Making it R.E.A.L. Blog

On a day when the winds roared through Orange County, the Hebrew Academy Community Day School's backfield transformed into the historic Silk Road for an unforgettable lesson in real-world learning. Under the guidance of Ms. Zahoryin, our middle school students didn't just step outside; they stepped back in time, becoming traders on the bustling trade routes that once linked China to Europe. As the wind whipped around them, mirroring the harsh conditions ancient traders might have faced, our students were immersed in a hands-on experience that brought the past to life.

The students, bundled against the wind, navigated their way through trading simulations, their voices carrying over the fields as they bartered goods. Far from being a m… Read More »

Little kindergarten fingers hover over a colorful array of mini erasers before carefully selecting ten unicorns and one rainbow. This deliberate choice marks the beginning of an interactive math lesson in which learning deeply intertwines with play and exploration. It’s only 9:00 am, yet the Hebrew Academy kindergarten classroom is already alive with the sounds of discovery and collaboration, and every eraser is a treasure waiting for them to explore.

This young boy is particularly engrossed. The erasers he has chosen are not just for play but serve as concrete representations of the numbers that dance in his imagination. With each eraser meticulously lined up, he embarks on a journey from the physical to the intellectual, translat… Read More »