Sweet
Continuing
AJE's Nirim
program kicks off
its second year.
RUTH LITTMANN STAFF WRITER
early 150 Jewish teachers and di-
rectors of congregational and
community schools went back to
class Sunday for "A Taste Of
Honey."
The event, held at Congrega-
tion Adat Shalom, kicked off the
second year of Nirim, an Agency
for Jewish Education program
designed to foster professional
growth among educators.
"In the second year, we hope to
expand opportunities for devel-
oping teaching techniques and
knowledge of Judaica and He-
brew-prayer instruction," said
Shawn Locke, AJE's director of
school services. "We also want to
continue to build a sense of com-
munity among teachers."
Last year, more than 250 Nir-
im participants attended a series
of lectures and workshops. The
will provide both an at- teacher's central role in the class-
mosphere as well as an room. Later on in the year, work-
opportunity for teach- shops and break-out groups might
ers to ask questions prove effective. However, it is im-
and to educate them- portant for educators initially to
selves more about maximize their control, she said.
prayers," Ms. Locke
Sari Cicurel presented a work-
said.
shop Sunday on video production.
As a result of last Cameras and videotape recorders
year's AJE teachers re- can be effective tools for instruc-
treat, songwriter and tion when students write, direct
educator Debbie Fried- and produce their own Jewish
man will work with the programming for younger stu-
Nirim program to dents, she said.
sponsor a pilot project
Karen Knoppow, a teacher at
called "Maayan Tefil- Congregation Shaarey Zedek,
lah: A Journey In Sa- likes the idea. She plans to help
cred Space."
her high-school students create
"It looks at ways to an educational video for fourth-
incorporate ritual into through sixth-graders.
everyday life," Ms.
`The kids might reenact the re-
Locke explained.
ceiving of the Ten Command-
New Nirim pro- ments," she said. "Or they could
grams will include a create a program on the Bible, or
monthly lunchtime on great Jewish personalities
seminar about family past and present. Experts say
education and "Reach that if you have to teach some-
To Teach All Children," thing, you learn it better. By
a series of four leader- making a video, my students will
ship workshops.
be teaching something to the
"As Jewish educa- younger kids."
tors, we must always
Alan Kantor, a teacher at Tem-
continue to learn and ple Israel, attended a seminar
to grow," Ms. Locke conducted by the director of edu-
said. "There are new cation at Temple Israel, Fran
Above left: Shawn
105 teachers who com- Locke plans for a
ideas, new perspec- Pearlman, who emphasized the
pleted the program re- sweet year.
tives, and we can al- importance of going "beyond the
ceived a $100 bonus
ways continue to learn worksheet and past the lecture."
and certificate of recog- Above: Nira Lev gets from one another about
Education, she said, should in-
off to a goo d start.
nition.
how to enhance the volve more than "frontal" learn-
"This is a voluntary
learning experience."
ing, and teachers ought to act as
program, which is why the num-
Sunday's Nirim workshops in- facilitators of the transfer of
ber of completers is so signifi- cluded a discussion led by edu- knowledge, not simply as dicta-
cant," Ms. Locke said. "Teachers cator Nira Lev, who spoke on tors of information.
have been very enthusiastic "Getting Off To a Good Start: Cre-
Mr. Kantor plans to implement
about Nirim."
ating a Positive Environment for a number of the activities Ms.
In the upcoming year, Nirim Learning Hebrew Prayer."
Pearlman recommended, includ- cr)
will feature educational special-
"There is a saying," Ms. Lev ing a classroom museum where 17.
ists from Detroit and around the said. " 'Well-begun predicts the students erect exhibits of house- C\J
country. New opportunities will long-run.' The greatest challenge hold Judaica and serve as docents. u cc „
include a Teen Teaching Network of the year is in the first week. All
Ms. Locke also conducted a co
and corresponding newsletter for research today says that when workshop on Sunday. Among oth-
educators of students in grades you come to the classroom, you er topics, she touched on elements 1—
eight to 12.
first have to teach students the of effective teaching, communica-
A Jewish Educators Learning most important rules and moni- tion with parents, creating clear cn
Minyan will enable teachers to tor those rules."
expectations of rules and creat-
learn more about tefillah, prayer.
For starters, Ms. Lev advised, ing Jewish classroom rituals rel- 15
'We're hoping that the minyan plan activities that preserve the evant to young children. CI