The Skill and Drill Book Who Can Use This Book?
The Skill and Drill Book is a new kind of workbook focused on building Hebrew reading accuracy and fluency. It follows the Sarah, David and YOU Read Hebrew Set, The Read Hebrew Primer or another primer. It is helpful to be familiar with the techniques introduced in the Read Hebrew Now program since the same cues and techniques are used in The Skill and Drill Book. At the same, time the Read Hebrew Now approach is reviewed at the beginning of the book if the techniques are new to you.
Once you’ve learned HOW to read Hebrew, reinforcement of letters, vowels and reading skills is essential to developing both competence and confidence with Hebrew reading.
How to Use This Book
The Skill and Drill Book is a flexible tool that can be introduced for review, skill building or testing. You can start at the beginning or select any exercise that is of interest. You’ll discover that it’s a helpful link between the primer level and reading Biblical text, prayers in Hebrew or Modern Hebrew material. Use this book:
- as a refresher in September to review skills
- to test letters, vowels or specific reading skills
- for adult education class for reading review
- to focus on specific Hebrew reading skills
- as support for reading the siddur or prayers in Hebrew
- as pre-Bar/Bat Mitzvah reading review
How The Skill and Drill Book is Organized
Four Main Sections
a) Basics
This is a warm-up section. Co-author, Lily Yacobi explains in a fun and friendly way WHAT you will be doing and WHY. To see what you remember after a short or long break from Hebrew reading, there are warm-up exercises centered on Hebrew letters or vowels. The Basics Section describes the ‘beats and baskets’ technique to ensure that you have a good understanding of this key reading skill.
b) The Workout Section
The Workout Sections gives students pages of reading practice and activities to build quick recognition of vowels, letters and word endings. You’ll be doing ‘beats and baskets’ throughout to build Hebrew reading fluency as you work through the Vowel Workout, Letter Workout and Endings Workout sections.
c) Readings from the Bible and Prayers
Beginning with the Vowel Section, there are Hebrew phrases from the Bible that are also used in the Siddur or prayer book, as well as vocabulary and sample texts. Sample texts are noted on the Checklist on page six of The Skill and Drill Book.
d) Checklist
The Checklist on page six makes it easy to see all of the topics in the book at-a-glance.
Use it to organize lessons or to find the topic you want to work on.
Online Supplements
Activities and supplements are available at www.ReadHebrewNow.com. The ACTIVITIES tab is where you will find copy masters to add to lessons. These same copy masters or activities can be used for extra practice. These activities are also useful for a quick quiz or to test a Hebrew reading skill.