Teach Them Diligently
A Midrash on the Jewish Educator's Year
by Bonnie K. Stevens

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The perfect teacher gift. This teacher resource explores the intriguing parallels between the Jewish holidays and the educator's year, helping educators understand how the school year can be framed and shaped by the Jewish holidays. Each chapter—Fall Holidays, Hanukkah, Tu B'Shevat, Purim, Passover, Shavuot, and Shabbat—draws on the holidays' core ideas and symbols to help define, structure, and deepen the classroom experience. For example, the chapter on Sukkot—a time when we traditionally welcome guests—discusses ways to make the classroom, like the sukkah, an inviting, sheltering place rich in symbols. Attractive bulletin boards and a stimulating environment can help students feel pride in their classroom and excite them about the possibilities of new learning. Ideal for both seasoned and novice teachers as a back-to-school welcome gift, for Hanukkah, or as a thank you at the end of the school year. Perfect for teachers to read on their own or discuss in faculty development sessions. Contents The Fall Holidays: Looking Back, Setting Goals, and Moving Ahead Hanukkah: Building Jewish Identity Tu B'Shevat: Planting, Nurturing, Blossoming Purim: Teaching as Celebration Passover: Four Lessons from a Classic Textbook Shavuot: Celebrating a Life of Mitzvot Shabbat: The Jewish Educator's Summer SPECIAL FEATURES: Each chapter concludes with descriptions of other books, websites, and resources for further teaching ideas and information. An appendix offers discussion questions and activities corresponding to each chapter, for schools to use in faculty development sessions. Teach Them Diligently will help teachers see the new school year as an opportunity for learning, joy, and spiritual growth.