Methods of Teaching Bible

• Shlomo Vilk

The course explores different ways of learning and teaching the sacred narrative. It will help teachers to improve their skills in how to prepare a curriculum, how to approach the student and how to inspire a class.

The ideal candidates for this course are current teachers of Bible at the Grade 7-10 level who possess basic computer and basic Hebrew reading skills.

The course includes the following:

1. What is a narrative, and what kind of narrative the Bible is
2. Goals and Methods in teaching Bible
3. Analysing different books of the Bible
4. Planning your year and your class
5. Ways of evaluation

Link to Registration Form, (PDF, to be submitted electronically or printed out and faxed)
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Best Practices: Early Childhood Education in a Jewish Context

• Lorraine Sandler
• Isabel Killoran

This course is open to qualified pre-school teachers with a minimum of 2 years experience. Not only does it speak to pedagogical excellence and "best practices" in early childhood education, but it has a very strong focus on the teacher, the child, the family and the community. This course attempts to help early childhood faculty see themselves as Jewish educators and as vital in the hierarchy of Jewish education. They are the first Jewish educators of children and their families and as such are required to look upon their contribution to Jewish education and Jewish identity in a very serious light. Intrinsically, all these components will serve to create a highly empowered group of professionals, confident and knowledgeable in the task of education required of them.

Link to Registration Form, (PDF, to be submitted electronically or printed out and faxed)
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The Jewish Oral Law

• Shlomo Vilk

This course is designed for teachers in Jewish day schools, grades 8-12, who are currently teaching Rabbinics, Jewish Philosophy, Halacha, Talmud or any other topic in the Jewish oral tradition.

The student will:

• Explore six topics through the eyes of the oral tradition
• Learn about the different layers and the evolution of the tradition
• Learn the tools for searching, identifying and analyzing sources of the oral tradition.

The topics will not be presented in a linear way. We will simultaneously encounter material from different countries, different time periods and different outlooks.

The students will have the opportunity to:

• Analyze sources in Hebrew and in English
• Access a basic Jewish library.
• Write 6 assignments and 1 project about different topics.

This course will not formally teach you how to teach the oral law. Rather you will develop this skill through our learning experience together.

Link to Registration Form, (PDF, to be submitted electronically or printed out and faxed)
Link to Course

Reflective Practice

• Pearl Greenspan
• Belinda Keshen

Why do I teach the way I do? A Course in Reflective Practice

The goal of this course:

• to create an opportunity for teachers to reflect both individually and as part of a group
• to examine teaching practices as a way of improving teacher performance, the learning environment and student learning.

The ideal candidate should be a classroom teacher at the SK-Grade 8 level.

The Educator will:

• examine philosophical and theoretical notions associated with this model of reflective practice
• provide educators with an opportunity to reflect on their teaching practices as a means of evaluating and improving the craft of teaching
• acquire techniques that create a classroom environment where reflective learning takes place

This course includes:

• journal writing as a means of self-reflection
• varied online group interactions and discussions
• practical exercises to assist in reflecting on personal teaching techniques

Link to Registration Form, (PDF, to be submitted electronically or printed out and faxed)
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Themes in Modern Hebrew Literature

• Yael Seliger

This course is open to anyone who would like to deepen their understanding of Israeli society as reflected in Hebrew literature. Participants will explore a variety of historical, social, cultural and political issues through an exploration of Hebrew literature written by authors such as S.Y. Agnon, Haim Hazaz, Rachel, Yehuda Amichai, Dan Pagis, Amos Oz, A.B. Yehoshua, Aharon Appelfeld, Savyon Liebrecht and other such extraordinary writers.

Some of the motifs which will be explored relate to the use of Biblical and traditional sources, the memory of the Shoah (Holocaust), the Arab-Israeli conflict and the trauma of the wars, and values transmitted from one generation to the other.

Throughout, the course participant will have opportunities to reflect on their own connection with Israel. This may be of particular interest to educators who are expected to foster identification with Israel among students of all ages, or anyone who wishes to deepen their understanding and delve into issues that are at the core of life in Israel.

WHO CAN TAKE THE COURSE?

There are no pre-requisites for taking the course. Anyone can participate.

The course will be conducted in English, however, all required readings will be provided in both the Hebrew original and the English translation.

Link to Registration Form, (PDF, to be submitted electronically or printed out and faxed)

Link to Course