Back in the days before multi-tasking, networking, and texting, general studies report cards included a skill known as, “uses time wisely.” Since the amount of time for your class is predetermined by the school schedule, using class time “wisely” is a challenge when creating a lesson plan. The following suggestions are easy ways to use […]

In the spirit of Shabbat, let’s turn aside from the everyday how-to’s, what-to’s, and when-to’s, and consider Words of Wisdom from Rebbe Nachman of Breslov: “The Architect of the World never does the same thing twice Every day is an entirely new creation. Take as much as you can from what each new day has […]

Chances are that you won’t have to look far to arrive at a set of goals for each lesson. The Teacher’s Guide for your textbook may list goals for every chapter or lesson segment. Your religious school curriculum may include yearly goals for each grade level. The assessment tools used by your school are also […]

When you receive your packet of back-to-school information, schedules, class lists, and administrative paperwork, you will probably also find a lesson plan form. Whether the process of lesson planning is brand new or just review, let’s look at four key elements of the lesson planning G.A.M.E. G=GOALS – You might also say “objectives” or “outcomes.” […]

Shabbat Shalom. Beginning with this post, Friday posts will not tell how-to, when-to, and what-to do in the classroom. Rather, in the spirit of Shabbat, Friday posts will offer “words of wisdom” from Judaic sources and others. Take these words into your life, as you wish. View them as informative, inspirational, or even irrelevant -it’s […]

A previous post (8/18/10″ On-Time Oreos”) featured a weekly treat. In addition, throughout the year, the Jewish Holiday cycle offers a delicious array of foods that nourish mind, body, and spirit. Apples and honey for Rosh Hashana; donuts and latkes for Hanukkah; dates, raisins, pomegranates, carob chips, and Fig Newtons for Tu B’Shvat; macaroons, charoset, […]

Sometimes, it’s the smaller elements that contribute in a significant way to the overall classroom environment. For the past few years, my students have enjoyed “on-time oreos.” This snack began as an incentive for students to arrive at Hebrew class on time. With only 60 minutes of class time, a student who is 10 minutes […]

I went to my classroom today to prepare a classroom scavenger hunt sheet (Post 8/3/10 “Classroom Scavenger Hunt”) for the First Day of school. There are a number of different types of maps of Israel on the walls. Seeing these maps reminded me of a display and lesson that a friend, a very creative Jewish […]

Regardless of the textbook series we use, teaching prayers includes developing students’ basic translation skills. We expect students not only to decode (pronounce words accurately and fluently), but to demonstrate a level of understanding of the prayer text. To achieve that outcome, we teach word roots, prefixes, suffixes. The text books usually provide the English […]

Shavuah Tov! Many of my recent posts have described display models which can make you classroom walls an asset to every lesson. There is another type of display which is quite versatile – the project display board or tri-fold board. When opened up, these corrugated boards can stand alone on a table top or on […]