportive teachers who saw the potential in me that I couldn’t see... I will be always grateful to this program.”

-Student/Jaime & Raquel Gilinski Hillel Ambassador “Nativ was the best academic environment for my son - small and customized to fit each student’s needs. We will be forever grateful for the staff’s relentless support and encouragement.”

-Parent “Thank you for providing my children with individualized attention and direct specialized instruction, and for bringing out the best in them! The academic growth and development of both of my children exceeded my greatest expectations.”

–Parent “Our children never felt like they were in a specialized parallel reading program; they only felt like they were learning and succeeding! Nothing can replace the confidence and happiness that their success in learning has brought them!”

-Parent “Receiving a Jewish education is very important to us. We were very happy to see how, at his own pace, our son was able to master new vocabulary in Hebrew and learn to participate in Tefilah and our Jewish traditions.”

-Parent

Juda and Maria Diener Lower School Samuel and Henrietta Scheck Middle School Ben Lipson Upper School From early childhood through Grade 12, Scheck Hillel Community School educates and inspires students to become exemplary global citizens with enduring Jewish identity, values and a commitment to the State of Israel, through a college preparatory curriculum and meaningful co-curricular experiences, guided by Orthodox teachings and set within a nurturing diverse community. Scheck Hillel is one of the world’s largest Jewish community day schools and a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.

eHillel.org