As Yom Kippur draws near, Limudei Kodesh teachers are presented with an opportunity to dive deep into the meaning and minhagim of this important day— all in just a few teaching days!
That’s why we’ve collected interactive teaching ideas that will not only engage your students but also help them absorb a lot of information in a short amount of time.
Start with a mini challenge! Hand your students a list of statements about the new topic and let them decide if each one is true or false—or if they agree or disagree. It’s a fun way to get brains buzzing and conversations started, plus it gives you a sneak peek at what they already know (or think they know!).
Example: True or False?
Pose a question with four possible viewpoints and let students physically “take a stand” by moving to the corner that matches their opinion. They then get to explain why they chose it, sparking conversation and giving everyone a chance to justify their thinking.
Movement + discussion in one fun learning activity.
Example: What is our main avoda on Yom Kippur?
Set the timer and have students jot down all the facts, ideas, or memories they can think of about a specific topic. Then, let them pair up to compare their notes and catch anything they missed. Wrap up with a class discussion to see all the memories combined.
Example: What are some minhagim, tefillos, or halachos that you remember about Yom Kippur?
Place important terms and questions on chart paper around the classroom. Students move in groups from station to station, writing down their thoughts and discoveries. It’s an interactive way to encourage collaboration, spark conversation, and turn learning into a fun, moving activity.
Example: אבינו מלכנו, תשובה\תפילה\צדקה, סעודה המפסקת, תפילת נעילה
Students write down what they already Know and what they’re curious about (Want to know) before diving in. Once the lesson is over, they fill in the Learned column. It turns learning into a mini journey and makes the “aha!” moments extra satisfying.
Have students write a question about Yom Kippur on one side of an index card and the answer on the other.
Next, students pair up to quiz each other, check answers, and trade cards. After some time, they find new partners and repeat the process.
As a closure, hold a debrief to discuss the most interesting or challenging questions created by students.
Starting the year with a positive connection can pave the way for successful communication throughout the school year. This isn’t just a formality; it’s an opportunity to lay a solid foundation between you, the teacher, and the parents of your students.
https://tuteachercenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Excel-grading.mp4 Spreadsheets make calculating students’ grades quick and easy. They’re efficient and can be easily updated if anything changes, saving you from redoing all the math. Plus, they help keep everything organized and accurate, reducing mistakes. With a digital backup, your data is safe and easy to share with the school office, making it simple to include grades on report cards. Overall, spreadsheets make grading a breeze! If you’ve never done this before, here’s a step-by-step guide to creating your custom grading spreadsheet. 1. Set Up the Spreadsheet Header Open Excel and in Row 1, create the following headers: A1: Student Name B1: Test 1 C1: Test 2 D1: Test 3 E1: Test 4 F1: Final Score G1: Grade You can adjust the number of assignments/tests to suit your needs. 2. Enter Students’ Scores In rows 2 and onward, enter data for each student. Example: A2: Aviva B2: 85 C2:
There’s nothing more exhilarating than a pile of marked papers. And there’s nothing more overwhelming than a pile of unmarked test papers. Testing and accurate marking are necessary to hold students accountable and give them the feedback they crave. Here are some tips to lighten your marking load and help you finish the school year paperwork-free! In General: Plan Ahead When creating your test, set up the questions to make the marking move quicker. Use more short-answer or multiple-choice questions. (Click HERE for more tips on creating tests.) Small increments Tackle five to ten tests at a time. Section by section Create a sample answer sheet and cut out the answers to each section. Put the answer key near the students’ answers to rely less on your memory. Magic Marker Hire an assistant or a colleague to help with grading. For Essays and Long Answers: Use symbols or
“Last day’s lesson? Sore topic!” says a fourth-grade teacher. “I can never predict how long the end-of-year assembly will last, so every year I end up either over-planning or under-planning the closure activity!” Navigating the school year’s close can be quite challenging for educators. With various school-wide assemblies and the need to wrap up the curriculum, finding the balance of a quick-but-impactful activity can be tough. However, incorporating one of the following interactive activities can transform the last days of school into a valuable opportunity to celebrate student achievements, share cherished memories, and strengthen the sense of community among classmates. These activities can be adapted to fit a time frame of 15 to 45 minutes, allowing teachers to maintain flexibility as needed. Craft On the last day of school, a third-grade teacher we asked said she wraps up the scrapbook page for the final bracha of Shemone Esrei. “Crafts are
Engaging lessons that fit tight schedules As Yom Kippur draws near, Limudei Kodesh teachers are presented with an opportunity to dive deep into the meaning
Starting the year with a positive connection can pave the way for successful communication throughout the school year. This isn’t just a formality; it’s an opportunity to lay a solid foundation between you, the teacher, and the parents of your students.
https://tuteachercenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Excel-grading.mp4 Spreadsheets make calculating students’ grades quick and easy. They’re efficient and can be easily updated if anything changes, saving you from redoing all the
There’s nothing more exhilarating than a pile of marked papers. And there’s nothing more overwhelming than a pile of unmarked test papers. Testing and accurate
“Last day’s lesson? Sore topic!” says a fourth-grade teacher. “I can never predict how long the end-of-year assembly will last, so every year I end
Creating Questions Create an outline of the material taught Mark “must know” vs. “nice to know” information. When creating questions, prioritize questions on “must know”
