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- Table of Contents
- Resume
- Philosophy Statement
- 1. History of Jewish/General Education
- 2. Assessment
- 3. Curriculum
- 4. Language Development/Hebrew
- 5. Personal Development of Teachers
- 6. Collaboration/Community
- 7. Technology
- 8. Learning and Cognition
- 9. Evidence-Based Practice
- 10. Child Development
- 11. Content Knowledge
- 12. Ethics and Values
- 13. Instructional Methods
- Inspiration/Chizuk
- Post-Observation Reflections
For Reflections on Tefillah in Education, see Standard #8, Group Paper.
Below is a video I created to kick-off a 6th grade girls' Tefilla group.
Below is a video I created to kick-off a 6th grade girls' Tefilla group.
After a year of davening together with my 5th grade class, and hopefully better understanding and appreciating Tefilla better,
I gave them the article below, on the last day of the school year, to develop their internal motivation and emotional connection to continue to daven every day, even outside of school.
Dear ____________,
As you got up this morning,
I watched you and hoped you would talk to me, even just a few words, asking my opinion
or thanking me for something good that happened in your life yesterday.
But you were too busy trying to find the right outfit to put on and wear to school.
I waited again.
When you ran around the house getting ready, I knew there would be a few minutes for you to stop and say hello,
but you were too busy.
At one point you waited for fifteen minutes
with nothing to do except sit in a chair.
Then I saw you spring to your feet-
I thought you wanted to talk to me-
but you ran to the phone and called a friend
to get the latest gossip.
I watched as you went to school,
and I waited patiently all day long.
With all your activities,
I guess you were too busy
to say anything to me.
I noticed that before lunch
you looked around,
maybe you felt embarrassed to talk to me,
is that why you didn't say a bracha?
You glanced a few tables over and noticed some of your friends talking to me briefly before and after they ate, but you didn't.
That's okay. There is still more time left,
and I have hope that you will talk to me...
But you went home,
and it seems that you had many things to do.
After they were done you turned on the TV,
I don't know if you even like TV or not-
I think it’s not so good-
and you spend a lot of time each day
sitting in front of it,
not even thinking about anything -
just staring at the show.
I waited patiently again
as you watched TV and ate dinner ...
but again you didn't talk to me.
Bedtime - I guess you felt too tired.
After you said goodnight to your family
you plopped into bed and fell asleep in no time.
That's okay
because you may not realize
that I am always there for you.
I have patience
more than you will ever know.
I even want to teach you
how to be patient with others as well.
I love you so much
that I wait everyday for a nod,
prayer, or thought,
for a thankful part of your heart.
It is hard to have a one-sided conversation.
Well, you are getting up again soon,
and once again I will wait,
with nothing but love for you,
hoping that today you will give me some time.
Love You Always,
Hashem