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| How Aleph Champ was Developed |
A long, long time ago, (back in the year 2003) a young and energetic Chabad Hebrew School Director decided to expand her recreational activities by joining a local Torah Dojo karate class. One fine morning it dawned upon her that learning karate was quite similar to learning to read at the Hebrew School she was running. The parallels were incredible. First, both systems ran once a week, leaving way too much time between classes for any substantial progress. Secondly, at home, few parents were clued in to what the child was learning. They may have watched their child practice some karate moves but would not have known whether she was practicing a front, side or round-house kick. Similarly, you have the parent who tries to help with her child's Hebrew reading work but can't tell a kamatz from a koobotz. And last, there were students of all levels in class at the same time. With all these similarities, there was just one major difference.
In karate, students were motivated to progress, practicing for test dates with friends and graduated from level to level quite quickly. Hebrew reading at the Hebrew School however was looking quite different. Students were learning to read year after year, without too much motivation to progress and failing to read properly by the time they needed to read for their Bar/Bat Mitzvahs. So what was being done in karate that could be applied to reading Hebrew? When a student steps into a karate class, it is very clear what level everyone is on. The teacher is a Black Belt. Some students who have been studying for years are Purple or even Brown Belts. Beginners wear White Belts and there is a plethora of other colored belts.
The requirements necessary to advance from level to level is clearly delineated and the reward is merely the change in belt color, a change in status. If only there was some way to divide Hebrew reading into a clear color coded system with levels easily defined and attainable… |
| …And so the Aleph Champion Program was born. |
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