Education

Wed, 19 Jul 2006 12:34:27 -0400

Here They Are! Answers to the Most Frequently Asked Questions of Reconstructionist Educators!
Developmental Introduction to Frequently Asked Questions of Reconstructionist Educators
Frequently Asked Questions of Reconstructionist Educators

The TEL (Teens: Experience & Learning) Post B'nai Mitzvah Program The TEL program brings Reconstructionist teens together for an experiential educational program framed by fall and spring kallot (retreats)at Camp JRF. In between the kallot, the teens pursue a series of activities with their congregational cohort and stay connected to one another through a TEL Facebook page. Each year the teens explore a theme based on one of the Values of Spiritual Peoplehood (first Tikkun Olam/Social Justice, then Hiddur Mitzvah/Creativity, then Derekh Eretz/Character). We began with 8th and 9th graders, 10th graders are being added this year (2010-2011). New congregational groups are welcome to join the program. Please contact the Department of Education for more information.

Learn about the 2011 Fall TEL Kallah

TEL Teens are talking – listen to what they have to say!

TEL “is a great program … It is meaningful, but at the same time understanding in a way that lets teens be teens.”

(In the TEL Program,) “we can meet with teens outside of school, camp or synagogue and meet other people up and down the east coast!”

“TEL is fun, and it gives teens the opportunity to connect with other Reconstructionists. Usually teens don’t really know what other Reconstructionists are like because there aren’t many around. It gives a unique opportunity to meet and make long-lasting friendships.”

“This is a great way for teens to get together and meet, and talk about important issues troubling our world!”

“The (TEL) Program was really fun. (At the kallot), “there was enough free time that we could really focus and find meaning in the programs. There was a great balance.”

“It sounds like it would be really boring, but even I really enjoyed everything, from the retreat to the planning. I feel much better about myself for doing this.”

Click here to read about the TEL launch.
Click here to learn more about TEL

JRF WEST Mini Camp
Modeled on the successful program of Camp JRF, founded in the Midwest and now in its fifth summer on The Aaron and Marjorie Ziegelman Campus in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains, JRF West Mini Camp at JCA Shalom brings a taste of Camp JRF to the Reconstructionist youth in the Western region.

Under the leadership of Rabbi Jeff Eisenstat, Founding Director of Camp JRF, JRF West is preparing its second season with JCA Shalom in the beautiful Malibu Mountains. The week-long camp for 3rd-7th graders will be held August 17-23, 2010. This summer’s activities will stress the wonderful Jewish experiential learning of Reconstructionist values along with great camp activities including zip-lining, horseback riding, swimming, gardening, nature, archery, ultimate Frisbee, drama, art, dancing and creating lifelong friendships.

The registration form is now online at http://jrf.org/jrf-west-mini-camp-2010.

Now in Development: Reconstructionist Readymades
Reconstructionist Readymades are lesson plans on core aspects of Reconstructionism that are “ready made” for a teacher to pick up and teach. A teacher’s guide and student activity sheets will be included in a self-contained packet. Some lessons will be available to pilot in the fall of 2010. Contact the Departments of Education or Development if you are interested in sponsoring a lesson or a series of lessons.

Help finding Reconstructionist-friendly resources here!

Reconstructionist Curriculum Resource Finder

The Reconstructionist Curriculum Resource Finder is an interactive resource currently in development that is intended to serve teachers, parents, and education directors. It offers a menu of Reconstructionist-friendly or Reconstructionist-compatible textbooks, story books and resource materials on each of approximately 20 major topics taught in our schools. Topics are searchable by author, title and sub-categories. Each resource is linked directly to the publishing site from which the item can be purchased. Users are invited to add commentary based on their experience of or questions about particular resources. As educators share questions and answers, the resource will become a central tool for Reconstructionist Jewish educators across North America.

Reconstructionist Education Directors: Check this out!

Reconstructionist Educators of North America

RENA is the professional association of Reconstructionist education directors.

JRF’s Education Resources

Adult Education MethodologyAdult Education OrganizingBat/Bar MitzvahCurriculaCurriculum DevelopmentDiscipline in the ClassroomFamily Education ProgrammingHoliday ResourcesHuman DevelopmentIntergenerational LearningParentingPastoral IssuesSchool AdministrationSmall School AdministrationSpecial EducationTeaching GodTeaching IsraelTeaching LiturgyTeaching Modern HebrewTeaching ReconstructionismTeaching TextText StudyYouth Group

Sign up for JRF's Education Listserves:

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Ed Directors
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Youthfocus

TEL 2011 Fall Kallah

Victoria Cangelosi — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:55:01 -0400

Please click the link below to learn about the 2011 TEL Kallah.

The TEL Post B’nai Mitzvah Program Teens: Experience and Learning

Victoria Cangelosi — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 12:41:20 -0500

Tel is the Hebrew word for an archeological hill, and JRF is using the word as an acronym for Teens: Experience and Learning. JRF seeks to create a true tel experience for our teens based on the opportunity to dig through first-hand “life-centered” experiences and sift out new, meaningful educational gleanings that are personally relevant to their lives.

The TEL program was created in response to the need expressed by Reconstructionist Education Directors for effective post b’nai mitzvah programming. All JRF congregations and havurot are welcome to participate if they can put together a “team” of youth willing to try out the program. As with most teen programs, developing a critical mass is key to making this program work in each community. We encourage JRF congregations that are close to one another to explore combining youth to help develop critical masses. The 2009-2010 year was geared towards eighth and ninth graders, with tenth graders joining for 2010-2011, and eleventh the following year.

This program is framed and anchored by two kallot (retreats). The first takes place in the fall and the second in the spring. They are similar to the successful No’ar Hadash kallot, and suitable for those who have and have not participated in those programs. Eighth, ninth, and tenth grade Reconstructionists across the continent will be able and encouraged to stay connected to one another throughout the year with a TEL listserv.

In between the kallot, JRF provides content for at least eight two hour havayot (experiential learning opportunities) to be implemented in each community. These are based on the effective havayah model of Camp JRF. Some congregations and havurot supplement the eight TEL havayot with more frequent programming (such as bi-weekly or even weekly gatherings). JRF is happy to work with congregations to maximize the effectiveness of this option and to connect congregations and havurot with the same structure.

Each community hires a madrih/a (educator/counselor) to help staff the kallot and teach the curriculum at home in the congregation. JRF will provide support in identifying madrihim (educators/counselors) wherever possible and will provide ongoing training and support to these people. JRF’s TEL staff also consciously empowers the teens to guide their own TEL group experiences, as well as to help shape the evolving future of the TEL program itself.

The havayot will generally be structured according to the following arc: two sessions actively learning about the topic or value in greater depth, two preparing for activities related to that value that the eighth and ninth graders develop (on their own or from a menu created by the curriculum writer, the madrih/a and the education director), two sessions devoted to doing the activity or action, one planning how to share their experience with their larger community and the final session creatively communicating their experiences to their community.

Each year the TEL Program focuses on one of the Values of Spiritual Peoplehood, which are cornerstones of Reconstructionist Jewish education. Examples that particularly resonate with teens include Tikkun Olam (social justice), which was the theme for 2009-2010, and Dereh Eretz (which we use in this context to mean character).

The 2010-2011 year’s theme is Hiddur Mitzvah (Creativity). Jewish living has always been enhanced by creative expression, beginning with the beautification of ritual objects. In the Hiddur Mitzvah year of the TEL program, teens are exploring how Jewish creativity - understood in the broadest sense - has been a tool for exploring and expressing Jewish identity. The havayot bring teens into relationship with Jewish comedy & humor, film & theater, literature, visual arts, and music. Teens will experience for themselves how each of these aspects of Jewish creativity has been and can be used for explorations of and expressions of Jewish identity. Each TEL group will create a Hiddur Mitzvah project (or projects!) that is (are) compelling to the teens. The projects may involve directly designing or producing a creative work, organizing a fundraiser in support of a Jewish arts organization, holding a book drive for your congregation... the possibilities are as limitless as the TEL teens’ imaginations!

At the spring kallah, the TEL teens are reunited with old friends in person and have the opportunity to share the learning they did over the course of the year. They will then be able to deepen their social relationships and learning with another layer of culminating experiences and activities.

Congregations interested in learning more about the TEL program should call or e-mail Rabbi Erin Hirsh, JRF Director of Education at 215-885-5601 extension 16.

The JRF is grateful to the Schocken Foundation for funding the TEL program.

Educator Resource Study Packet

Rabbi Shawn Zevit — Tue, 18 May 2010 14:10:09 -0400

A collection of some of the best quality and most-readable articles about Reconstructionist Jewish education that have appeared in JRF publications over the years.