The goal for students in grades K and 1 is basic recognition of some letters and vowels and to HAVE FUN!!!.
Build the usage of vowels slowly-- some students can only handle 2 or 3 for the first month and so on. When they are ready, add 1 at a time. If it adds stress, just focus on consonants and building vocabulary for a while. Vowels will come as they grow older and develop.
Teach about syllables and how reading Hebrew is different than reading English. In English, they are taught to blend straight across the word. In Hebrew, you blend down, end the syllable and start a new syllable. Many times, the last 2 letters is the final syllable.
Here are some fun interactive materials to correspond to our HSBS Packets: