|
September 2008, Elul 5768
Linking You To What's New in Professional Development
|
Welcome to the latest issue of PD Notes, the JESNA newsletter highlighting the latest developments in Professional Development in Jewish Education.
As we embark on a new year we welcome our new editor, Monica Rozenfeld, to our community and thank her for the fresh approach in this newsletter. As you will see, this time out we take a look at PD from some new angles: trends in integrating technology and the arts into educator training and a program which trains its teachers right along with its students. We also feature a profile of a young PD practitioner. It is our hope that you will take away from this issue an idea or two which will inspire and enrich your work.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
StorahLAB: Transforming Educators into Mavens |
 |
 |
 |
|
StorahTelling has made a name for itself since its founding in 1998 with a creative, performance-based approach to understanding and engaging in Jewish text. This approach is now being shared with educators and educational directors working in congregational, afternoon and supplementary school settings through StorahLab, a week-long summer training institute. StorahLAB offers innovative, hands-on workshops which coach educators on how to teach young people to interpret Torah and other ancient texts. The program includes a year-long follow-up partnership with participating schools.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
The PresenTense Institute Professional Development Seminar: Consultation on Building a Transmedia Environment |
|
|
|
This summer the PresenTense Institute held its first ever professional development seminar. The program was so successful it is now being replicated and taken on the road throughout North America and Israel.
Known for its creative magazine and 6-week fellowship program for young entrepreneurs, PresenTense added another dimension to its work scope: from June 30 - July 3, PresenTense offered a seminar in Jerusalem for leaders in Jewish life – including educators, lay leaders and program professionals - which focused on hands-on training in how to bring their work into the 2.0 world.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
Teaching Through Movement: Liz Lerman Dance Exchange Brings Text Alive |
|
|
|
Movement, Dance, Imagery, and Spoken Word. These are some of the techniques implemented by the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange as it trains educators in teaching text and prayer.
Known for their many performances, including Small Dances About Big Ideas, the company uses movement as a way to express Jewish history, text and prayer. The group travels throughout the U.S. and abroad performing and teaching in local communities. The Dance Exchange has recently initiated workshops for educators focusing on techniques for connecting their students with the emotional and personal components of Jewish text and history through movement within the classroom. This unique “take” on professional development has had a profound impact on the practice of the participants.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
Yeshivat Hadar Educating Students while Educating Teachers |
|
|
|
Yeshivat Hadar, a full-time, summer Torah and prayer learning program for young adults in New York City, recently completed its second year. Hadar provided a stimulating educational experience not only for the 36 fellows committed to the summer course, but for its educational staff and directors as well.
Aside from being the first egalitarian Yeshiva in North America, Yeshivat Hadar has created a new model for teaching and learning. This model combines traditional text study, egalitarian prayer and social action with a special focus on personal religious growth. Study is divided into three levels, and students are matched with educators who work with them in both group and one-on-one settings.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
From Mentee to Mentor: A Profile from the Field |
|
|
|
Meet Amanda Pogany – an 8th grade Judaic Studies and Hebrew language teacher at the Solomon Schechter School of Manhattan, the middle school Student Life Coordinator, a mentor to new teachers and, in her spare time, a consultant on pedagogy and curriculum.
Pogany, who received her mentor training through the Jewish New Teacher Project, is a graduate of the Pardes Educators Program with a Masters in Jewish Education from Hebrew University. She is currently a mentor for the Davidson School at JTS, the Pardes Educators program, and at Schechter Manhattan. Pogany shares with PD NOTES what it is that inspired her to become a Jewish educator and how she is currently involved in professional development as a teacher, mentor and consultant.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Transformimg Jewish Lives