tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647004984448068921.comments2022-03-25T08:39:45.455-07:00Thinking About ChinuchAaron Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14634159184538374914noreply@blogger.comBlogger129125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647004984448068921.post-53335399325632762792016-07-31T13:38:31.143-07:002016-07-31T13:38:31.143-07:00i have several points to make. firstly, once you g...i have several points to make. firstly, once you give the individual the right to decide right from wrong etc, you can no longer "judge" him for deciding something that contradicts your idea of of morality etc. you cannot say that he must honestly confirm his motivations... and then condemn him for them by saying you would do differently. also, while i agree that th eobjective measure of right and wrong ought to be what hashem wants, i don't understand what bringing mashiach has to do with anything. like the gemara says mashiach won't come on shabbos so as not to violate a d'rabanan of eyruvin... additionally, i'm not certain that "peace" is an objective measure of values or "rightness". on the contrary, peace without a context of "rightness" is not peace ;it is simply a shallow "lack of fighting"- that is also not what hashem wants...like we see by pinchas. and even he got tremendous "flack" for that gory act... allow me to link to my own blog where i discuss this and also your primary topic which i refer to as mindfulness. http://mussarthoughts.blogspot.co.il/<br />having said that, i think it is plain that we can agree that spitting on little girls etc is neither correct nor peace engendering. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00786245993682387051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647004984448068921.post-9824145683222664462015-05-04T20:30:27.204-07:002015-05-04T20:30:27.204-07:00Thank you! This really added to my appreciation an...Thank you! This really added to my appreciation and sharpened what I already knew.<br />Moshe RosenbergMoshe Rosenberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395297412766393424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647004984448068921.post-71438647207767887222014-01-09T23:34:24.580-08:002014-01-09T23:34:24.580-08:00If students are truly focused on getting the "...If students are truly focused on getting the "right" answer, it might help if they are told that there is no right answer. I don't necessarily agree with that; there might very well be a right and a wrong answer. However, tell them no answer is wrong if they have the sources to back up their interpretations. This will make them less scared about failing since there is no way to fail as long as they show they are using their brains.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647004984448068921.post-91530022763914986892014-01-09T23:34:07.298-08:002014-01-09T23:34:07.298-08:00If students are truly focused on getting the "... If students are truly focused on getting the "right" answer, it might help if they are told that there is no right answer. I don't necessarily agree with that; there might very well be a right and a wrong answer. However, tell them no answer is wrong if they have the sources to back up their interpretations. This will make them less scared about failing since there is no way to fail as long as they show they are using their brains. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647004984448068921.post-61485662475048388692014-01-08T20:58:21.784-08:002014-01-08T20:58:21.784-08:00The response "I don't know, let's fin...The response "I don't know, let's find out" can be helpful. The students you describe view the teacher as all-knowing, which we know is NOT the case. By acknowledging there are things we don't know, and modeling the "let's find out," we are giving permission to the students to not know everything, and also inviting them to be curious.<br />Charlenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06296980141888540098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647004984448068921.post-44390658375156429222013-12-28T22:13:15.798-08:002013-12-28T22:13:15.798-08:00As a participant at Yavneh's Jedcamp, I share ...As a participant at Yavneh's Jedcamp, I share your enthusiasm about how it went. At the first session I attended, there was a leader who brought content to share, yet was happy to allow the conversation to go where the rest of us took it. The conversation was dynamic and spirited, respectful and friendly, even though we did not all agree on all the issues. I felt that I both learned from and shared with my colleagues. <br />IMHO, the most important aspect of a PD in the 'edcamp' model is the opportunity to be deeply reflective of one's own practice - a process that typically continues long after the sessions are over. Simcha Schaumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09335082938696936737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647004984448068921.post-67795488770910758212013-12-18T00:02:51.807-08:002013-12-18T00:02:51.807-08:00This point is even more important today than it wa...This point is even more important today than it was when we were in high school. Today, anyone can instantly retrieve almost any fact (although I'm having a hard time finding out what Julie Mitochondria is up to these days). Thus, studying for the sake of being able to regurgitate information is an almost pointless exercise.<br /><br />In addition to being challenged to do something with the information, students should be taught how to filter through and discriminate among the vast amount of data at their fingertips.yoni rossnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647004984448068921.post-52751120507886240302013-10-14T18:15:48.540-07:002013-10-14T18:15:48.540-07:00Aaron - what do you think of this for chinuch? www...Aaron - what do you think of this for chinuch? www.dafyomi4kids.com. What about other ways to use tech to teach gemara?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17444441780097882916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647004984448068921.post-74053893860615770052013-10-14T18:14:54.425-07:002013-10-14T18:14:54.425-07:00Hi Aaron what do you think of this for chinuch? ww...Hi Aaron what do you think of this for chinuch? www.dafyomi4kids.comAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17444441780097882916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647004984448068921.post-30578912138385756002013-10-05T09:17:19.423-07:002013-10-05T09:17:19.423-07:00Aaron,
Great example of authentic audience. The fa...Aaron,<br />Great example of authentic audience. The face that students were getting feedback half a year later reinforces the value of what they created. Their product has a lifespan that's longer than a school term. Nice! <br />Best,<br />SuzieSuzie Bosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07944748908503012150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647004984448068921.post-42387167735004922742013-10-01T20:16:37.477-07:002013-10-01T20:16:37.477-07:00Would this also benefit Lubavitch shluchim educati...Would this also benefit Lubavitch shluchim educating the tinukei sh'nisbharim?<br />Thanks, <br />Moishe Sachs<br />Rabbi Wexler's wife's 2nd cousin.FactsRulehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17713079197787552686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647004984448068921.post-18164546106141159052013-10-01T19:48:10.987-07:002013-10-01T19:48:10.987-07:00One slight clarification:
I did originally intend ...One slight clarification:<br />I did originally intend for the bookmarks to be distributed to shuls, and I told the kids that when I presented the project to them. The kids presented their bookmarks to the rabbis of those shuls back in May, but by the time the bookmarks were printed, it was too late in the year for them to be effective, so the shuls waited until this past week to distribute them. <br />Back in April, the kids' projects culminated with their presentations and that seemed fine: it was exciting to present their learning to someone important from outside the school and the kids prepared hard and presented well. However, now that the bookmarks were finally distributed and used in such a wonderful way, I think it was even more exciting for the kids - despite being almost a half a year and a full grade level later - because of the authenticity and meaningfulness of what they accomplished. <br />The issue of creating - or finding - an authentic audience has been a major struggle when trying to create PBLs for limmudei kodesh and your posts on this topic have really resonated with me. Glad this one seems to have worked! <br />Simcha Simcha Schaumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09335082938696936737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647004984448068921.post-18426509106651409592013-10-01T18:15:10.762-07:002013-10-01T18:15:10.762-07:00Aaron,
Thanks for the shout-out!
When I shared th...Aaron,<br />Thanks for the shout-out! <br />When I shared the news with my (former) students, I didn't really expect an enthusiastic response. After all, these are now 7th graders, and this was a follow-up of a project "way back" in 6th grade. However, the kids showed real excitement about what they had accomplished and its positive impact on the greater community. <br />Simcha Simcha Schaumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09335082938696936737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647004984448068921.post-52148135115716724932013-08-19T07:41:38.009-07:002013-08-19T07:41:38.009-07:00This is gorgeous!This is gorgeous!Celestahttp://bestrecumbentexercisebikes.us/2013/08/15/how-to-use-an-exercise-bike/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647004984448068921.post-70330946818246345322013-08-16T02:53:44.900-07:002013-08-16T02:53:44.900-07:00Awesome!Awesome!Thaliahttp://besttreadmillforhomes.us/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647004984448068921.post-26297760829266911922013-08-04T13:48:11.742-07:002013-08-04T13:48:11.742-07:00I very much agree that the point about not needing...I very much agree that the point about not needing immediate application is well made. However, I think the point is only valid to the extent that you could confidently say that what you are doing in school is truly helping advance these long-term goals. The fictional Mr. Miyagi is only able to do what he does due to a clearly refined poise that assures his student that all he is doing will, ultimately, pay off. The question is, to what extent could schools say that? M Lasternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647004984448068921.post-6941451273290404932013-07-23T18:30:16.395-07:002013-07-23T18:30:16.395-07:00This is cool!This is cool!Vernitahttp://topconvertiblecarseatreviews.net/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647004984448068921.post-83279184015670236932013-07-05T06:43:42.731-07:002013-07-05T06:43:42.731-07:00Gershon - two responses:
1) When to begin learnin...Gershon - two responses:<br /><br />1) When to begin learning Gemara is not the subject of the post. I have plenty to say on the topic (check the Lookjed archives), and as a teacher in the only school I know that has actually pushed back its beginning of Gemara (from 6th to 7th) in recent years, I would assume that we more or less agree.<br /><br />2) Either way, that was not the topic of this post. My focus was on whether or not we still need to use the standard text editions as opposed to ebooks or ibooks. I used Gemara as my main example, since the standard layout seems to have acquired some unexplained kedusha, but the main thrust of the post can apply to Chumash and Navi as well.Aaron Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14634159184538374914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647004984448068921.post-69609863892968638692013-07-05T06:26:25.813-07:002013-07-05T06:26:25.813-07:00You are making the assumption that it is worthwhil...You are making the assumption that it is worthwhile to begin with for middle school students to learn gemorah at all. I would argue that it's not for the overwhelming majority of students and that we should go back to heeding the words of our sages in Pirkei Avos and start introducing gemorah to kids at a much later point.Gershonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13163845682803760766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647004984448068921.post-56680166803877986582013-07-02T18:27:06.908-07:002013-07-02T18:27:06.908-07:00I fully embrace using technology but think that if...I fully embrace using technology but think that if we never use an actual text we are failing our students. Daniel Rothnerhttp://www.areyvut.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647004984448068921.post-16338839823626036762013-07-02T13:48:26.838-07:002013-07-02T13:48:26.838-07:00Aaron - thanks for the citation.
Just to be clear...Aaron - thanks for the citation.<br /><br />Just to be clear, I am an unqualified supporter of the Steinzaltz program. Largely for aesthetic reasons, I favor the layout of the original Steinzaltz over that of the punctuated-Vilna dapim in the Koren. And, I fail to understand how Vilna-style "tzuras hadaf" has come to be regarded as a 14th Principle of Faith.<br /><br />I also believe that a standard layout is educationally valuable -- on the printed page as well as on a screen. I just wish that Talmud educators would give the original Steinzaltz a chance to become that standard, especially for young students. <br /><br />David S. Zinberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18412806585632619687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647004984448068921.post-49836569185303539752013-06-30T09:38:27.883-07:002013-06-30T09:38:27.883-07:00So VERY VERY true!So VERY VERY true!Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164731464287436368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647004984448068921.post-54984702658644334422013-06-27T07:27:26.574-07:002013-06-27T07:27:26.574-07:00All very true -- I tell people that my vacation st...All very true -- I tell people that my vacation starts because the students aren't here and I can get real work done. Someone has to clear out the building, and start prepping for September. I start that in late March.Dan Rosenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05622982563470785003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647004984448068921.post-77615366381477582862013-06-06T05:33:24.093-07:002013-06-06T05:33:24.093-07:00I agree with you, Rabbi Ross, that we have to take...I agree with you, Rabbi Ross, that we have to take into account that adolescents are experimenting with identity in high school, and so we cannot make snap judgments about who they'll become once they've matured. In fact, aren't we all in the process of becoming our whole lives, and if we're not, then there's a problem! <br /><br />As a whole, yeshivas are much more professional, exciting places to be than they were 30 years ago, though I passionately loved my high school experience at YULA and so cannot complain about my own yeshiva experience. I felt accepted and nourished there, as I think we try to make our kids feel now. <br /><br />That said, we should always be looking to improve ourselves. I see too many kids who are bored in their classes, who are not excited about learning. I think there are many ways we could be engaging our kids more, though, as you know, I'm a big fan of yours, so present company excluded. In fact, I'd say if you could only replicate what you do for all yeshivot, we'd be in a much better place.<br /><br />Tikvah WienerTikvah Wienerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13456814067964639015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647004984448068921.post-57064266934324202082013-06-05T22:27:10.544-07:002013-06-05T22:27:10.544-07:00Interestingly, the anecdotes cited don't reall...Interestingly, the anecdotes cited don't really speak to whether day school education IS failing, they speak to whether it HAS failed. Aaron, when you and I were in high school, what were your thoughts on the topic? I remember very clearly talking then about how it was a failed system of babysitting--effectively marking time and warehousing the kids until they would be sent to Israel and reformed. And if you look at it honestly--perhaps not looking to the best and the brightest, but looking to the majority of those in the class . . . is that not what happened?<br /><br />However, I believe strongly that many things have changed for the better since then. Quite frankly, I believe that you and your cohort are doing everything you can not to repeat the failures of the last generation's teachers, and to give a far better, more engaging, more exciting, and longer lasting education. Just because it failed for the writer, and for you, and for me . . . doesn't mean it continues to do so.<br /><br />However, to address one of your points . . . I don't think the rate of attrition in our generation is that much due to the presence of those from non-frum homes. Fact is, I ran across an article last week describing an exquisitely treif experience by two self-described lifelong friends and former frum Jews. Having known these two through 18 years of yeshiva education, I can assure you . . . Their FFB credentials were unassailable. The presence of "OTD" kids in our generation involved all shapes and backgrounds.<br /><br />Truth is . . . I maintain now (as I did back then), the major contributor to kids leaving frumkeit is the parents/home environment. I wonder how many of the uninspired kids seen in today's schools are simply the children of parents who were equally uninspired back in the day--yet for whatever combination of inertia and peer pressure remained nominally in the fold while remaining uninspired and disengaged? When the home influence is completely lethargic towards learning and meaningful observance,few educators are inspiring enough to make a huge difference.<br /><br />FWIW, it's not always easy to predice, based on observing negative behavior in a school setting, whether a kid is truly disaffected. I have first-hand knowledge of my own Rebbeim who stated that I'd throw away my kippah the second I graduated . . .<br /><br />Reuven (you know which one :) )Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com