Teachers & Educators

Hot Topics: What Does it Mean to Not be Cruel to Animals and Still Eat Meat?

Humans are omnivores, and historically people around the world have consumed both plants and animals. What does Jewish tradition have to say about our relationship with animals? In order for us to be able to eat our favorite hamburger and chicken dinners, farmers need to raise and care for the animals that we eat. Jewish tradition clearly teaches us that we cannot be cruel to animals, but it is also clear that it is acceptable to eat meat, kill animals, and/or have them to perform farm work. 

Shoot Some Hoops and Tell Us: What's Your High Score?

We've refreshed your favorite primer, Alef Bet Quest, with a few new games for the school year-- how well have you done? After completing each lesson, a matching interactive game will be available to help students learn how to decode Hebrew.  One of the new games allows students to shoot basketballs in a three-point shooting contest. Students will learn to recognize Hebrew letters and vowels as they play through both Jewish cultural words and everyday Hebrew words. 

3 Ways to Engage Students this Giving Tuesday

On Tuesday, December 2, 2014, families, students, teachers, and community centers around the world will come together to celebrate generosity and giving. Here's how you can encourage students to get involved. 

Woman Rabbi Marks History for Judaism

A rabbi once teased that a woman rabbi was like an orange on a ceremonial seder plate used during Passover. Neither belonged. Rabbi Deborah Waxman thinks otherwise. 

Kveller is Right, Hebrew School IS Awesome!

Yes, Malina Saval remembers the days memorizing haftarah portions and growing up listening to others complaining that Hebrew school was a waste of time, but in her latest Kveller blog post Saval begs to differ.  Part-time Hebrew School educator, online magazine editor for Kveller, and mother of two spends every Sunday sharing her Jewish wisdom with 8th grade students.

Hot Topics: What Does Jewish Tradition Say About Gun Control?

Guns kill an average of eight young people under age 20 every day in the United States. Because of the dangers guns can present, proponents of gun control advocate for new laws that will limit gun possession, sales, and use. But while some want more gun control laws, others believe that the right to bear arms - granted to every U.S. citizen by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution - should be protected. 

OLC Secret New Feature: Get a Head Start

This past summer the Online Learning Center gained some new features to better suit your classroom needs, including this secret feature for a quick and easy head start to setting up your classrooms. As part of the changes we made to the OLC this year, there is a small, secret new feature for you to get a head start setting up your OLC classes even before you purchase your licenses!

Effective Stories and Storytelling

Stories offer bonding time with families, foster creativity, and build memories to be cherished for a lifetime. 

Come See Some Creative Sukkahs!

We previously sent invitations to join us on our new Sukkah server and we are impressed! Check out these awesome Sukkah's created in our virtual Minecraft world. Minecraft is a limitless game made from breaking and building blocks. Players can adventure on their own or play with friends on multiplayer servers.

A Young Girl Examines Inclusion

Many people in Harriet's new school will see her as the average, new 11-year-old student. After leaving her old school--and an old friend-- her reflective blog may have everyone thinking otherwise.  At Harriet's old school she had a friend named Eleanor who had a disability. Harriet began to notice that everyone, classmates, teachers, and even the principal treated Eleanor differently from the rest of her peers. But why?

How Can These 'My Jewish Coach' Tips Help in Your World?

Efficient Ways to Check for Students' Understanding

How can we monitor effective student learning gains? (Hint: it's NOT through standardized testing!) In a recent article from edutopia has the answer; formative assessment. Defined by Bill Younglove as "the frequent, interactive checking of student progress and understanding in order to identify learning needs as adjust teaching appropriately," formative assessment tracks student understanding so educators and students are aware of their learning strengths and weaknesses.

Resources for Talking with Students About Israel and the Gaza Conflict

As educators we are still struggling over the best ways to address Israel and the Gaza conflict with our students. 

Save and Save Again: Adding Students to Classes in the OLC

Many of us are well into the school year and have Online Learning Center classes up and running. In fact nearly 3,000 students and 480 teachers have already logged in this year and begun practicing and posting online. And more are getting started. To help you with the late additions to your classes, here is a refresher for adding students to existing classes in the OLC.

Adding More Hebrew Experiences to Our Program

When Ashley Plotnick, Hebrew School Principal at BJBE, Deerfield, IL ordered 345 sets of Ulpan Alef, we were curious: how was Ashley planning to use the Modern Hebrew folders? So we asked.

Hot Topics: How Does Jewish Tradition Define Beauty?

In 2006, Abercrombie & Fitch CEO shocked society by revealing their direct market - pretty people. Is this the fashion industry's ideal perception of our bodies?  From an early age our culture is taught that thin is the only body shape that looks good. How can we as educators help students understand that society's definition of beauty is ever-changing?

Take a Look at the New Hebrew Karaoke App!

Hebrew Karaoke has been downloaded hundreds of times for iPhones and iPads! Have you joined the fun? Take a look at the new app and how you can sing, record, and share the new Alef Bet song today. When you sing along with Hebrew Karaoke on your iPad you can add your own sound effects with a personal drum kit!    

Hot Topics: Should Marijuana Be Legal?

As Jews we are required to follow the law, yet our tradition tells us not to stand idly by when our neighbor is in trouble. Marijuana has evidence to be beneficial in treating certain diseases, yet is still illegal in many states. If medical marijuana can truly heal, then might its use be permissible?  Teens can juggle the idea of legalizing marijuana and the negative possibilities to develop their own view through the newest lesson plan from the new Hot Topics series.

Help Young Learners Set Goals to Reflect this Yom Kippur

Your young students may not be ready to fast this Yom Kippur, but you can help them understand the importance of focusing on prayer to reflect with this activity from Jewish Holidays Jewish Values Journal.

Build Your Own Sukkah on Our New Minecraft Server

When Minecraft broke into the educational world two years ago, teachers quickly enjoyed the creativity and problem-solving that students learned from such a simple game.  We enjoyed it too and want you to join us on the new Sukkah Server. Minecraft is a limitless game made from breaking and building blocks. Players can adventure on their own or play with friends on multiplayer servers.

Teach Israel

 Experience Modern Israel

New from Behrman House. Fly to Israel without a plane ticket.

Discover Israel

 Let's Discover Israel

Offer younger children an exciting and age-appropriate introduction to the Jewish homeland