1,000 Words

A picture is worth a thousand words, or lots of amazing questions from your students.  The following photo is one that I put up as my wallpaper on my computer.  Since my computer is mirrored onto a screen my students are able to see it.  As you know, I spent this past summer in Israel and thought it would be a nice idea to show my students a picture of myself at the Kotel (Western Wall).

Please take a moment and examine what you see.  

Did you see....

• The Kotel
• A mechizta (divider) between the men and women's side of the wall
• My Modest Dress
• Huge Stones
• Lots of People praying
• Shrubs
• Plastic chairs

Here is what my students saw...

• The Kotel
• A mechizta (divider) between the men and women's side of the wall
• My Modest Dress
• Huge Stones
• Lots of People praying
• Shrubs
• Plastic chairs

AND

• That the picture is taken from behind.

This simple yet astute observation lead to a fantastic discussion about why it is custom to walk backwards away from the wall. As well as questions about how I felt when I was there.  For these types of questions and for my students, I am so incredibly thankful.  Their constant curiosity and awareness often leads to lessons that are beyond fantastic. Lessons I could never write or execute in as organic a way as the lessons that are created by my students.

I am also truly appreciative for the ability to recognize and embrace these moments.  For these moments strung together are what make me a better teacher. 

        So it has taken some time but I have slowly inched my way up to my soapbox.  As much conviction and passion as I have for my ideas and ideals,  I find it very challenging to write about them.  We are taught from a young age that actions speak louder than words, so I live my beliefs through my actions.  The ability to articulate them is a gift that I realize I must embrace.

       

      I have a firm conviction in the importance of teaching up in the classroom, especially in the lower grades.  This means creating reasonable yet high expectations as well as not putting a cap on what is possible for them to learn.  It is very interesting, but more times than not I encounter individuals that are surprised by the knowledge and abilities that my Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 2nd graders display.  I work very hard to create an environment and curriculum to support this, however I am not surprised at their successes.
     
      Here's why.  My students are very young and are absolute sponges,  They crave knowledge and have an undying curiosity about the world around them. I don't tell them that they are doing work that is on a first or second grade level.  They do not find it unusual to be working in a Hebrew book or doing worksheets, or even speaking in Hebrew in the classroom.  THIS IS THE REALITY THEY KNOW.  From the very beginning this was the foundation I set.  Why shouldn't I teach them information they are ready for regardless of age.

     I can already imagine quiet whispers from other educators who might argue I am pushing my students to hard to master higher level work or that I am neglecting to think about kids that may not absorb the content as quickly.  To those whispers, I would respectfully disagree,  I am not pushing them, I am creating a classroom and curriculum that inspires them to rise to the challenge.  In addition, those students who may take a little longer to comprehend the information will eventually get it and will also be at a higher level than those who are taught down to.  Meaning, one of my students that may be at 75 % - 80% comprehension or retention compared to his peers in my classroom,  is at 100% or more compared to the child that is being taught at a lower level despite the ability of the students to absorb more.

    The key in my opinion is to make the content fun and engaging.  

Whew,  I did it.  I am now descending from my soapbox.

Since the last time I posted, I have written at least 6 blog posts.  Only one problem,  I wrote them all in my head while driving or completing another task.  Weird I know.  However, with Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) approaching and my normal curriculum, I have not been able to make myself sit down and type my thoughts out.

ENTER A MEMBER OF MY PLN
LOCATION: HALLWAY

In the hallway yesterday, Drew (my principal) stopped me to offer encouragement and to clarify any potential confusion I may have about September's blog a month post.  The amazing thing about the exchange was how honest and real it was. I am fortunate to work in an environment where this is the norm, but I still realize how special it is.  As you may know, from reading my last post, I have a type A personality.  Drew knows me so well that he told me to be myself and to blog for myself, a perfect specimen of a blog was not necessary.  (DING DING DING:PERFECTLY IMPERFECT).   This kind of familiarity with my personality and the interest he showed  in my blog inspires me to push even harder and continue to reach toward my personal and professional goal of creating and maintaining my own blog. Additionally, Drew's twitter feed and personal blog provide me with resources and ideas that I can apply and modify for use in my Hebrew / Judaics classroom.

TAKE AWAY:  MY PLN WANTS ME TO CONTINUE TO GROW AS MUCH AS I DO

ENTER A MEMBER OF MY PLN
LOCATION:  ISRAEL & GOOGLE DOCS

Other vital members of my PLN would be the teachers that I connect with all over the country that attended the Pardes Summer Learning Program.  We spent a month this past July studying in Israel, as well as providing each other with new resources that could expand our current practices and curriculum.  To maintain this PLN Pardes created a closed Facebook group, and a shared google doc that contains the resources we shared and / or created.  These include teacher created worksheets, websites like Sefaria, and even rubrics.  This network has allowed me to reach an even higher quality of curriculum then I had before. Specifically with my 2nd graders.  Last year what I was doing was great, but I still felt that there was a way I could streamline the presentation of the information for my students and take it to the next level.  Looking to my PLN of Jewish Educators helped me to find what I was searching for.

TAKE AWAY:  SHARING AND BRAINSTORMING WITH  YOUR PLN CAN ONLY ADD TO THE QUALITY OF TEACHER YOU ARE. 

         When I think of all the NEWS (new students, new parents, new books) that we encounter as we begin school in August, the first thing that comes to mind is a scene from the movie “You’ve Got Mail.” Meg Ryan plays the main character who states that August makes her want “a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils.”  This captures so well the magical nature of this fresh start…this new beginning.

         As I look ahead to my year I say to myself, “You are perfectly imperfect.” As a typical over achiever and perfectionist, I find myself wanting to always have the perfect lesson.  To have a worksheet or game executed exactly as I have envisioned.  Well…if you’re a teacher reading this, you already know that what I described above only exists in the constructs of my mind.  The reality is I am going to teach lessons that I wish I had taught differently, or worksheets that turn out to somewhat useless for the purpose I intended.

       It is at these moments that I will take a deep breath…and then another…and say to myself, “you are perfectly imperfect”, over and over again.  I know deep in my heart that I am always pushing to do the very best and be the very best.  I also know that may mean not being "perfect."  I must follow the advice I give to my students: Mistakes are proof that you are trying.