First, a brief Hebrew lesson: Let’s all say, “Patriots Mispar Echad!” (“Patriots Are Number One!”) Once more b’kol ram (loudly). “Patriots Mispar Echad!” Tov M’od! (Very Good!) And now, about the zoo… My husband and I just had a terrific visit with a friend who, though not a teacher by profession, is a natural, creative […]

When Jewish educators adapt the classic “Jeopardy” game format for their classes, they call it, “Jewpardy!” What else?! In Kitah Gimel, I used an abbreviated version of Jewpardy to review topics we’ve been studying since the beginning of school. Instructions for my version are as follows:Make three columns on the chalkboard – a 10 point […]

Yesterday, I was greatly saddened to learn that master Jewish educator Peter Stark, had died in early January. I had the pleasure of working with Peter on several projects for CAJE (the former Conference on Alternatives in Jewish Education). I first met Peter when he chaired the 1995 CAJE 20 Conference at the University of […]

In order to help Kitah Gimel recall information from previous lessons, I’m beginning the class with learning games that require the students to move around and interact with one another in some fashion to demonstrate their knowledge. Students who were absent from a previous class or who need additional review in order to fully understand […]

Every so often, Shabbat begins on Friday the 13th. Unlucky? Not for us. My post from August 13, 2010 explains why. Please note that we’re not in the month of Elul right now, but rather the month of Tevet. No problem – it’s still our lucky day! Shabbat Shalom. Read My Old Post

Today, in my Kitah Gimel Hebrew class (Grade 6), we’re playing a game called “Syllables Count!” To set up the game: Choose a group of Hebrew vocabulary words that students are studying in prayer, Holiday, modern Hebrew, or other learning units. Choose words that have different numbers of syllables, at least 2 words per syllable […]

This is the first in a series of posts based on happenings in my 6th Grade weekday Hebrew class (Kitah Gimel). In these posts, what happens in Kitah Gimel doesn’ t stay in Kitah Gimel! Activities and techniques that work (and a critical look at some that don’t) are presented for you to take away […]

The Holidays are winding down. I’ve packed up my dreidel collection and put my hanukkiah back on the shelf. I’ve gathered the Holiday cards we received for one last reading before cutting off the covers of the Hanukkah cards to use as classroom visuals next year. I’ve saved a few from both the Hanukkah and […]

The Talmud teaches: “Who is wise? One who learns from every person.” Sometimes wisdom can come from an unlikely source. Right out of graduate school, my husband was hired by a large New England department store called Jordan Marsh. Even though he had earned an MBA from Harvard Business School, my husband was asked to […]