Oct 14
Over the past several weeks, we have been using several different strategies to build community through our screens in Nitzanim (“Buds,” for 1st grade). Last week, we imagined what it would feel like to all be in a sukkah together, and the children came up with words like happy, comfy, curious, excited, and cozy. This …
Oct 07
“Imagine that there’s no COVID and all of Anafim (“Branches” for 2nd-3rd grades) is huddled in a sukkah, and we’re cozy in our sleeping bags, and maybe Morah Sara and Morah Maisie snuck you a s’more. What would you want it to feel like in the sukkah?” Sounds like a dream, right? Well, Anafim thought …
Sep 30
This week in Nitzanim (“Buds,” for first grade children), we wrapped up the project we have been working on for the new year. This project has been helping us do the work of getting ready for a new year by doing what we’ve been calling “inside thinking.” We reflected on the past year and made …
Sep 24
!שנה טובה (Happy New Year)! Long time no blog. We’ve missed you! Taking the Enrichment Center online has been a learning experience, to put it lightly. I’ve been growing and learning with your children for quite a few years (thank you for letting me love them, too). So this change has felt like an even …
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. …
