Group projects are a great way to bring energy to your classroom! The combination of autonomy, creativity, and competition inspires healthy productivity.Criteria for Success are crucial when introducing the project. List the requirements with a clear and authoritative header, such as, “Your Project Must Include.” When outlining your project criteria, ensure it includes a list of nouns rather than verbs. Supply oak tags and markers to inspire artistic students and allow them to express their creativity. Criteria for success are clear, specific standards used to evaluate whether a school project achieves its intended objectives. They guide students and teachers in assessing the project’s quality, effectiveness,and completeness.     Sample Group Project: Yom Tov YOUR GROUP’S SUBMISSION MUST INCLUDE:       Sample Group Project: Chumash/Navi YOUR GROUP’S SUBMISSION MUST INCLUDE: Download Sample Projects  

A High School classroom is an excellent space for growth-oriented discussion, even during secular studies. Bashy, a teacher of ninth-grade English Language Arts, uses literary pieces on self-growth topics during Sefira.  She sometimes brings in children’s books, too. The students love the lighter atmosphere that picture books bring. The lesson is structured just like all other Literature classes, and the theme, rhyme structure, imagery, etc. spark quality literary discussion.  She has some favorites that she shared with us: Click to download Oak and the Rose by Shel Silverstein Zebra Question by Shel Silverstein The Journey of Success by Nancy Hammel Download Articles     Books that can be purchased at national bookstores   The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss A typical Dr. Seuss-style book about a community of Sneetches who are divided into two groups: those with stars on their bellies and those without. Through the storyline, the Sneetches realize that their external differences do not define their worth, leading to a conclusion about equality and friendship. Brings home the meaninglessness of peer pressure and how people tend to perpetuate such an environment. Amazon Link     One by Karthyn Otoshi A book about a group of colored circles who stand

The end-of-year curriculum crunch It’s usually not more than eight weeks – ten, tops.  For some, it feels more like five months. For others, three days.  Approach any teacher during those air-conditioner-blasting, summer-fever-burning school days and tell her you need her class for an hour. She’ll either bless you or plead the verge of tears, promising you anything at all, if you just let her continue teaching for that precious hour.  What’s your core challenge in those last weeks of school – too much to cover or nothing to teach?  It’s all dependent on an endless list of factors, such as grade level, subject, class temperament or learning style, teacher personality, the interplay between Hebrew and secular calendar, and testing schedules. Throw in a few unforeseen circumstances, performances, trips, state tests, reviews, finals, memory-making, etc.,  and the short few weeks are shortened by another one or two weeks, at least.  A select (and much-envied!) few seem to have it down to a science, breezing right through May and June while others rush to cram it all in.  No matter your style – we get you – and we’ve got you covered.  Which one are you?  So little time and still