Lower School
Academic Excellence. Jewish Tradition.
Meet the Director
Shelley Lawrence joined the Sinai Akiba faculty in 1991 and became lower school director in 2001. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in history and a master’s degree in education from UCLA. In addition to her work at Sinai Akiba, Mrs. Lawrence has been involved with teacher training through the UCLA writing and literature projects and participated in the Thinking Strategies Institute in Denver, Colorado.
Warm, Nurturing Environment
Our lower school is a welcoming and secure learning environment for young children. With individual attention and encouragement, we help students discover a personal joy and interest in learning while acquiring disciplined study habits and building sound foundations for higher academics.
Strong Academic Path
Each grade level of our math program builds progressively upon a sequence of concepts and skills. Tools such as graphs, charts, drawings and manipulatives are used to deepen students’ understanding and abilities. We emphasize problem-solving, critical thinking and a comprehensive math vocabulary, so that math becomes a tool that children both understand and enjoy.
Through a combination of literature-based and phonics reading programs, students develop sound reading skills and a true appreciation for literature. They also become skilled writers, and are given many opportunities to express themselves through a variety of creative and academic writing projects.
Specialists in science, social studies, art, music, computers, library and physical education create stimuilating, activity based lessons with challenging, age-appropriate material.
Traditional Judaic Studies
Our Judaic Studies curriculum makes Jewish traditions and values a natural part of students’ daily lives, with an emphasis on Shabbat, festivals and prayer. The Lower School program utilizes the Tal Am 1st-5th grade curricula which integrates the study of the Hebrew language into all other subject areas.
In the earliest grades, students begin learning Bible stories in English, and studying Hebrew as a conversational language. Games, high-interest stories and age-appropriate activities empower them to read, write and use Hebrew in everyday communications.
In the upper elementary grades, the curriculum transitions from abridged Hebrew texts to original texts and Hebrew literature. Students learn to interpret texts creatively while also studying traditional commentaries, such as those of Rashi.
A comprehensive t'fila (prayer) curriculum enables students to participate fully in all Sinai Akiba services. Students not only learn prayers and traditional melodies, but also gain a deep and meaningful understanding of the ideas and concepts underlying the prayers. Students are then able to apply these concepts to their lives through discussion, art and storytelling.
