Educators

#BlogElul 2013 Day 3, Bless

We have not been a family to undertake the blessing over the children on Shabbat. I don’t really know why. There was fuss when we tried, and it never felt that it quite fit. Or perhaps when they were little I allowed myself to become too aggravated over the chores involved just in getting us all to Friday evening in one piece.

#BlogElul 2013 Day 2, Act

So here is a confession I haven’t wanted to make: For a double-digit number of years I have kept a rented storage space, filled with items from several households (my own, and those of several family members, some still with us, some of blessed memory). And I have this even though I live in a reasonably-sized house that can accommodate a reasonable amount of what I will lovingly call junk.

#BlogElul 2013 Day 1, Prepare

My wise friend Phyllis (ImaBima) is blogging for Elul and I am trying to join in. The theme for Elul 1 is prepare, and that seems a good way to move into this time of year, even though part of me thinks that August is actually better suited to evading preparation.

New OLC Features Mean a Faster, Simpler Start to the School Year

We're Making it Easier to Add Students to the Online Learning Center Thanks to your feedback about your experiences with the Online Learning Center during its first year of operation we have added new features and simplified the way you add teachers and students to your OLC school space.  We’ve improved access, and made the whole system run faster. Our goal is continuous improvement of the OLC so you can focus on your role as Jewish mentor and role model.

What Makes Me Feel Jewish? Nine Questions to Guide Students on an Exploration of their Jewish Identity

This summer many of our students are enjoying the singular experience of a Jewish camp, and as part of that experience, developing a sense of themselves as Jews. How can we build on these experiences once our students return to us in the fall? One way is to help our students explore, and move from the kavanah and connections they develop at camp to a greater proficiency in and a deeper understanding of the particular elements that build a strong Jewish identity.

The Public Health Problem of Bullying

Bullying is more than a childhood trauma; it is prevalent, harmful, and a significant public health problem. According to a recent article in the Journal of Adolescent Health, between 20% and 50% of young people are involved in bullying annually. That’s 4 to 10 students in a class of 20. Students who are bullied themselves are more likely to be depressed or anxious, achieve less academically, have a harder time making friends, and report more loneliness.

Make Your Family Services Irresistible

Create a spiritually engaging Shabbat morning service with Siddur Katan: Shabbat Prayer Book for Families with Young Children.  The service is targeted to meet the interests and needs of children ages two to six with integrated prayer, song, dance, Shabbat-related activities, and story time.  Parents or caregivers participate in the service alongside their children, infusing quality family time into the richness of Shabbat.

Planning Your OLC Classes for the Fall: Yes, You CAN Get Materials Now

We got this question from an educator just recently:

Washington DC Educator’s ‘Star’ System Promotes Hebrew Practice at Home

Hebrew homework or no Hebrew homework? That is the question. For the congregational school, it’s often a tricky subject. Yet as time with students decreases, and educators look for ways to spend the time they do have with students fostering connections and building relationships, the opportunity to use technology to encourage students to practice at home can be a welcome solution.

Bringing Camp to School: Are Madrichim the ‘Camp Counselors’ of Your Part-time Program?

Trained madrichim can help your educational program feel more like camp by offering opportunities for older students to mentor younger students and to step into authentic roles as young Jewish role models.

Enhance Your Prayer Curriculum with Visual Tefillah

Engage students in prayer with Visual Tefillah, a series of beautiful and thought-provoking PowerPoint slideshows to supplement Kol Yisrael and Hineni. Prayers are broken down line-by-line with text in Hebrew and English alongside dramatic photographs illustrating the meaning/intention of the words.

Add a New Element to Your Israel Education Program: "Made in Israel"

What do cherry tomatoes, Soda Stream, the game Rummikub, and a cardboard bicycle all have in common? They all have roots in Israel. And although Israel may seem far away to your students, you can help them see how Israel is alive in their everyday lives through innovations and inventions that come as close as their own kitchens.

Santa Monica Teacher’s Creative N‘kudot System Encourages Hebrew Practice at Home

After piloting the Online Learning Center this year in one grade at the Santa Monica Synagogue in Santa Monica, CA, Director of Education Lori Daitch is now planning to implement the OLC in all Hebrew grades. “It helps students reinforce skills and is a way for us to integrate technology into the school.” Nine Santa Monica Synagogue fourth grade students used Alef Bet Quest, OLC Edition this year, led by teacher Rae Antonoff who asked students to do the at-home exercises and games once a week to reinforce their efforts in class.

50% Off Certificates - 1 Week Only!

Get 50% off certificates between May 1st and May 8th, 2013*. Get ready for this year's graduating class or stock up for next year! Sale ends midnight 5/8/13. View and purchase certificates in the Behrman House online store (50% off will be automatically applied online) or mention this sale when you order by phone (800-221-2755). Presentation envelopes also available for $.50 each.

Improved Online Learning Center Now Serving over 5,300 Students

We’ve Improved the OLC! The OLC is just one year old, yet already we are upgrading, thanks to your feedback. You asked for easier, faster, simpler, and we responded with new features that are available now (with more to come on a regular basis).

Eight Steps to Help ADHD and LD Kids Find Control, Conquer Self Doubt, and Enjoy Success

Self-doubt kills happiness. This is true for any of us—and so much more so for our kids struggling with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or learning disabilities (LD). This is one of the things I learned from a recent talk by  Dr. Jerome P. Shultz, neuropsychologist and author of No Where to Hide: Why Kids with ADHD and LD Hate School and What We Can Do about It.

What I Learned at Songleader Boot Camp (and I can’t carry a tune)

I was in Boston last weekend at Rick Recht and Sheldon Low’s two-day Songleader Boot Camp (SLBC). I’m no song leader nor a musician, so why go? A couple of reasons:

The Best Thing We Can Do for Students with ADHD and LD

The best thing we can do for kids with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and learning disabilities (LD) is to help them find ways to manage stress, according to Dr. Jerome Schultz, neuropsychologist and author of No Where to Hide: Why Kids with ADHD and LD Hate School and What We Can Do about It. In listening to Dr. Schultz speak recently, it occurred to me that the Jewish educational environment may be uniquely suited to help all kids manage stress in their lives.

Our Ecosystems: In Balance or Out?

The metaphor of our educational community as an ecosystem is quite powerful. And it’s useful: it helps us understand that what each of us does is a part of a larger whole, that the pieces fit together, and that we need to understand the relationships between those pieces. But there’s a critical question few ask: is it healthy? Biologists tell us that a healthy ecosystem is sustainable. Like the circulation of rainwater, or the cycling of oxygen and carbon dioxide, an ecosystem is self-sustaining. That’s what makes it healthy. No subsidies required.

Testers Wanted: Teach Core Values Through Interactive Comics

This week, Behrman House is launching a prototype of an innovative comic strip designed to teach the core values of each Torah portion. The comic series, which is called “The Amazing Torah Tablet,” follows the exploits of Micah and Mollie, a brother and sister who face the daily dilemmas of middle school with the help of a magical Torah Tablet.

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