Welcome to 6th Grade! 9/2/22
Humanities
My name is Naomi Forman, and I’m looking forward to another year as a 6th grade humanities teacher and advisor. Along with all of the returning Senesh students, we are lucky enough to welcome ten new classmates to our 6th grade community this fall. I know our expanded community will bring diversity and new perspectives, and I anticipate a joyful year of learning as the students move to the top floor of the building!
In Social Studies and English Language Arts, students can expect to engage deeply with texts: they’ll read critically for deeper meaning and draw connections to their own lives and the world around them. As we learn about ancient cultures in places like Greece and Rome, we’ll examine how history continues to impact our lives today. We will also focus on an overarching 6th grade humanities theme: “Finding a Voice.” This theme will guide our learning as we hone our reading, writing, and speaking skills, and as we listen and learn from diverse perspectives. I will share more about our curriculum and specific texts at Back to School Night on September 19.
Outside of work, I love reading, playing board games, biking, and hiking. I also cherish a good beach day and am soaking up the last days of summer sun! I can’t wait to connect with the students and learn all about their interests and hobbies as well.
The best way to contact me is through email at NForman@hannahsenesh.org. Have a wonderful long weekend!
Shabbat shalom,
Naomi
Math
Hi, I’m Katie! I grew up in Florida, but I have been living and teaching math in Brooklyn for 15 years. This is my 5th year teaching 5/6th grade math at Hannah Senesh. I am really looking forward to collaborating with the middle school team, bringing current events and our school values into the classroom, and teaching the students how math is all around us! When I am not teaching, I am outdoors exploring in nature with my husband and three sons. I am confident this year will be exciting and engaging!
Katie
Judaic Studies
Shalom! My name is Matt, I am the 5th and 6th grade Judaics and Tefillah teacher. This past May I earned a Master’s in Jewish Education from Machon Pardes in Jerusalem and Hebrew College in Boston, and this is my first year at Senesh – and in the classroom – after more than a decade serving as an informal educator. I’m honored to be taking this role over for Laura whom many of the 6th graders will remember fondly, and I am so excited to get to know your children and for us all to have this opportunity to learn together!
This year we will be studying the book of Shemot (Exodus) as well as rabbinic texts in our learning of the chaggim (holidays). I love bringing offerings and ideas from my outside-of-school life into the classroom – you’ll find me singing and teaching ukulele on Friday mornings, for example, and using big life questions to inspire classroom learning, such as: “How do we build a stronger community?” “What kind of society were the Rabbis trying to build?” and many more.
When I’m not teaching, you might catch me playing the drums or exploring Brooklyn with my family: Sivan, Aidan (6), and Elsie (1).
Please feel free to reach out to me any time with questions, concerns, or ideas of ways we can grow and learn together!
Shavua nifla (have a wonderful week),
Matt
Hebrew
Hebrew Heritage
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