Every fall, the greater Washington, DC area's Partnership for Jewish Life and Learning hosts an area-wide Education Day. This year, the push was to include youth group workers in addition to classroom teachers, thus recognizing their role as educators in an informal setting.
The challenge as a presenter was to make my language inclusive of both types of educators without using awkward syntax or after-the-fact phrasing such as, "Oh, this would work for a youth group, too."
The topic of one of my workshops was Facilitating Group Dynamics: Providing a Safe Structure for All Participants.
After a great deal of angst, I stumbled upon an anology between establishing a safe environment in which to work with kids and building a home. In addition to the Group Dynamics powerpoint, I also pulled together an accompanying participant workbook. I hope you enjoy them!
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This is a program I shared at CAJE 33 in Burlington, VT this August. It describes an experiential program at Oseh Shalom in Laurel, Maryland, in which students explore values through creative writing, art, drama, music and movement.... and cooking!
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Now Available!
Judaism and Human History: Impact and Influence
This curriculum presents the history of Judaism as a dynamic, evolving, and pluralistic civilization, whose core spiritual values advance the Jewish mission of tikkun olam--the betterment of our world. The experience and growth of Judaism during its 4,000 year history shows the wisdom of its values and the importance of its mission. Typical religious school curricula focus on the question: “How should I be Jewish?” yet overlook a far more important question: “Why should I be Jewish?” The simple yet profound premise of this curriculum is that being Jewish is a time-tested way to become a better person and to make this world a better place.
This curriculum presents a history of Jewish experience, and includes an in-depth unit on the Holocaust experience.
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