listening – Jewish Enrichment Center

Apr 24

Starting Shavuot!

By Maisie Smith in Shavuot

In our spring theme, Shavuot, we are taking a close look at how Judaism has changed through time – from the Torah, to the early Rabbis, to Jewish people today (which includes us!). Children have been excited to share what they already know (“Yosef is in the Torah!”) and to see how their ideas and …

Sep 09

Words Matter

By jewishenrichment in Professional Development

Check out this new piece by Rabbi Rebecca Milder about listening closely to children. Beautiful and practical.

Oct 28

Building new skills!

By Maisie Smith in Teyva

As we dive deeper into our theme, תֵּבָה (Teyva – “Ark”), the children in Nitzanim (“Buds” for 1st grade) have also been diving deeper into their feelings and opinions about the text. One skill that Nitzanim has been working hard on is listening to each other’s thoughts and then saying if we connect or agree with …

Oct 21

An Ark in the Park

By Aliza Geller in Teyva

In Shorashim (‘roots’ for nursery) and Shteelim (‘saplings’ for Kindergarten), we have been meeting on zoom during the week and in a park on Sunday mornings. We’ve opened up our theme, תֵּבָה (teyva – “ark”). In the text, Genesis chapter 6 (found here), God tells נֹחַ (Noach – “Noah”) to build an ark. On our …

Feb 27

Cultivating Leadership Skills with Young Children

By Aliza Geller in Eliyahu HaNavi, Uncategorized

In Shorashim (‘roots’ for nursery) and Shteelim (‘saplings’ for Kindergarten), we have been working with a paradigm of leadership that connects to skills that the children are already starting to develop. That a leader is someone who works to make the would bette, using listening, partnership, courage and persistence. One exploration that the children have …

Jan 31

Who Does It Take to Make the World as It Should Be?

By jewishenrichment in Eliyahu HaNavi

For the last couple of sessions children in Anafim v’Alonim (“Branches” and “Oak trees” for 4th and 5th grades) have been exploring what their impact, their communities’ impact, and societies’ impact is in creating the world as it should be. Wow, the ideas were so powerful. A long list was created after children participated in …

Jan 17

Building Something Together

By Aliza Geller in Eliyahu HaNavi

This week in Shorashim (‘roots’ for nursery) and Shteelim (‘saplings’ for Kindergarten), we started our new theme, Eliyahu HaNavi. Our focus has been on people/ leaders working to make the world a better place. Many of our explorations involve listening and partnership, two skills/ capacities a person might need when working to make the world …

Apr 25

Talk with a Partner

By Aliza Geller in Pesach

In שׁוֹרָשִׁים (Shorashim– ‘roots’ for nursery) and שְׁתִּילִים (Shteelim– ‘saplings’ for kindergarten), we are spending time working on the skill of talking with a partner. When we spend time talking to each other we can learn so much! This time around we heard about an experience we might have had during Pesach (Passover), going to a Seder. …