There are so many moments in a day when ענפים (Anafim– “branches” for 3rd-4th grade children) help each other with careful listening. For example:
Carefully listening as a peer practices reading accurately, to catch mistakes and celebrate new progress
Carefully listening, asking follow-up questions, and filming, as a peer presents his building of a scene from בראשית (bereishit– literally “In the beginning,” the Hebrew title for the book of Genesis).
Listening to a peer’s interpretation of a complicated new text, to add supporting details.
This is one of the many skills we work on together as part of a practice of חברותא (chavruta- learning partnership) in ענפים (Anafim). Careful listening helps everyone– the speakers get great feedback, and the listeners get to practice mentorship and get an inside perspective on someone else’s thought process. What a deal!
