For schools

Back to Basics in the classroom

Back to Basics is a chavrusa-based Sichos curriculum: students learn in pairs, think for themselves and work out the answers on their own. It is built for ages 14-18, and has also worked well with younger students and adults.

Each Sicha teaches the content and, at the same time, the skills to learn from the original Yiddish independently.

Teacher's Guides Email us about class sets

The program at a glance

Every part of the curriculum serves one of three goals.

The goals

Skills: learn a Yiddish Sicha on your own and understand it well.
Content: master the Sichos studied in the curriculum.
Lessons: identify with the Rebbe's horaos and apply them to daily life.

Steps for achievement

A new skill each week, from Sicha structure and the rules of Yiddish to key words and concepts. Includes word lists, a laminated card of the 100 most-used words, a linear-translation section and a fold-out Yiddish-rules flap.
A full English translation matched to each Yiddish paragraph, with footnotes on concepts, facts and history.
Letters of the Rebbe, personal review questions, discussion topics, stories and creative-writing ideas for the teacher.

Assessment

Students read with each other and with the teacher, and complete a weekly skills review page. The "Getting started" section can be required reading each week.
Review questions and a flowchart at the back of each Sicha, plus suggested biweekly or monthly tests.
Discussion topics, stories and other material help the teacher bring each lesson home.