This year Nahalal Elementary School and Elruah High School were visited by Mr. Michael Abramovitch, representative of the Sacta-Rashi Foundation. Accompanying Mr. Abramovitch were Partnership 2000 representatives Batia Shimshi and Zahava Laron as well as the guides for the visit, Hillary Lavi and Sarit Bar.
At Elruah High School, the visitors observed a reinforcement lesson in a fifth grade classroom and conversed with the English teacher Reuya and the school principal. The visitors enjoyed the lesson and were impressed with the school’s unique character as their hosts stressed the significance of the project for their school.
At Nahalal Elementary School the guests viewed an interesting lesson for sixth graders after which they met with the school principal and the English teacher. The guests were shown a selection of activities and products of the learning done in the school's fifth and sixth grades – guided by the supplementary teacher, Daniella, and funded by the English program.
The Partnership 2000 representatives were particularly impressed with the working process for book-writing by a group of advanced fifth graders who are not English speakers. Each student in the group, after choosing a subject for a book, writes it independently with the support of the teacher who provides ongoing guidance. During the process of writing the book, students are exposed to various language skills that enrich them and expand their vocabulary. This is a very enjoyable process for the students and for the teacher; its output will serve as reading material for all of the school’s students in the English library.
The field visit proved once again how the reinforcement hours provided at the school are suitably exploited. The school principals truly appreciate the project while the students are happy to be learning in small groups, which enables effective learning and fosters a positive attitude to language.