Sep 13
Shorashim (‘roots’ for nursery) and Shteelim (‘saplings’ for Kindergarten) are starting the year off on the right comunal foot. On our very first day together, children were already practicing talking and listening to a partner. We read a story where a whole community works together to help a child make her family’s Rosh Hashanah (Jewish …
May 20
It’s hard to believe that we only have a few weeks left before we say goodbye for the summer. Nitzanim children are beginning to reflect on all of the learning, playing, and growing we’ve done as a community this year. Today we started working on a final project that makes visible the immense kindness and …
Oct 22
What makes us feel like this?!? Rainbow writing! It’s all the rage in Beit Nitzanim right now. First grade writers are working on meticulously copying the shapes of Hebrew letters both in print and in script. It started with one kiddo who really loves to write and didn’t find any Hebrew games on the shelves …
Oct 19
We have been SO busy in Beit Anafim v’Alonim (“branches” for 4th grade and “oak trees” for 5th and 6th grades)! Between launching our Sukkat Shlomecha community project, exploring a new perek in our Ya’akov v’Esav theme, and developing our skills as learning partners for studying ivrit and biblical text, the children in Anafim v’Alonim …
Oct 11
In Shorashim (‘roots’ for nursery) and Shteelim (‘saplings’ kindergarten), we are starting to feel like a community. When someone is absent, other children ask, “when are they coming back?”, and say, “I wanted to play with them today”. We introduced the various jobs that children might have, so they have started to work on caring for each other …
Sep 19
Sometimes, I look around Beit Nitzanim (“Buds” for first grade), sigh, and think that something magical has happened. On Monday, when I looked around during זמן עברית (zeman Ivrit–Hebrew time), all eight children were paired, spread around the space, working on different Hebrew challenges. And as magical as it may have felt, it really isn’t magical at all. …
May 24
In Shteelim (“Saplings” for Kindergarten) we have been reflecting on the ways we like playing and exploring at the Jewish Enrichment Center. One thing that I was not surprised to hear children talk about is collaboration, that they like playing and exploring together. When we use our talking stick, we are collaborating on having a …
May 10
Social relationships are PRIMARY in middle school. Kids care a lot about who they work with. Yet, this week, when we launched our year-end project, something beautiful happened: middle schoolers paired up based on the content they were excited about, not with their closest friends. Pairs who’ve been working together all year split up, and new pairs formed – without …
Apr 30
The end-of-year atmosphere has settled in Beit Nitzanim. Everywhere I looked yesterday, children were working with confidence and autonomy. No task is too difficult for these incredible kids. Just watch them show off everything they can do! Write a new question or idea about אונאת דברים (Ona’at Devarim–Hurting with words) on our documentation wall? No problem. …
Mar 26
Nitzanim are preparing for פסח (Pesach–Passover) this week by… practicing singing מה נשתנה (Mah Nishtanah–The Four Questions), playing “14 Parts of the Seder” card games, or completing the קדש ורחץ (Kadesh Urchatz) team challenge, What’s the best part of Pesach prep? Doing it together! Just look at those gorgeous moments of support, sharing, and partnership.
