Educators

Effective Stories and Storytelling

Stories offer bonding time with families, foster creativity, and build memories to be cherished for a lifetime. 

Come See Some Creative Sukkahs!

We previously sent invitations to join us on our new Sukkah server and we are impressed! Check out these awesome Sukkah's created in our virtual Minecraft world. Minecraft is a limitless game made from breaking and building blocks. Players can adventure on their own or play with friends on multiplayer servers.

A Young Girl Examines Inclusion

Many people in Harriet's new school will see her as the average, new 11-year-old student. After leaving her old school--and an old friend-- her reflective blog may have everyone thinking otherwise.  At Harriet's old school she had a friend named Eleanor who had a disability. Harriet began to notice that everyone, classmates, teachers, and even the principal treated Eleanor differently from the rest of her peers. But why?

How Can These 'My Jewish Coach' Tips Help in Your World?

Efficient Ways to Check for Students' Understanding

How can we monitor effective student learning gains? (Hint: it's NOT through standardized testing!) In a recent article from edutopia has the answer; formative assessment. Defined by Bill Younglove as "the frequent, interactive checking of student progress and understanding in order to identify learning needs as adjust teaching appropriately," formative assessment tracks student understanding so educators and students are aware of their learning strengths and weaknesses.

Resources for Talking with Students About Israel and the Gaza Conflict

As educators we are still struggling over the best ways to address Israel and the Gaza conflict with our students. 

Save and Save Again: Adding Students to Classes in the OLC

Many of us are well into the school year and have Online Learning Center classes up and running. In fact nearly 3,000 students and 480 teachers have already logged in this year and begun practicing and posting online. And more are getting started. To help you with the late additions to your classes, here is a refresher for adding students to existing classes in the OLC.

Adding More Hebrew Experiences to Our Program

When Ashley Plotnick, Hebrew School Principal at BJBE, Deerfield, IL ordered 345 sets of Ulpan Alef, we were curious: how was Ashley planning to use the Modern Hebrew folders? So we asked.

Hot Topics: How Does Jewish Tradition Define Beauty?

In 2006, Abercrombie & Fitch CEO shocked society by revealing their direct market - pretty people. Is this the fashion industry's ideal perception of our bodies?  From an early age our culture is taught that thin is the only body shape that looks good. How can we as educators help students understand that society's definition of beauty is ever-changing?

Take a Look at the New Hebrew Karaoke App!

Hebrew Karaoke has been downloaded hundreds of times for iPhones and iPads! Have you joined the fun? Take a look at the new app and how you can sing, record, and share the new Alef Bet song today. When you sing along with Hebrew Karaoke on your iPad you can add your own sound effects with a personal drum kit!    

Hot Topics: Should Marijuana Be Legal?

As Jews we are required to follow the law, yet our tradition tells us not to stand idly by when our neighbor is in trouble. Marijuana has evidence to be beneficial in treating certain diseases, yet is still illegal in many states. If medical marijuana can truly heal, then might its use be permissible?  Teens can juggle the idea of legalizing marijuana and the negative possibilities to develop their own view through the newest lesson plan from the new Hot Topics series.

Help Young Learners Set Goals to Reflect this Yom Kippur

Your young students may not be ready to fast this Yom Kippur, but you can help them understand the importance of focusing on prayer to reflect with this activity from Jewish Holidays Jewish Values Journal.

Build Your Own Sukkah on Our New Minecraft Server

When Minecraft broke into the educational world two years ago, teachers quickly enjoyed the creativity and problem-solving that students learned from such a simple game.  We enjoyed it too and want you to join us on the new Sukkah Server. Minecraft is a limitless game made from breaking and building blocks. Players can adventure on their own or play with friends on multiplayer servers.

Reinforce Your Expectations for a Respectful Learning Environment Today

No classroom is perfect. Any educator can tell you that; but our friend and Jewish educator Diane Zimmerman can help you establish routines to guide your learners. When students push the limits (and your patience) what do you do? Diane's number one key is to base your reminders on clearly established expectations.

New Hot Topics Series Kicks Off with a Free Lesson Plan

Our new Resource Libraries series, Hot Topics, presents a balanced investigation of some of today's thorniest issues, and provides opportunities for teens to develop personal responses to them.  Students will explore eight issues from a Jewish perspective featuring:

Hineni is Coming to the OLC and We Need YOUR Help!

The Hineni series has been a long time favorite for teaching prayer with meaning  and soon we will introduce Hineni for the Online Learning Center! We're looking now for teachers to sign up to be testers later this fall. Hineni for the OLC testers will test one of the seven modules that will be available for the OLC. The full seven modules will feature 35 prayers and blessings, including:

Welcome Students Back to School with Refresher Hebrew Exercises

It's been a long summer!

Videos to Help You Share Some Fun for Rosh Hashanah

L'Shanah Tovah! Get your classroom celebrating with these fun Rosh Hashanah videos.  Shanah Tovah Rosh Hashanah a la Hanna Montana Muppets Call Me Maybe- Chana Tova (It's in French!!)

Getting to Know You: Ideas for the Beginning of the Year

“My child wants to invite his friend from religious school to his birthday party, but doesn’t know the boy’s name.”

Prepare Parents for a Smooth Start to this Year's Classes

The new school year is here and we want to help you guide parents for a quick and smooth start.  Help parents (and yourself!) be classroom ready by including permission forms right along with registration packets. If your parents register online you can use a check box in an online form. 

Teach Israel

 Experience Modern Israel

New from Behrman House. Fly to Israel without a plane ticket.

Discover Israel

 Let's Discover Israel

Offer younger children an exciting and age-appropriate introduction to the Jewish homeland