primary school
Inspiring Confident, Curious, & Capable Learners
In our Primary School (grades 1-4), learning is child-centered and tailored to each student’s needs. Whether in the classroom, on a field trip, or in hands-on programs, our rigorous curriculum builds essential skills, deepens knowledge, fosters a love for learning, and equips each child with the tools to succeed.
Dual Curriculum
תכנית לימודים דואלית
Challenging Academics,
Grounded in Torah
לימודי קודש
לימודי חול
Judaic Studies Curriculum
Our limudei kodesh program gives students the foundational skills to become committed shomrei mitzvot (mitvah observant), and lomdei Torah (Torah learners), while nurturing a lifelong love for Judaism. Special programs supplement classroom curriculum, helping students build a strong Jewish identity and take pride in their Torah learning.
Tefilla
Students begin each day with tefilla, building fluency, understanding, and a meaningful connection to Hashem.
Kriah
Hebrew reading (kriah) is a core focus at Hillel Torah, building accuracy, fluency, and confidence in Jewish text study. Starting with letter recognition in kindergarten, students progress to reading with nekudot. As they advance, they apply their skills to longer passages from Tanach and tefilla, strengthening their accuracy and fluency as they prepare for Middle School.
Chumash
Chumash is the foundation of our Torah learning and our Jewish lives. Students begin Sefer Bereshit in 2nd grade and continue through 4th grade, learning Ivrit B’Ivrit (in Hebrew) using the Lehavin U’Lehaskil curriculum. They build skills in kriah (reading), dikduk (grammar), and havanah (understanding). In 3rd grade, students are introduced to Rashi, learning to read and understand his commentary as they prepare for deeper Torah learning in Middle School. Weekly Parshat HaShavua lessons further strengthen their connection to Torah.
Ivrit
Our nationally recognized Ivrit B’Ivrit immersion program, led by Israeli shlichim and native Hebrew speakers, fosters early fluency. Using the Tal Am curriculum in grades 1–4, students learn through music, art, games, and projects tailored to their pace and progress. This innovative program enables personalized instruction and real-time progress tracking.
Dinim & Chagim
From an early age, Hillel Torah students learn to observe mitzvot in daily life and throughout the Jewish calendar. Each grade focuses on age-appropriate yediot (knowledge), halachot (laws), and minhagim (customs), creating excitement and understanding around each of our הלכות and chagim
Navi
In 4th grade, after building a foundation in Chumash, students begin the exciting study of Navi with Sefer Yehoshua, exploring Jewish history and discovering meaningful life lessons along the way.
Chesed & Special Programs
Chesed is a core value and part of daily life at Hillel Torah. Through stories, discussions, and meaningful, real-life opportunities to give back, students internalize the importance of chesed, mitzvot, and community responsibility.
Learning extends beyond the classroom with interactive experiences throughout the year. Students celebrate chagim with displays, assemblies, and special programs that make each holiday meaningful and memorable. Students look forward to milestone celebrations such as Kabbalat Siddur, Kabbalat Chumash, and Boker Im Rashi, marking memorable steps in their Jewish learning journey.
Israel
Israel is integral to the Primary School experience, woven into Judaic Studies, celebrations, and daily learning. Students build a deep connection to Medinat Yisrael through stories, songs, and interactive programs that bring Israel’s history and culture to life. We celebrate Israeli chagim and special events, and students enjoy weekly time with our Bnot Sherut, who lead engaging activities that strengthen their love for Israel. With many Judaic Studies classes taught by Israeli shlichim and native Hebrew speakers, Israel remains a central focus, fostering a strong sense of identity and connection to Medinat Yisrael from a young age.
GrowTorah
The Joseph Kirschner GrowTorah Garden program fosters exploration, environmental awareness, and a deeper connection to Torah. This outdoor space (brought indoors during the winter) invites students to explore nature, connect with Jewish ideas, and experience Torah-based environmental learning.
“Hillel Torah focuses on teaching values of kindness, respect, and a deep love for Israel.”
2nd grade parent
General Studies Curriculum
Our Primary School General Studies program builds a strong foundation in math, science, literacy, and critical thinking while fostering a lifelong love of learning. Aligned with Common Core State Standards, our curriculum supports the whole child, developing academic and lifelong learning skills. Every Hillel Torah student is a mathematician, scientist, reader, writer, and orator, encouraged to explore each subject in their own way. Our “spiral curriculum” revisits key concepts with increasing depth, strengthens understanding, and reinforces skills at every stage.
Literacy: Reading & Writing
Literacy is a core component of our General Studies curriculum. Students build early literacy skills in decoding, fluency, and comprehension, progressing from “learning to read” to “reading to learn.” In grades 1-4, daily reading and writing blocks follow a “learn it and try it” model where students apply new skills through hands-on projects. Students build a strong toolbox of strategies to express ideas, analyze texts, and confidently communicate while exploring three core writing genres: informational, opinion, and narrative. We currently use the HMH Into Reading Curriculum.
In grades 1–2, daily phonics instruction using the Fundations curriculum builds essential reading and writing skills. Starting in grade 3, students shift to weekly spelling pattern instruction, further strengthening their understanding of the English language.
Math
Math is taught using the Eureka Math Curriculum. Students develop conceptual understanding and strong problem-solving skills by focusing on the why behind math, not just the steps. They learn multiple strategies, helping them approach problems from different angles and confidently apply their learning to real-world situations.
Each unit begins with a pre-assessment to guide instruction, allowing teachers to target support and enrichment. Students ready for more advanced learning are offered enrichment opportunities. In grades 1–2, in-class enrichment is with a dedicated math specialist and in grades 3–4, math specialists provide small group pull-out enrichment several times a week.
Science
Our young scientists discover that science is all around them. Aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), our science program uses hands-on experiments and engaging demonstrations to spark curiosity and help students explore the why, how, and wonder of the world around them.
Social Studies
Social Studies is woven into learning through Morning Meeting, and reading and writing blocks. Students explore national holidays such as Veterans Day, MLK Day, Presidents Day, and Columbus Day, learning their historical significance. In grades 3 and 4, experiential projects, including Chicago Fair (3rd grade) and State Fair (4th grade), build research skills and cultural awareness while teaching history and geography.
Specials
Primary School students enjoy weekly specials that enrich their learning and encourage creativity, exploration, and movement. These engaging classes help students think deeply, express themselves, and develop new skills beyond core subjects. Specials include:
- Fine Arts
- Music
- Physical Education
- STEM
- Library
- Science
Social-Emotional Learning
At Hillel Torah, social-emotional growth is as important as learning. Through the Responsive Classroom approach and the RULER curriculum, students build self-awareness, emotional regulation, social skills, conflict resolution, and emotional intelligence to support their academic and personal growth.
Students engage in daily social-emotional learning through Morning Meeting and classroom routines. Teachers work closely with the school social worker to create developmentally appropriate lessons that foster self-awareness and proactive self-regulation.
Primary School Hours
Monday-Thursday: 8:20 am – 3:50 pm
Friday: 8:20 am-1:30 pm (3:50 pm after Pesach break)
Early drop-off is available daily beginning at 7:30 am