Rabbi Solomon from Beth Meyer synagogue was the visiting Rabbi at Shabbat circle on Friday.
When he walked in the door of the K-1 class the three girls that attend Beth Meyer (including my daughter) were so excited they surrounded him, jumping up and down and making lots of happy noise. We had been working on a greeting card project in art, so a few of the kids made cards to welcome him and all the kids had signed their names. Then, the class dragged him around giving a tour of their K-1 classroom. They were so proud to show off their classroom and so excited to have him visit.
At Shabbat circle he began to tell a story about Miriam being the first to brave that first step into the Red Sea. Rather than it being a story that he told, it turned into a lively exchange, as the kids were familiar with the story and wanted to give their two cents as well. With all of the hand raising and back and forth, he did manage to squeeze a good lesson in there about how when something is hard but is the right thing to do, you just need to have faith and take that step.
Then the teachers and kids did the usual Shabbat circle thing, sharing what they had learned and achieved over the week. The first graders showed off their cursive, a few of the kindergartners read a story, and the 2nd-3rd graders read one paragraph each of their social studies essays on the Stamp Act. They sang a fun repetitive chant of the order of the Pesach Seder and the first and last of The Four Questions.
Rabbi Solomon's visit made Friday and Shabbat circle very special for my child. I thank him for coming.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Morah Erin
I thought I'd write a few words about our K-1 general studies teacher, Morah Erin.
First, Morah Erin has boundless energy. She is a self-starter and is not afraid to dive headfirst into a project involving lots of steps, mess, and effort. Our upcoming Purim carnival is an example. She came up with the idea to host a Purim event for rising Kindergartners and immediately started enlisting help to carry it through. It is an event that is mostly going to be run by the kids. They are working hard making games for the preschoolers to play. I do hope a nice group of the little ones come because I think they'll have a good time playing with the big kids.
Erin is not Jewish, but she has worked as an educator in local Jewish schools for many years. This year she has decided that she will learn to read Hebrew with her K class. When I asked her "Why do you teach at this school?", she said, "Well, for instance, the kids are helping me learn to read Hebrew. I couldn't get that anywhere else." In the parking lot, I heard her thanking a child for helping her read Hebrew today. She made him feel very special. I could see by the smile.
She also said that she likes the fact that she can spend time every day, teaching every child individually. When I asked her this afternoon what she would want me to write about her, she said that this is very important to her. It's her favorite thing about teaching a small class. R. doesn't talk about general studies at school. When I ask her what she did in school that day she usually talks about P.E., recess, and lunch. Yet I see what an improvement there has been in R.'s reading, writing, and math skills. I have noticed that she suddenly has all sorts of information that I didn't teach her.
Erin is not stern. Her classroom is full of laughter and chatter, but there is also discipline. She speaks to the kids and to us very honestly and without mincing words. I remember at the beginning of the year R. was very unhappy that there was a 20 minute rest time every afternoon. I went in with R. to ask Erin what could be done about my child's terribly unhappiness during rest time. Erin, without pause, looked directly at R. and said "Kindergartners have a short rest time every afternoon. That is a time for you to rest quietly on your mat. We don't play or read during that time." R. accepted this as the way things were going to be and hasn't mentioned it again.
While she maintains discipline Erin distributes pounds of goodwill, and encouragement to the kids. She can be sort of cheerleader-like. She's very perky. She is also a very serious teacher and is doing a wonderful job teaching my child. R. has woken up every morning happy to go to school.
First, Morah Erin has boundless energy. She is a self-starter and is not afraid to dive headfirst into a project involving lots of steps, mess, and effort. Our upcoming Purim carnival is an example. She came up with the idea to host a Purim event for rising Kindergartners and immediately started enlisting help to carry it through. It is an event that is mostly going to be run by the kids. They are working hard making games for the preschoolers to play. I do hope a nice group of the little ones come because I think they'll have a good time playing with the big kids.
Erin is not Jewish, but she has worked as an educator in local Jewish schools for many years. This year she has decided that she will learn to read Hebrew with her K class. When I asked her "Why do you teach at this school?", she said, "Well, for instance, the kids are helping me learn to read Hebrew. I couldn't get that anywhere else." In the parking lot, I heard her thanking a child for helping her read Hebrew today. She made him feel very special. I could see by the smile.
She also said that she likes the fact that she can spend time every day, teaching every child individually. When I asked her this afternoon what she would want me to write about her, she said that this is very important to her. It's her favorite thing about teaching a small class. R. doesn't talk about general studies at school. When I ask her what she did in school that day she usually talks about P.E., recess, and lunch. Yet I see what an improvement there has been in R.'s reading, writing, and math skills. I have noticed that she suddenly has all sorts of information that I didn't teach her.
Erin is not stern. Her classroom is full of laughter and chatter, but there is also discipline. She speaks to the kids and to us very honestly and without mincing words. I remember at the beginning of the year R. was very unhappy that there was a 20 minute rest time every afternoon. I went in with R. to ask Erin what could be done about my child's terribly unhappiness during rest time. Erin, without pause, looked directly at R. and said "Kindergartners have a short rest time every afternoon. That is a time for you to rest quietly on your mat. We don't play or read during that time." R. accepted this as the way things were going to be and hasn't mentioned it again.
While she maintains discipline Erin distributes pounds of goodwill, and encouragement to the kids. She can be sort of cheerleader-like. She's very perky. She is also a very serious teacher and is doing a wonderful job teaching my child. R. has woken up every morning happy to go to school.
Monday, March 2, 2009
What the parents like about the Jewish Academy
I've been asked "What do you like about the Jewish Academy?"
There are so many things that I like, that I'm just going to choose my favorite, and then encourage other parents to comment and add their own favorites.
My favorite thing about the Jewish Academy is the atmosphere of happiness. The kids are loved and nurtured. The faculty is warm and approachable. The kids love each other. Everyone is very nice to one another. The teachers and volunteers really care about the total well-being of each child.
I'll give one example that I saw while setting up for art class. A kindergartner had fallen asleep during rest time on a Friday afternoon. The K class rests for 20 minutes every afternoon. The rest of the class got up to go to Hebrew but Morah Erin decided to let this one child sleep. The child was obviously very tired and needed the nap. Rabbi Aaron came into the room and saw that there was a child still asleep on a mat instead of in Hebrew. He stood there looking at the kid for a minute, smiling, and then said something like "Kindergartners are so small. They are still our babies." (paraphrased) Maybe this doesn't speak to all parents, but it speaks to me.
It shows that while the school teaches the kids all of the things they are supposed to learn for their perspective grade, plus Hebrew, Judaics, P.E. and Music, they feel that for a kid to really achieve they must be nurtured, loved and healthy.
There are so many things that I like, that I'm just going to choose my favorite, and then encourage other parents to comment and add their own favorites.
My favorite thing about the Jewish Academy is the atmosphere of happiness. The kids are loved and nurtured. The faculty is warm and approachable. The kids love each other. Everyone is very nice to one another. The teachers and volunteers really care about the total well-being of each child.
I'll give one example that I saw while setting up for art class. A kindergartner had fallen asleep during rest time on a Friday afternoon. The K class rests for 20 minutes every afternoon. The rest of the class got up to go to Hebrew but Morah Erin decided to let this one child sleep. The child was obviously very tired and needed the nap. Rabbi Aaron came into the room and saw that there was a child still asleep on a mat instead of in Hebrew. He stood there looking at the kid for a minute, smiling, and then said something like "Kindergartners are so small. They are still our babies." (paraphrased) Maybe this doesn't speak to all parents, but it speaks to me.
It shows that while the school teaches the kids all of the things they are supposed to learn for their perspective grade, plus Hebrew, Judaics, P.E. and Music, they feel that for a kid to really achieve they must be nurtured, loved and healthy.
It's a common question "Are you still happy with the school?" Yes! We are still happy, and more importantly, R. is still happy. She is very, very happy and loves school. She never complains about getting up and going in the morning.
The kindergarten class is doing great. They are all reading at some level by now. They have all moved into the 1st grade math and 1st grade spelling books. They are all learning to read Hebrew and are each moving along at their own speed.
They are planning a Purim carnival for any rising K kids that want to come. I really hope that some of the preschool parents bring their kids to the JCC on the afternoon it is planned, because our kids are working really hard at making the games for them to play.
The kindergarten class is doing great. They are all reading at some level by now. They have all moved into the 1st grade math and 1st grade spelling books. They are all learning to read Hebrew and are each moving along at their own speed.
They are planning a Purim carnival for any rising K kids that want to come. I really hope that some of the preschool parents bring their kids to the JCC on the afternoon it is planned, because our kids are working really hard at making the games for them to play.
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