When questions abound in the classroom, everyone learns
Israeli student teacher from Pardes Educators Program comes to JCDS
By Eliana Seltzer
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STUDENT TEACHER David Riemenschneider, right, with JCDS students Daniel Katz, left, and Nuriyah Coke. |
“According to the Mishnah, how many cups of wine are we supposed to drink on Passover?”
“What did the 12 spies see when they got to the land of Canaan?”
“How do I pronounce your last name?”
PROVIDENCE – These are just some of the questions that greeted David Riemenschneider when he arrived from Israel at the Jewish Community Day School on March 9.
Riemenschneider, or “Mr. R.,” as the students fondly call him, is in his first year of the Pardes Educators Program, which is a program based out of Jerusalem.
Students in the Educators Program split their time between taking virtual courses at Hebrew College and studying traditional Jewish texts in a Bet Midrash (a house of study).
At the end of two years, they graduate with a Master’s Degree in Jewish Education and a certificate from Pardes in Advanced Jewish Learning. This program, which is in its eighth year, is training future Jewish educators of North America.
A big part of the program is for students to come to America for four weeks and apply their theoretical knowledge to the classroom.
Mr. R. had the opportunity to observe the culture and the classes at JCDS for a week, which included our wonderful celebration of Purim.
He sat in on lessons, followed a student around for the day, and learned as much as he could about the students and the community.
Then, for the next three weeks, Mr. R. took on the task of teaching the sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders. He got to teach text, give homework, craft activities and even give a quiz and a project to his students. Although the time was short, Mr. R. had the chance to really get the feel for what it is like to be a full-time Judaics teacher.
From student to mentor
This was a unique opportunity for me. Four years ago, I was a student in the educators program: I was learning in Israel, taking classes at Pardes, and at the end of my year, I came to New York to do my own student teaching. Now, the tables have turned: I was David’s mentor throughout the process of student teaching.
David would turn to me when he had questions about how to plan a lesson: what were the goals of the unit, how to reach all of the students in the class and how to create assignments that would engage all of the learners.
We discussed the importance of discovery-based learning and crafted lessons that allowed students to make connections on their own. We reflected after every lesson about what went well and what could have gone better.
Most importantly, we created a supportive relationship in which it was OK to try out different models and styles of teaching.
Having had the chance to mentor a student teacher, I have come to appreciate even more the craft that is teaching. As an evolving and growing teacher myself, I know that one of the most important parts of teaching is to be able to be self-reflective and always open to improvement. I have greatly valued the fact that the teacher community at JCDS is filled with educators who reflect on their practice and push one another to be even better.
Eliana Seltzer is the wife of Rabbi Joel Seltzer of Temple Emanu-El in Providence.
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