by Elijah Barkan, Germantown Jewish Centre Participating in the TAP program has taught me a lot about how to better engage with students in my religious school classroom. One of the things I focused on was making a space that can work for everyone. I used what I learned about Sensory Processing Disorder and how everybody senses and interacts with the world in their own way. Whenever students have seemed to be struggling in the environment we are in, I have thought about the ways in which I can help them to thrive in the classroom. This can range [...]

by Brody Smith, Beth Tikvah-B’nai Jeshurun This is the second year I have volunteered to help with students in religious school. I have helped teachers by supporting them when they need classroom material or if they need assistance helping kids understand the lesson better. The kids, however, are the ones who need their Madrichim the most. Helping can be a friendly conversation or making sure they are calm and respectful during the teacher’s instructions. If they need any type of support, they can be sure that they always have me to turn to. One helpful strategy that I learned [...]

by Eitan Monson, Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El In the last few months we have felt in the Jewish community a new sense of togetherness. It is at these times that our roles working with kids at Hebrew schools are of a greater importance than ever. I have made it a point to show the kids I work with how to embrace Hebrew and Jewish topics and be proud of who they are. With TAP I have learned many new techniques for working with kids. For example, during Parashat Noah I was tasked with explaining the story to a group [...]