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Thursday, December 31, 2009

What is Individualized Instruction?


When mentoring our pre-service and in-service teachers we need to describe and model both research-based and clinically tested best practices. Accordingly, our mentees should know how to individualize instruction.

Below you will find a definition for individualized instruction, and related questions and guidelines.

Individualized instruction refers to the modifications that a teacher makes to reach individual students with special needs.

In order to make the most effective modifications to reach a student with special needs, here are four questions to consider when individualizing instruction:

1. What is important (i.e. the enduring Jewish knowledge learning outcome) for all the students to learn in this lesson?

2. What is important for this particular child to learn in this lesson?

3. What is this particular child’s preferred way to learn?

4. What modifications do I need to make in this lesson to help this particular child become a successful learner?

Once you have answered these questions, you then consider these three guidelines:


1. Use the least obtrusive support first.

2. Use age-appropriate materials, learning outcomes, and activities.

3. Modify before changing the activity.

On the next post we will examine the first of four different types of instructional modifications, modifying the presentation of material.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Suggested Lesson Plan Design Modifications in Content, Instruction, Assessments, Learning Styles and Multiple Intelligences


When mentoring our pre-service and in-service teachers we need to describe and model both research-based and clinically tested best practices. Accordingly, our mentees should know how to differentiate instruction by modifying the lesson plan design in terms of these four variables: (1) content, (2) instruction, (3) assessments and (4) learning styles and multiple intelligences. The chart below offers sample modifications in lesson plan design for these four variables.

*Sample Modifications In Lesson Plan Design

Types of Modifications

Modification Examples


Content

Some students may need concrete examples, visual organizers, a list of vocabulary words, parallel assignments, enrichment activities (for accelerated learners), etc.


Instructional

Some students may need to work alone, work with a madrich/ madricha, or a teaching assistant, do pair work, or require more think time, etc.


Assessment

Some students may require non-traditional assessment methods[1] such as drawing, singing, dancing, miming, or role-playing to determine what they know, or have learned.


Learning Style and Multiple Intelligences

Some students may require different kinds of sensory or receptive stimulation (e.g. auditory, visual, kinesthetic, tactile, gustatory, and olfactory); others work best when they apply their musical, spatial, interpersonal, intrapersonal, kinesthetic, mathematical/logical, and verbal/linguistic intelligences.

On the next post we will discuss how to individualize instruction.

* This information is taken, with permission, from the website of the Union of Reform Judaism (URJ), special needs menu, http://urj.org/educate/specialneeds/. Retrieved January 30, 2009.

[1] The traditional assessment methods include paper and pencil tests, quizzes, short answer, multiple choice, sentence completions, and essays.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

What is Differentiated Instruction?


When mentoring our pre-service and in-service teachers we need to describe and model both research-based and clinically tested best practices. Accordingly, our mentees should know about differentiated instruction.

Below you will find a definition of differentiated instruction, and four questions to consider regarding whether differentiated instruction is needed.

Differentiated instruction is a useful framework to help teachers plan lessons that meet the diverse needs of their students. To determine whether lesson planning and instruction should be modified, there are at least four questions that need to be considered by teachers. Below you will find those four questions to consider to determine if instruction should be differentiated:

Four Questions To Consider to Differentiate Instruction

1. Will the content that I’m about to teach make sense to all my students?

2. Will the model of teaching or instructional methodology that I’m planning to use be appropriate for all of my students?

3. Will the assessments (i.e. the measures to determine what students know) that I’m planning to use be appropriate for all of my students?

4. Does the lesson that I’m planning to teach relate to the diverse learning styles and multiple intelligences of my students?

If the answer to any of these questions is in the negative, it is incumbent upon the teacher to make the necessary lesson plan and instructional modifications.

On the next post we will discuss suggested lesson plan design modifications in (1) content, (2) instruction, (3) assessments, (4) learning styles and multiple intelligences.

Monday, December 28, 2009

The Key to the Exercise “Searching for Multiple Intelligences”


When mentoring our pre-service and in-service teachers we need to describe and model both research-based and clinically tested best practices. Accordingly, our mentees should know about the theory of multiple intelligences developed by Howard Gardner.

Dr. Gardner posited that a student’s intelligence should not simply be measured by his or her verbal and mathematical abilities. Intelligence should also include five other areas of giftedness including visual/spatial, body/kinesthetic, musical/rhythmic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal.

In the previous post we presented an activity, “Searching for Multiple Intelligences”, where we invited students to assess, record and discuss their preferred multiple intelligences profile. The key to this exercise is described below.

Searching for Multiple Intelligences- the KEY

1. Plays a musical instrument- MUSICAL/RHYTHMIC and BODY/KINESTHETIC

2. Likes to make/use charts- MATHEMATICAL/LOGICAL and VISUAL/SPATIAL

3. Likes to draw or photograph things in nature- VISUAL/SPATIAL

4. Keeps a diary or journal- INTRAPERSONAL

5. Loves to socialize- INTERPERSONAL

6. Has made a power point presentation, slide show, videotape, or photo album- VISUAL/SPATIAL

7. Is knowledgeable in a martial art- BODY-KINESTHETIC and INTRAPERSONAL

8. Has written a poem, short story, or play- VERBAL/LINGUISTIC

9. Can draw, paint, sketch, or sculpt- VISUAL/SPATIAL

10. Likes to set personal goals- INTRAPERSONAL

11. Sings or sang in the synagogue choir or on stage - MUSICAL/RHYTHMIC

12. Likes to tell stories or jokes- VERBAL/LINGUISTIC

13. Enjoys watching and identifying birds- VISUAL/SPATIAL

14. Likes to draw analogies or solve brain teasers- MATHEMATICAL/LOGICAL

15 Enjoys facilitating a group meeting- INTERPERSONAL

16. Likes to build things with his/her hands- BODY/KINESTHETIC

17. Meditates regularly- INTRAPERSONAL

18. Uses binoculars, a telescope, a microscope, or a magnifying glass outside of the classroom- VISUAL/SPATIAL

19. Can replicate rhythmical patterns- MUSICAL/RHYTHMIC

20. Does aerobics, or plays tennis, racquetball, basketball, or golf- BODY/KINESTHETIC and VISUAL/SPATIAL

21. Likes to write letters-VERBAL/LINGUISTIC

22. Designed and conducted an experiment- LOGICAL/MATHEMATICAL

23. Easily shares his/her thoughts and feelings with others- INTERPERSONAL

24. Can identify the different colors in a spectrum- VISUAL/SPATIAL

On the next post we will discuss differentiated instruction.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

“Searching for Multiple Intelligences”: An Activity that Invites Students to Assess, Record and Discuss Their Preferred Multiple Intelligences


When mentoring our pre-service and in-service teachers we need to describe and model both research-based and clinically tested best practices. Accordingly, our mentees should know about the theory of multiple intelligences developed by Howard Gardner.

Dr. Gardner posited that a student’s intelligence should not simply be measured by his or her verbal and mathematical abilities. Intelligence should also include five other areas of giftedness including visual/spatial, body/kinesthetic, musical/rhythmic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal.

The activity below, “Searching for Multiple Intelligences”, invites students to assess, record and discuss their preferred multiple intelligences profile.

Searching for Multiple Intelligences

(*Davidson & Solomon, 1998)

Directions: Walk around the room and find someone who fits one of the characteristics described below. Ask that person to print his/her name on the line provided. Try to get as many different names as you can. No person may record his/her name more than once.

1. Plays a musical instrument________________________

2. Likes to design and use charts _____________________

3. Likes to draw or photograph things in nature _________

4. Keeps a diary or journal _________________________

5. Loves to socialize_______________________

6. Has made a power point presentation, slide show, videotape, or photo album _______________________

7. Is knowledgeable in a martial art ______

8. Has written a poem, short story, or play _______

9. Can draw, paint, sketch, or sculpt ____________

10. Likes to set personal goals _________________

11. Sings or sang in the synagogue choir or on stage____________

12. Likes to tell stories or jokes ______________________

13. Enjoys watching and identifying birds __________________

14. Likes to draw analogies or solve brain teasers _______________________

15 Enjoys facilitating a group meeting ___________________

16. Likes to build things with his/her hands _____________________

17. Meditates regularly _______________________________

18. Uses binoculars, a telescope, a microscope, or a magnifying glass outside of the classroom _____________________________

19. Can replicate rhythmical patterns ______________________

20. Does aerobics, or plays tennis, racquetball, basketball, or golf ___________

21. Likes to write letters _____________________________

22. Designed and conducted an experiment _____________________

23. Easily shares his/her thoughts and feelings with others ________

24. Can identify the different colors in a spectrum _________________

*Davidson, N. & Solomon, R. (1998). Teaching For, Of and About Thinking: Participant’s Guide. Columbia, MD: National Institute for Relationship Training, Inc.

On the next post we will share the key for this exercise.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Four Sample Learning Style Assessment Questions


When mentoring our pre-service and in-service teachers we need to describe and model both research-based and clinically tested best practices. Accordingly, our mentees should know about the theory and how to apply Learning Styles of Rita and Kenneth Dunn.

Below you will find four sample learning style assessment questions that a teacher can pose to his or her students.

Four Sample Learning Style Assessment Questions

1. When learning a new word, do you prefer to see it (visual), sound it out (auditory), or write it down (kinesthetic, tactile)?

2. When you talk to a new person, do you prefer to watch him (visual), listen to him (auditory), or get him to stop talking, and do some activity with you (kinesthetic)?

3. When given a class activity, do you prefer to watch how it’s done (visual), listen to how it done (auditory), or do it (kinesthetic and tactile)?

4. Let’s say your teacher wants to show you how to make latkes, what would be your favorite part of the activity? Would it be seeing how it is made (visual), hearing how it is made (auditory), making it (kinesthetic and tactile), eating it (gustatory), or smelling the latke (olfactory)?

On the next post we will share an activity, “Searching for Multiple Intelligences”, that a teacher can implement in his or her classroom. This activity invites students to assess, record and discuss their preferred multiple intelligences.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

New Sources Added to Web-based and Print References on Mentoring Jewish Students and Teachers on December 22, 2009


Shalom Colleagues and Friends,

This is a collaborative post. We invite you to submit web-based and print references on mentoring Jewish students and teachers. We want this listing to be as complete and helpful to our readers as possible.

List of Web-based References

http://acaje.notss.com/synagogueSchools/NESSInitiative.shtml Click on to this website and learn about the NESS (Nurturing Excellence in Synagogue Schools)Initiative in the Philadelphia area.

NESS is a three-year, whole-school, on-site intervention, custom-designed to meet the needs of each synagogue school. All sixty-one schools in the Greater Philadelphia area were invited to apply. Through a rigorous selection process, six schools were chosen to pilot the program. Selection was based on diversity of size, location, movement, experience of the educational director, and the challenges presented by and the assets of the schools. What is learned from this pilot program will provide an invaluable and unique opportunity to understand how synagogue schools throughout the country can improve and succeed. It is for this reason that NESS is seen nationally as a cutting-edge model for change, one that is being supported by national as well as local donors.

The goal of the NESS Initiative is to strengthen synagogue schools through professional development for teachers, leadership development for educational directors, and training in organizational development strategies for synagogue and school lay leaders. By redesigning our approach to synagogue school education, we will: (1) provide our youth with an engaging, meaningful, and enjoyable Jewish education; (2) help our youth develop strong Jewish identities and increase their commitment to active involvement in the Jewish community; and (3) encourage our youth to continue their Jewish learning and involvement beyond their Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Through NESS , we can produce a generation of Jewish youth who are proud to be Jews and eager to participate in the Jewish world.

What is most unique about the program is its comprehensiveness. NESS incorporates these elements :

• The deliberate integration of five educationally sound components that together can create school change.

• An innovative collaboration of secular and Jewish educational institutions [ACAJE, FOUNDATIONS, Inc., and the Penn Literacy Network of the Graduate School of Education of the University of Pennsylvania] that have designed the program.

• An assessment of a school's assets and limitations through a standardized instrument that generates individualized recommendations for school improvement and tracks the school's progress.

• An ongoing, intensive training program for teachers and their educational directors which incorporates innovative teaching strategies, cutting-edge curricula, technology-based resources, and Jewish content, as well as techniques for integrating them appropriately, in order to capture the interest of today's students.

• Opportunities for teachers to practice these newly acquired strategies under the guidance of NESS-trained educational directors and mentor teachers.

• Ongoing professional training for educational directors, enabling them to become more effective leaders and change agents in their own schools.

• The intentional creation of a community of learners among the NESS professionals and lay leaders at each school.

• The active involvement of the synagogue community :the rabbi, cantor, educational director, education committee, synagogue board, parents, and students in the process of planning for and implementing school change.

• Generous stipends or college credits, for teachers and educational directors, compensating them for their professional time.

• Ongoing, intensive, external evaluation of the entire program, as well as of each of its components, throughout the duration of the program. This will afford the opportunity to make adjustments as the program proceeds, as well as to provide information that will facilitate replication of the program in Philadelphia and other Jewish communities throughout the United States.

• The active, continuing involvement of a carefully selected advisory committee of Jewish education professionals and lay leaders.

http://www.avi-chai.org/Static/Binaries/Publications/Experience%20Speaks_0.pdf Read Godsoe, Bethany et al. (2007) Experience Speaks: The Impact of Mentoring in the Classroom and Beyond. NY: AVI CHAI Foundation.

The AVI CHAI Foundation in partnership with the Jewish New Teacher Project (JNTP) conducted a two year study on the impact of mentoring on new teachers in selected Jewish day schools.

The following eight conclusions were reported:

(1) Mentoring provides moral support through the high challenging first two years of teaching.

(2) Mentoring establishes a framework for new teachers to help them think about their roles, purposes and concrete tasks such as lesson planning, and student assessment.

(3) Mentoring leads to enhanced instruction, particularly through the use of data and non-evaluative observation.

(4) Mentoring helps new teachers see the broader picture in terms of student development and appropriate learning goals.

(5) Mentoring teaches new teachers to learn to be reflective about their own practice, and skills that stays with them long after the mentoring ends.

(6) Mentoring facilitates connections to the broader school community and school-wide philosophy, mission and goals.

(7) Mentoring helps new teachers hand interactions with parents in productive ways.

(8) Mentoring gives new teachers confidence to contribute more broadly within their schools.

http://www.avi-chai.org/bin/en.jsp?enPage=BlankPage&enZone=JLPST On this website you will find information about the following programs: Hebrew Union College MA in Jewish Education with a Specialization in Day Schools, Ivriyon - Hebrew Language Program for Jewish Studies Teachers http://www.jtsa.edu/ivriyon, Mentoring for Novice Teachers, Jewish New Teacher Project, Talmudic Studies Program for Women,Pardes Educators Programwww2.pardes.org.il/programs/educators/overview.php

http://www.berotbatayin.org/about.htm If you click on to this website you will learn how the Midreshet B'erot Bat Ayin uses chevruta and one-on-one mentoring as important instructional methods for Torah education.

http://www.bjeny.org/458.asp?dept=Student+Health On this website you will learn about the Educational Leadership Institute (ELI) sponsored by the Board of

Jewish Education of Greater New York. The ELI program trains 11th and 12th schools students to serve as teaching assistants, and paid substitute teachers in congregational elementary schools.

Sheila Adler, Coordinator, ELI Program;
Educational Director, Bet Torah Synagogue, Mt. Kisco, NY writes:

In the 11th grade... the ELI Program adds 26 two-hour sessions to the normal four-hour-per-week academic program. One hour is given to the Fundamentals of Teaching (lesson planning, classroom management, teaching methodology, supervised practice teaching); one to the elementary school Judaic curriculum (Jewish holidays, Bible, history and prayer). For the 12th grade program, students who completed ELI in 11th grade can continue the program as "educational residents," take two hours a week of classes, one hour of which is devoted to Judaic studies and one hour to advanced teacher education. Twelfth grade participants work as paid full-time aides or substitute teachers in the elementary grades, and as facilitators for high school student discussions as well as for some of the 11th grade ELI training sessions. Because of their greater teaching responsibilities, the ELI educational residents are carefully observed and monitored by their mentor teachers and coached by their lead educator. Students who did not take ELI in 11th grade, and who have decided they would like to be part of the program after all, can participate in ELI with special enrollment requirements as a 12th grade program.

By providing a strong link between elementary and secondary Jewish education, and by motivating students to complete Jewish high school, the ELI program has transformed the Jewish congregational school. It has energized high schools, raised academic standards, given teens leadership skills, responsibilities and Jewish community connections through college and beyond.

In summary, what distinguishes ELI from other Jewish teen leadership programs is that it:

*has significantly increased high school enrollments, maximized attendance and retained students through the twelfth grade;

*is a formally designed, curriculum-driven, carefully supervised student teacher training program with high eligibility standards and performance expectations;

*is a sixteen-year-old proven model of teen leadership development that has been replicated successfully in five congregational and community schools;

*trains teen student teachers to work in elementary school classrooms and serve as role models for younger students, many of whom aspire to join the program when they reach 11th grade;

*has become, because of positive peer modeling, an elite group to which younger teens aspire to belong;

*has raised the level of teaching in the elementary schools by making mentor teachers more reflective practitioners, and, by infusing new teachers into the field as some ELI graduates choose Jewish education as a career;

*issues a Board of Jewish Education Certificate of Completion;

*helps students stay involved Jewishly during their college years, finds them positions as congregational classroom teachers while in college, and provides them with on-going guidance by and contact with their lead educators.

http://www.brandeis.edu/mandel/pdfs/report0405.pdf In this website you will learn about the Mentor Teacher Development Program of the Mandel Center for Studies in Jewish Education at Brandeis University. The website indicates:

As a professional development initiative, the Mentor Teacher Development Program is structured to support both teacher and student learning. The goal is to create a community of practice among Jewish day school teachers in which active leadership and rigorous exchange about teaching and learning among colleagues are normal instruments of continuous improvement. This requires a commitment to teacher development as part of the ongoing work of teachers, and recognition that mentoring is an important skill in the toolkit of the professional classroom teacher. Accomplishments

• Nine mentor teachers have been actively engaged in creating a cross-school learning community that helps to combat the traditional isolation of classroom teachers.

• Ongoing professional development for mentor teachers takes place through a summer institute, as well asa monthly cross-school study group throughout the school year.

• Leadership opportunities for experienced mentor teachers have been created including facilitating the Beginning Teacher Network, instructing in the DeLeT Program, planning and implementing workshops for new mentors, and doing teacher research on teaching Bible.

http://www.cjlmilwaukee.org/WhatWeDo/WhatWeDo.htm The Coalition for Jewish Learning, On this website you will learn that the Milwaukee Jewish Federation provides mentoring services to novice teachers.

http://www.dphds.org/main/jewish_lifepathing.html If you check this website you will find information about the Jewish Life Pathing (JLP) Mentoring Program at the David Posnack Hebrew Day School in Florida. This program offers students the chance to explore possible career paths while interacting with schoolmates who share similar interests. Students in grades 8 to 11 serve as “coaches” for students in grades 3 to 7. Twice monthly, the older students interact with the younger students in teacher-supervised sessions.

http://www.hillel.org/careers/career/accelerate/default Read about Accelerate: the Hillel’s Executive Training Program at the University of Kansas which seeks to develop Hillel directors, assistant directors, rabbis, and development directors through mentoring.

http://www.keshet.org/peerbuddymentoring.asp This publication describes the peer buddy and mentoring program at the Sager Elementary School, Sager Solomon Schechter Middle School and the Ida Crown Jewish Academy in the Chicago area.

http://www.iawaken.org/shiurim/view.asp?id=6638 On this website you will read the words of Rabbi David Lapin who urges students and parents to find a righteous and erudite mentor. He writes: If you are a student... find yourself a great mentor, a rebbe who is a human being of profound intellectual and moral stature, and put yourself in his hands. Allow him to coach you and mold you. If you are a parent, do the same for yourself never mind for your child. You will then be a role-model for your children. They will see what the pursuit of greatness means. They will see what it is to have a coach and a mentor. They will see greatness in you, more and more each day as you grow and progress on your own journey to greatness. Your children will naturally adopt you as their rebbe, their own coaches and mentors. And who is more worthy of coaching your children than you?

http://www.infed.org/biblio/role_model_education.htm On this website you will find the article written by Daniel Rose, The Potential of Role-Model Education. In this article Rose describes role-model education as the basis for mentoring.

http://www.jecc.org/ProfessionalDevelopment/JESP.htm Learn about the mentoring and coaching components in the Professional Development Program of the Jewish Education Center of Cleveland, OH.

http://www.jesna.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=290&catid=100On this web address you will meet Amanda Pogany, an 8th grade Judaic Studies and Hebrew language teacher at the Solomon Schechter School of Manhattan, the middle school Student Life Coordinator, a mentor to new teachers, and in her spare time, a consultant on pedagogy and curriculum.

http://www.jewishinstlouis.org/page.aspx?id=180986&page=4 In this article written by Ronit Sherwin the author addresses the personal benefits she has derived by being mentored by Hannah Rubin-Schlansky. Ms. Sherwin writes:

Appoint a teacher for yourself . . .” (Pirke Avot 1:6)
This teaching from Ethics of the Fathers is what I believe is the foundation to engaging, strengthening and maintaining young professionals in our Jewish communities. Young professionals need strong mentors, as Debbie had been to me as a young teacher. They need teachers who can guide them in effective committee processes and lay relationships, challenge them to build their competencies and model commitment and passion. Mentors are not only critical for young professionals, but for all professionals. All professionals benefit tremendously from mentors who challenge them and provide a safe space to discuss issues and receive critical feedback and structure.

“Appoint for yourself a teacher; acquire for yourself a friend; and judge everyone favorably” (Pirke Avot 1:6). The full mishnah speaks to the fruitful results of strong mentors for young professionals. It is only through relationships that challenge us to learn and to teach others that we develop into our best selves, with the eyes to see our community and our world more discerningly and more honestly. And it is only through such communal professionals that we will ensure a strengthened future for the Jewish people.

http://www.jewishlife.org/programs.html Click on to this website and learn about the many worthy programs supported by the Steinhardt Foundation for Jewish Life. We have included these programs because each one can inspire participants to become Jewish mentors and leaders: Birthright Israel, B’nai B’rith Youth Organization (BBYO), The Curriculum Initiative, The Foundation for Jewish Camping,The Grinspoon/Steinhardt Awards for Excellence in Jewish Education,Hillel Jewish Campus Service Corps, Hillel Rejewvenation, Hillel at the University of Pennsylvania, Jewish Early Childhood Education Initiative (JECEI) Jewish Heritage Programs, MyJewishLearning.com,

Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education (PEJE),

Professional Leaders Project, Spark Partnership for Service, STAR (Synagogues: Transformation and Renewal), Steinhardt Jewish Heritage Festival at BAM ,The Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York University and the Steinhardt Social Research Institute.

http://www.jimjosephfoundation.org/PDF/Brandeis%20Mapping%20Professional%20Development.pdfRead about some of the initiatives in the professional development of Jewish educators in this manuscript: Sales, A. L., Samuel, N. & Koren A. (2007). Mapping Professional Development for Jewish Educators. Brandeis University, Waltham. MA: The Fisher-Bernstein Institute for Jewish Philanthropy and Leadership.

http://jrf.org/tel-post-bnai-mitzvah Learn about the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation's (JRF) new post b’nai mitzvah initiative, the TEL program, that involves madrichim training teams of youth (grades eight through twelve) to do congregational and community service.

http://jtec.macam.ac.il/portal/ArticlePage.aspx?id=458

On this website you can read the abstract of the article, Developing Comprehensive Induction in Jewish Day Schools: Lessons from the Field written by Sarah Birkeland and Sharon Feiman-Nemser (July 2009), Journal of Jewish Education, 75 (3), 240-257. In this article the importance of mentoring is emphasized.

http://jtec.macam.ac.il/portal/Search.aspx?term=mentoring On this website sponsored by the MOFET Institute you will find several sources and programs on the mentoring of Jewish teachers.

http://www.jtsa.edu/x905.xml#elements Click on to this web address and learn about the Rabbinical School of the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) which highlights mentoring into its program. The site includes information on these topics: mentor training, setting up internships, the role of the mentor, written reflections, the elements of mentoring, evaluating the students, and the hard to reach student.

http://www.lookstein.org/online_journal.php?id=168 On this website you will find an article, Birkeland, Sarah & Feiman-Nemser (Fall, 2007), 6(1). Building Professional Learning Communities Through Beginning Teacher Induction. In this article the authors describe a new type of teacher induction that highlights the creation of a professional learning community and mentoring. They write:

At our Center, a team of educators and researchers is collaborating on a project called the Induction Partnership. We have deployed coaches to help build strong systems of new teacher induction in a group of diverse, local Jewish day schools. Our initial goal for the 2-year coaching project was to help make these schools educative environments in which beginning teachers could thrive, by instituting a system of supports specifically geared towards addressing their needs. As they focus their resources and attention on beginning teacher induction, the schools in our partnership are looking more and more like professional learning communities.

http://www.lookstein.org/mifgashim/readings/mentoring.htm Read this insightful article by Stanley Peerless which summarizes the components of an effective mentoring program which include (a) training of the mentor, (b) time for the mentor to work with his or her mentee, (c) proper matching of the mentor with the mentee, and (d) the support and encouragement of the educational leader of the school.

http://www.mentornet.net/Documents/Files/SACNAS.Lois.Zachary.pdf Click on to this website and see a power point presentation created by Dr. Lois Zachary which covers these topics: the importance of mentoring, the role of the mentor and the mentee, matching the mentor with the mentee, the process of mentoring and the culture of mentoring.

http://www.nchillel.org/site/c.irKQIUPEIsE/b.3075903/k.69E5/Chevruta_Jewish_Learning_Partnership.htmClick on to this website and see how chevruta study is linked to mentoring at theHillel at the University of North Carolina.

http://notes.hillel.org/Hillel/exchange.nsf/4631b84b253300e4852568da00675ff6/0F1643915742FE5085256E6C00730254?OpenDocument On this site you will find information about a mentoring program co-sponsored by the Broome County Big Brothers and Big Sisters Program, Binghamton, NY and Hillel. In its novice stage there is a program date one Sunday a month where Jewish Binghamton University students organize and facilitate activities for the local Broome County Jewish Elementary School age students. Future plans for this local and University interaction is a listing composed for the University students at the beginning of each semester of opportunities to assist the local Jewish community.This may include requests for a Jewish mentor in the area schools, assistance from college students at the various existing youth group programs, openings for Hebrew school teachers, and other programs.

http://www.panim.org/educatorsinstitute/index.htm Click onto this website and learn about The National Educators' Institute for Jewish Leadership and Values. PANIM: The Institute for Jewish Leadership and Values offers an annual, week-long Jewish service-learning training. The National Educators’ Institute provides educators with the tools necessary to implement service-learning programs in a variety of settings. This year’s conference is June 21-25, 2009 at the University of Maryland, College Park.

http://www.peje.org/docs/ArticleonLomedL.pdf For schools considering implementing a tutor/mentoring program, click on to this website . Here you will find a practical manuscript titled, A Manual to Create a Volunteer Tutor/Mentoring Program Within Jewish Schools, written by Elizabeth Kotler Glass, and Kenneth Schaefler in March, 2004. In the manual these topics are covered: Program Goals, Methodology, Implementation, Overview of Procedural Steps, Orientation for Principals, Orientation/Training, Lomed___Rules for Tutors, Matching Tutors with Schools and Students, How Tutors are Utlized, Problems that May Arise and Possible Solutions, Plus Sample Administrative Forms.

http://www.peje.org/knowledge/additional_resources/jewisheducationalphabetSoup.phpCheck this website to learn about the many different organizations dedicated to strengthening Jewish Day School Education including Jewish Day School for the 21 Century (JDS21), Jewish Educators Assembly (JEA)- Conservative; Jewish Educational Leadership Initiative (JELI), The Jewish Education Service of North America (JESNA), National Association of Temple Educators (NATE)- Reform, United Jewish Communities (UJC), Continental Council for Jewish Day School Education (UJC-JESNA), Association of Modern Orthodox Day Schools and YeshivaHigh Schools (AMODS)- Modern Orthodox, North American Association of Jewish High Schools (NAAJHS), Progressive Association for Reform Day Schools (PARDes)- Reform, Jewish Community Day School Network (RAVSAK./JCDSN), Solomon Schechter Day School Association (SSDSA)- Conservative, Torah U’Mesorah- Orthodox, William Davidson Graduate School for Jewish Education, Jewish Theological Seminary, Day School Leadership Through Teaching (DeLeT), Jewish Teacher Corps, Jskyway, The Lookstein Center, The Melton Centre for Jewish Education, Hebrew University, Pardes Educators Program, Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveltchik Institute Fellowship, AVI CHAI Foundation and The Gruss Foundation-The Caroline and Joseph S. Gruss Life Monument Fund, Inc.

https://www.policyarchive.org/bitstream/handle/10207/17542/Intensive%20Mentoring%20in%20Jewish%20Day%20Schools.pdf?sequence=1

On this website Dr. Mar S. Silk describes the model of teacher support developed by the Jewish New Teacher Project (JNTP) in order to help new teachers advance in skills and knowledge, especially during their first two years on the job. Key components of the model include mentoring and a Formative Assessment System with which mentor and mentee can keep track of progress. JNTP mentor models include in-house mentors, visiting mentors and half-release mentors. The author cites research indicating that this mode improves both teacher competence and student achievement.

https://www.policyarchive.org/bitstream/handle/10207/14847/Making%20Jewish%20Education%20Work%20-%20PDP%202.pdf?sequence=1 This website contains the JESNA report, Making Jewish Education Work: Mentoring Jewish Educational Professionals, Lessons Learned from Research and Evaluation in the Field, Report 2. This report offers these five conclusions about mentoring: Mentoring relationships are most beneficial under these five conditions: (1) When orientation and training are provided to both the mentor and the mentee; (2) When mentor and mentee pairings are thoughtfully coordinated; (3) When roles and expectations are clearly defined; (4) When multiple venues of frequent communication and feedback are available and (5) When mentoring programs are thoroughly managed and evaluated in an ongoing systematic manner.

http://proquest.umi.com/pqdlink?Ver=1&Exp=09-06 2014&FMT=7&DID=725912401&RQT=309&attempt=1&cfc=1

Click onto this web address and read an abstract of the dissertation of Renee Frank Holtz entitled, A Mentoring Program in a Jewish Supplementary School. Fordham University, 2001.

Holtz’s study examined what new and seasoned teachers reported and experienced as participants in a mentorship program in a supplementary school. Her research focused on 4 issues: (a) the focus of mentors' and mentees' dialogue and writings, (b) mentors' and mentees' concerns, (c) the characteristics of community the participants found, and (d) the effect of the part-time nature of the school on this religious community.

Five hypotheses were generated by this study: (1) Teachers in a part-time religious community perceive that their educational program is in competition with the secular community for students' limited time. (2) Teachers in a part-time religious educational community perceive that the material they are teaching conflicts with the material being taught in the secular educational community. (3) Mentors in a mentorship program in a part-time religious school emphasize philosophical concerns about their work. (4) Mentees in a mentorship program in a part-time religious school emphasize technical concerns about their work. (5) Teachers in a supplementary Jewish school may collaborate to learn from one another and create community.

Recommendations for future research and suggestions for future consideration and implementation of mentorship programs were made. The potential for such a program appears to be great and this researcher highly recommends consideration of such a system in Hebrew schools and other similar institutions.

http://www.researchchannel.org/mov/uw_stroum_partn_1300k_qt.mov

Listen to the lecture of Dr. Susan Handelman, Professor of English at Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel entitled "Find Yourself a Teacher: The Mentor/Disciple Relation in Classical Jewish Thought and Contemporary Practice" This presentation was given in 2004 through the Samuel and Althea Stroum Lecture Series in Jewish Studies at the University of Washington.

http://www.spertus.edu/degreeprograms/jewishstudies/majps_info/majps_individuation.phpRead about Spertus College's Master of Arts in Jewish Professional Studies which includes a mentoring component in its program. Each graduate student in this program is given a personal mentor. The mentor meets with the student on a regular basis (every 2 to 3 weeks). The nature of the role served by the mentor varies from student to student. Some students may choose a reflective practitioner from their field with whom they will regularly discuss the applicability of course materials to practical work. Others may choose to create a more formalized independent study framework with their mentor, based on readings and writing. Still others may choose a mentor with whom they work on a specific profession-based issue over a sustained period of time. Finally, some students may choose a mentor who serves as a personal coach. The program advisor will work with each student in identifying an appropriate mentor and crafting the nature of the work the mentor will do with the student.

http://www.urj.org/chai/teach/elearning/ Read about the electronic mentoring program offered by the Union of Reform Judaism (URJ) which includes sessions on these topcs: What is a mentor?, The Adult Learner, The Mentoring Relationship, The Needs Assessment, Using Understanding by Design, Classroom Observation and The Protege as a Colleague.

http://urj.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=1767 Click on to this website and learn how the internet can be used both for online mentoring and instruction.

http://www.uscj.org/metny/files/tdi.pdf Read about the Teacher Development Institute (TDI) sponsored by the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.The Teacher Development Institute prepares new teachers for future success in synagogue, congregational schools and Hebrew high school programs. TDI will provide ongoing mentoring during the two years of the program, and continued mentoring following the program.

http://www.wisetemple.org/?page=madrichim. Click on to this website and learn about the Madrichim Program at the Isaac M. Wise Temple in Cincinnati, Ohio.

http://www.wujs.org.il/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=59&Itemid=217 Click on to this website and learn about the World Union of Jewish Students' manual on mentoring in which you will find a definition for mentoring, the roles and responsibilities of the mentor and the mentee (i.e. protege), the benefits of mentoring, and other related areas.

http://www.yu.edu/ujs/page.asp?jss On this website you will learn about the mentoring component of the undergraduate colleges of Yeshiva University (YU). In particular,The Mechinah Program of YU offers individualized mentoring by Rabbi Iaaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) madrichim.

http://www.yu.edu/University_Partnership/index.aspx?id=28296

Click onto the above website and learn about the two programs that Yeshiva University is doing to identify, train, promote and retain Jewish educators for our day schools.

Their two-year Legacy Heritage Teachers Training Fellowship includes:

· Placement at a Jewish day school in North America

· Full-tuition scholarship to the Azrieli Graduate School for three summer sessions in the M.S. program including travel and housing expenses

· On-site mentoring

· Professional Development stipends

· Ongoing support from Yeshiva University, including professional development conferences and materials

Their one-year Give Back Fellowship includes:

· Summer training program at the Institute for University School Partnership

· Placement at a Jewish day school in North America

· On-site designated mentor-teacher

· Professional Development stipends

· Ongoing support from Yeshiva University, including professional development conferences and materials

List of Print References

Abrams, Jennifer (2009). Having Hard Conversations. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press. http://www.corwinpress.com/booksProdDesc.nav?prodId=Book232302&currTree=WebTopics&level1=Web_Topic1&

Aronson, Judy (2003). Partnering with a Mentor. Moskowitz, N.S. (Editor). In The Ultimate Jewish Teacher's Handbook. Denver, CO: A.R.E. Publishing Inc. 653-661.

Artson, Bradley Shavit (2006). The Gift of Soul, Gift of Wisdom: A Spiritual Resources for Mentoring and Leadership. Springfield, NJ: Behrman House.

Cutter, William (1995). Hierarchy and Mutuality: Mentor, Protégé and Spirit. InTouching the Future: Mentoring and the Jewish Profession. Edited by Zeldin, M. & Lee, S. S. Los Angeles, CA: Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.

Feiman-Nemser, Sharon (2007). Beit Midrash for Teachers: An Experiment in Professional Development. Journal of Jewish Education 72(3), 161-181.

Feiman-Nemser, Sharon(2007). Discovering and Sharing Knowledge: Inventing a New Role for Cooperating Teachers. In Transforming Teacher Education: Reflections from the Field.Ed. Carrol, D., Featherstone, J., Featherstone, H., Feiman-Nemser, S. & Roosevelt, D.. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Education Press. 139-160.

Feiman-Nemser, S. (2006). Foreward. Mentoring Teachers Toward Excellence. Ed. J. Shulman & M. Sata, Eds. San Francisco:: Jossey Bass. xi-xv.

Feiman-Nemser, S. (2008). Learning to Teach. In Goodman, .L, Flexner, P.A. & Bloomberg, L. D. What We Now Know about Jewish Education: Perspectives on Research for Practice. Los Angeles, CA: Torah Aura Productions. 213-222.

Feiman-Nemser, S. & Troen, N. (Winter, 2008). School-Based Induction Helps New Teachers Thrive. RAVSAK Journal, HaYidion.http://www.ravsak.org/news/158/125/School-Based-Induction-Helps-New-Teachers-Thrive/d,HaYidion/

Feirman-Nemser, Sharon (May, 2003). What New Teachers Need to Learn. Educational Leadership. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. 60(8).http://prodev.dadeschools.net/MINTMentorSupport/what%20new%20teachers%20need%20to%20learn.pdf

Feiman-Nemser, Sharon (2007). What We Know About Learning to Teach and What This Means for Jewish Education. In What We Know Now About Jewish Education: Perspectives On Research and Practice. Ed. P. Flexner & R. Goodman (Eds.). Los Angeles: Tora Aurah Publications.

Goldberg, A. & Schapira, R. (Winter, 2008). Training Students to Become Jewish Educators. RAVSAK Journal, HaYidion. 22-23.

http://www.ravsak.org/news/157/125/Training-Students-to-Become-Jewish-Educators/d,HaYidion/

Gorsetman, C.R. (2005). Mentoring Novice Teachers in Selected Modern Orthodox Jewish Day Schools. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education, Yeshiva University, NY.

Holtz, R. F. (2008). Mentoring Jewish Educators. In Goodman, .L, Flexner, P.A. & Bloomberg, L. D. What We Now Know about Jewish Education: Perspectives on Research for Practice. Los Angeles, CA: Torah Aura Productions. 235-246.

Howard, L. B. (2006). The Madrichim Manual: Six Steps to Becoming a Jewish Role Model. Springfield, NJ: Behrman House.

Joseph, S. (1989). The Madrikhim Handbook: A Training Program for Teenagers Working in Jewish Schools. Los Angeles, CA: Torah Aura Productions.

Levin, N. P. & Lee. S.S. (2006). Bridging the Gap: The Power of Mentoring Teachers for Creating Teaching Excellence. Los Angeles, CA: HUC-JIR.

Melamed-Turkish, M. (Summer, 2007). Mitzvot Pairs. Jewish Education News.http://www.caje.org/learn/Summer07/mitzvahpairs.asp

Solomon, R. (January, 2008). A New Career Development Ladder for Professional Development for Supplemental and Day School Teachers. In Creative Solutions to Educational Challenges, Lookjed Electronic Professional Learning Community, The Lookstein Center, Bar-Ilan University. http://lookstein.org/lookjed/read.php?1,16568,16568#msg-16568

Solomon, R. (Winter, 2008). Developmental Ladder for Students and Teachers in a Jewish Day School. RAVSAK Journal, HaYidion. 18-21.

http://www.ravsak.org/news/155/125/Developmental-Ladder-for-Students-and-Teachers-in-a-Jewish-Day-School/d,HaYidion/

Solomon, R. & Davidson, N. (Spring, 2009). Cooperative Learning: Research and Implementation for Jewish Education. Jewish Educational Leadership. 7(3).

Solomon, R., Solomon, E. & Bor, H. (Fall, 2007). From Madrichim to Expert Educators: New Career Ladder for Professional Development for Supplementary and Day School Teachers, Jewish Education News, CAJE, 28 (3).http://caje.wikispaces.com/Jewish+Education+News

Zachary, Lois, J. (Summer, 2006). Creating A Mentoring Culture. Jewish Education News, 27(3), 10-12. In this article Dr. Zachary describes the values of mentoring and compares the process of creating a culture of mentoring to the building of the mishkan. She writes: Creating a mentoring culture, like building the mishkan, is sacred work that connects us more deeply to one another as we take the mentoring journey that renews us individually and collectively as an educational community. An institution or initiative doesn’t need to be large to successfully create a mentoring culture. However, it must be willing to enlarge its thinking. It doesn’t need to possess extensive resources. Rather, it needs to utilize available resources wisely. It takes a commitment to do the right kind of work and provide space for individuals to bring their contribution to bear. The presence of a mentoring culture expands the opportunities for individual, personal, and professional growth and development and prepares us to harness and focus our energy to create momentum that raises the bar for everyone. When the bar is raised, we can achieve amazing results.http://www.caje.org/learn/Summer06/zachary_one.pdf .

Zachary, Lois (Summer, 2001). Lessons from a Mentoring at Sinai. Jewish Education News. 22 (3). http://www.caje.org/learn/a_zachary.htm

Zeldin, Michael (1995).Touching the Future: The Promise of Mentoring. The Journal of Jewish Education. 72 (2), 87-90.http://huc.edu/faculty/faculty/pubs/MichaelZeldin/TouchingTheFuture.pdf

Jewish Education News Blog

Richard D. Solomon's Blog on Mentoring Jewish Students and Teachers

http://nextleveljewisheducation.blogspot.com/