What’s NEXT?The Professional Learning Program for Supplementary School Teachers

New Excellent Teacher Training

Welcome to our summer series of classes!We are pleased to present this semester’s high-quality, intensive learning opportunities for Supplementary Schoolteachers. Some of our summer classes are in-person andsome are online and asynchronous – meaning that teacherslog in and participate in the class for ANY two hours a weekthat they choose, night or day. The classes are designed to address what is next for you in your own professional growth,what you need to know and what tools you need to becomethe teacher you want to be.

Through the generosityof the Jewish Federation of GreaterPhiladelphia, all NEXTprograms are offeredFREE to teachers in the five-county Philadelphia area.

Educators from outside the Philadelphia area are welcome to enroll in online classes for a modest fee.

SUMMER CLASSES

In-Person:

• Enliven Your ClassroomThrough Active Learning

• After the Hebrew Primer:Teaching Prayer to 4th-7th

Graders

Online:

• Problem-Based Learning:Students as Investigators

• Boot Camp for New Teachers

• Diving into Torah with Both Feet

• Special Needs in Jewish Education

• Art Works: Integrating theArts in Supplementary Settings

• Truly Welcoming Children ofInterfaith Families

• Hebrew Through Movement(for pre-K - 7th graders)

Except where noted, all classesare appropriate for teachers ofpre-K through 12th grade.

Registration and more

information can be found

online at www.gratz.edu/NEXT

or by contacting Rabbi Erin

Hirsh, director of the NEXT

program at ehirsh@gratz.edu or

(215) 635-7300 ext. 183.

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In-person class at Gratz College onthe Mandell Education Campus inMelrose Park

4 Tuesday evenings from 7:00 – 9:00 pm. June 17 & 24, July 1 & 8

Instructor: Dina Maiben, MAJS, Co-author: Z’man L’Tefilah & author: Alef Bet Quest; Educational consultant and doctoral candidate inJewish education at Gratz College

Once our students have mastered thebasics of Hebrew decoding, those ofus who teach prayer have fairly similargoals. We want our students to readthe Hebrew prayers with fluency, findpersonal meaning in them, and havesome idea of what they are reading.Authentic and meaningful prayer canbe difficult to achieve, let alone toteach. The question becomes, “Howcan we achieve all of these goals in alimited amount of time?”

Participants in this course will explorean approach that combines readingskills with some Hebrew vocabularywith discussions and affective experiences. From techniques for reviewing phonics and reaching fluent phrasing to methods that convey siddur (prayerbook) Hebrew,to explorations of Jewish ethics andmeaningful worship experiences,you will learn to teach both kavanahand keva – both the art and the craftof Jewish worship.

Online class begins the week ofJune 16, 2014 and will be four sessions long. Plan to spend twohours on classwork over each twoweek session. You may choose anytwo hours that suit you.

Instructors: Dr. Gloria Becker, Program Director for EducationalTechnology, Jewish Learning Venture& Linda Block-Love, MSM and MEd,Director of Educational Leadership,Jewish Learning Venture

Do you ever find yourself standing infront of your students and teaching"to" or "at" them more than you wouldlike? Would you prefer to be the kind ofteacher who creates compelling andengaging learning experience for yourstudents? Problem-Based learningreimagines how learning happens in a classroom.

When you understand Problem-Based Learning, you will be able to develop distinct learning opportunities in which your students learn through the process of creating substantial and meaningfulprojects, rather than simply doingprojects that demonstrate what theyhave already learned. Your studentswill gain a new sense of ownership oftheir Jewish education, while your roleas teacher will shift from being the“sage on the stage” to being the“guide on the side.” This Problem-Based Learning class offers you criticaltools for creating more dynamic, vibrant and creative SupplementarySchool learning experiences.

In-person class at Gratz College onthe Mandell Education Campus inMelrose Park

4 Wednesday evenings from 7:00 – 9:00 pm. July 9, 16, 23 & 30

Instructor: Dr. Mimi Polin FerraroDirector of Education at Old YorkRoad Temple – Beth Am in Abington, PA

Active Learning is about capturing thestudents’ attention and keeping themhighly engaged rather than simply relaying information to them. The more we involve students in their own learning, the more invested they are and the better they integratethe learning.

Discussion techniques that keep allthe students talking and debating,games that keep them jumping androoting, activities that let them unearth meaningful connections for themselves – these are somehallmarks of Active Learning.Mastering a repertoire of these teachingtechniques will keep the students’bodies bustling and their brains humming.

If you want to “amp up” the level ofyour students’ engagement, you aresure to get a lot out of this class.

Problem-BasedLearning: Studentsas Investigators

Enliven Your Classroom ThroughActive Learning

After the HebrewPrimer:

Teaching Prayer to4th-7th Graders

“Next year's class will truly reap the

benefits of this class. This experience

has been a real eye opener for me!

I feel rejuvenated and excited about

the possibilities for enhancing the

curriculum and class lessons. I am

truly grateful for this opportunity.”

– Debbi SilvermanCongregation Beth El

Voorhees, NJ

Offered in collaboration with Jewish

Learning Venture

Online class begins the week of July 7, 2014 and will be four weekslong. Plan to spend two hours a week on classwork, although you may choose any two hours that suit you.

Instructor: Peter Eckstein, MS in Elementary Education; MA in Jewish Education; Director of Congregational Learning at TempleBeth David in Palm Beach Gardens,Florida & Technology Integration Educator for the Friedman Commission for Jewish Education

Studying Torah for its own sake is aJewish value. But when we learn Torahin order to teach it, we begin to explorethe text differently. We study with aneye towards discovering how the wordscan shape the lives of our students.

Focusing on the first four portions ofthe Torah, we will learn each parashaand then create learning activitiesthat will be ready to be used at thebeginning of the year.We will exploredifferent learning modalities and utilizevarious tools and technologies to helpus create an environment that will enable our students to find meaning in the text.

So, whether you are comfortable in the kiddie pool or are ready to swim inthe deep end this course will help youdive right into the wisdom and lessonsof Torah.

Online class begins the week of July 7, 2014 and will be four weekslong. Plan to spend two hours aweek on classwork, although youmay choose any two hours that suit you.

Instructor: Meredith Polsky, MSWand MA in Special Education; Co-founder and Director of Trainingand Advocacy at Matan

Supplementary School educators faceunique challenges in addressing theneeds of all learners in the classroom.This class will explore the ins andouts of select learning disabilitiesand developmental issues, how theymay present in a Jewish classroomsetting, and ways to respond effectively.

By increasing our knowledge of a variety of special needs (includingADHD, sensory issues, processingchallenges, and more) and the Jewishvalues with which to approach thesechallenges, we will discover how accommodating these students actually benefits all students in ourclassrooms.

Diving into Torahwith Both Feet

Special Needs in Jewish Education:How to Reach andTeach All Learners

Boot Camp for New Teachers

(and those with minimal formal training in education)

Online class with rolling admission.Eight 1.5 - 2 hour modules. Thesemodules can be completed at anypace.

Instructors: Rabbi Erin Hirsh, MAHL,Director of the NEXT Program &Rochelle B. Rabeeya, MARE, Coach& Consultant, the NEXT Program

Every new teacher wakes up in themiddle of the night worrying about setting up a classroom, planning forthe first day, organizing lessons, usingtextbooks and keeping everything engaging. This class will help you jumpinto Supplementary School teachingwithout feeling overwhelmed and offersyou a quick and solid introduction tomany core aspects of teaching in apart-time Jewish educational program,including child development, kehillah(community) building, classroom management, multiple intelligences,special needs, as well as syllabus,unit & lesson planning.

As a bonus, we will support you whenschool begins through an online groupspecifically for new SupplementarySchool teachers.

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“The course . . . which I took through

the NEXT Program online . . . is of

significant benefit to me in my role

as a Supplementary School Teacher.

I found the assigned readings to be

interesting, and full of ideas which

I can readily apply in my classroom.

The weekly assignments were

meaningful in that they helped in

assimilating the information and

ideas . . . the course reinforced and

extended my thinking, provided lots

of new activities and new ways to

approach existing lessons.”

– Ruth NewmanTemple Brith AchimKing of Prussia, PA

Offered in collaboration with the Lorraine

and Jack N. Friedman Commission for

Jewish Education of the Palm Beaches

Offered in collaboration with Matan

Art Works: Integrating the Artsin Supplementary

Settings

Online class begins the week of July 7, 2014 and will be four weekslong. Plan to spend two hours a week on classwork, although you may choose any two hours that suit you.

Instructor: Deb Krivoy, MEdDirector of Avoda Arts

Are you looking for creative, meaningfulways to help learners participate moreactively, have a voice in the classroom,and feel part of the learning community?Come tap the potential of the arts forJewish learning, self-expression andengagement. Experience how the artsembody whole-person learning and develop strategies for integrating thearts into your own teaching practice.When used productively in a classroom setting, the arts can focusstudents, trigger an emotional response and provide a catalyst forthoughtful consideration and discussion of an idea or theme.Through readings, visual response,group discussion and personal reflection, this course explores how the arts allow us to express both ourindividual identity and our connectionsto the broader Jewish community.

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Offered in collaboration with

Avoda Arts

Online class with rolling admission.Ten one hour modules. The modulescan be completed at any pace.

Hebrew Through Movement, which is both a curriculum and a technique, is widely recognized as one of the single best tools available to Supplementary School teachers who want their students to effectivelyand enthusiastically learn Hebrew. When you learn how to use HebrewThrough Movement, you will be ableto create a more positive and joyfulHebrew learning experience for your students in just 15 minutes per session.

Additionally, your students will buildenough vocabulary to comprehendcore segments of common prayers orrituals. The curriculum is fun for bothstudents and teachers. Students areengaged and enjoy learning Hebrew!

Hebrew Through Movement is an online course offered by the JewishEducation Center of Cleveland. Byspecial arrangement, NEXT is makingthis innovative course available toPhiladelphia Supplementary Schoolteachers.

For more information about Hebrew Through Movement visitwww.Hebrewthroughmovement.org

Hebrew ThroughMovement

Offered in collaboration

with the Jewish

Education Center

of Cleveland

Online class begins the week ofJune 16, 2014 and will be threeweeks long. Plan to spend two hours a week on classwork, although you may choose any twohours that suit you.

Instructor: Rabbi Robyn Frisch, MAHLDirector of InterfaithFamily/Philadelphia

Most supplementary schools officiallywelcome children of interfaith familiestoday, but what does it really mean tobe welcoming? Supplementary schoolteachers of children of interfaith families stand at the intersection ofJewish communal beliefs and valuesand the complex lives of children withparents who are not Jewish. We aretasked with cultivating our students’Jewish identities while simultaneouslynavigating the policies of our respective schools, our own personalbeliefs and values, and the need tohonor our students’ realities.

Using our own experiences and case studies, we will explore “bestpractices” for handling issues that come up with students from interfaith homes and their familieswith grace, respect and integrity.We will consider everything from thelanguage we can use to the ways wecan structure activities in order to beintegrate these children effectively. You will leave this class with a deeper understanding of your role as teacherto children of interfaith families, as wellas tools and strategies to make yourclassroom truly welcoming.

Truly WelcomingChildren of

Interfaith Families

Offered in collaboration with Interfaithfamily

“I greatly enjoyed taking the classes

offered by Gratz’ NEXT Program. The

classes were easy to access online

and the teachers really know how to

use technology to bring education to

a new level. I can't wait to apply what

I learned to my own teaching!”

– Naomi Bright LermanBeth Tikvah B'nai Jeshurun

Erdenheim, PA

Complementing Our ClassesPlease visit our website www.gratz.edu/NEXT to learn more about the other FREE components of the NEXT program.

Mentoring ProgramWe invite you to become part of our Mentoring program. You indicate your areasof interest and we pair you with a NEXT Mentor accordingly. The two of you determine the focus of your mentorship and set goals. You work one-on-one for ten hours (over a period of three months) to hone your teaching skills througha process of on-going support, feedback, and reflection. The NEXT Mentors are seasoned Jewish educators with extensive backgrounds in part-time Jewish education.

We are eager for mentorships to begin over the summer so that you are all setfor a smooth beginning to the new school year. Teachers of all backgrounds andskill levels are welcome to join the Mentoring program.

Individual Teacher Observation and CoachingNEXT coaches will come out and meet individually with you. Even those teachers who have already been observed by their education director will findthis to be a distinct and rewarding experience. Receiving support from someoneoutside the supervisory reporting line is uniquely beneficial.

Professional Assessment ToolThis assessment tool invites you to think comprehensively about how yourteaching reflects current best practices in multiple dimensions. Specifically designed with Jewish Supplementary School teachers in mind, it is online andtakes about 30 minutes to complete. Get started now at www.gratz.edu/NEXT.We will send you your results right away.

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“I am so glad I decided to

participate in the NEXT

Mentor Program. As a new

supplementary school teacher,

I felt I needed some guidance.

I knew the material and enjoyed

working with my students, but I

was struggling to create focused

lessons. My mentor worked with

me to discover the areas where

I needed help and was able to

share with me solutions and

ideas from her many years of

experience, as well as provide

feedback and guide me in

reflecting on things that did or

didn’t work. Since I began

implementing the ideas and

methods we discussed, there

has been an increase in the

students’ engagement and

retention of the material. I highly

recommend the NEXT Mentor

Program to supplementary

school teachers who are hoping

to grow professionally.”

– Abbey Midelton GanczRodeph ShalomPhiladelphia, PA

Supplementary School teachers invest time, skill, energy and creativity in their classes every

week. Their hard work is most successful when reinforced by professional learning, which

consists of ongoing education about pedagogical practices, more and deeper Jewish content,

ones’ own Jewish identity, and the needs and desires of ones’ students.

Gratz College has created the NEXT program for Supplementary School teachers through the

generosity of Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. Based on needs and priorities

identified by teachers and education directors, NEXT offers classes, mentorships, observations

& coaching, assessment tools and professional growth plans. To maximize the accessibility of

these opportunities, the exemplary NEXT faculty and mentors offer both in-person and online

learning experiences.

Please visit our website www.gratz.edu/NEXT to learn about our NEXT professional learning

opportunities.

ABOUT FEES

Within the Five County Philadelphia AreaThrough the generosity of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, all NEXT

classes are FREE to supplementary school teachers in the five county Philadelphia area.

Outside the Five County Philadelphia AreaOur online classes are also open to teachers outside the Philadelphia area for $75 per

three week class and $100 per four week class.

Teachers in Cleveland, Hartford, Milwaukee and the Greater Palm Beaches can now also register for NEXT online classes at special tuition rates through the generosity of their central agencies and federations. Please visit our website or request a location-specific brochure for more information.

We encourage central agencies and Education Directors to contact NEXT to arrange group discounts.

New Excellent Teacher Training

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