The most significant thing I learned through TAP: Don’t insult a child.
By Dotan Yarden, TAP Teen at BZBI Our goal as educators is to create an accepting and motivational environment that helps children learn and flourish. Learning is voluntary. Being taught does not necessarily mean someone is learning, and the best way to make sure people are learning is to get them to want to learn. I know that I have learned more in classes when the teacher was nice and encouraging. Just last week I was sitting in English class, confused about what to do and when I asked for help my teacher told me that this was "simple stuff". This only made [...]
Creative Solutions When Working with Kids
by Madeline Berman, TAP Teen/Or Ami Every Sunday I volunteer at my Hebrew school. In the 6th grade class I work with, there is a girl with a disability. Through working with her I have learned so much. I learned to be patient when I need to and creative in the ways we help her succeed in learning. This is what I enjoy about working with a child who has a learning difference. When I watch Sammie work in class, I see how smart she truly is. She is capable of so much and I'm striving to help her express [...]
Working with a Funny, Smart, Kind…Special Child
By Danielle Berman, TAP teen from Congregation Ohev Shalom, Wallingford From the moment I was assigned to work with my special friend I knew that my job wasn’t going to be easy. In early September I started to work at the Mispallelim Hebrew School located at Congregation Ohev Shalom. I work with a girl who is funny, smart, kind, and also happens to be a selective mute. This child doesn’t talk to anyone at Hebrew School but she finds clever other ways to express her emotions and thoughts. For instance this student has a love for puppets and has an [...]