Professional Learning

Jen: As a director whose school is participating in the pioneer community of ElevatED, I have watched the ways in which my participating staff have been learning and growing together since the program launched in the fall. ElevatED’s groundbreaking collaborative initiative to transform the field of early childhood Jewish education has the potential to revolutionize the ways in which we view early childhood Jewish education and the connection between educators, families and communities. I am honored to be a part of it all. In preparation for this article, two of my mentor teachers, Brynn Klein, and Caroline Smith, shared with me their recent experience as part of their ElevatED mentor journey.

Field trip days were always so much fun in elementary school. Riding a bus with all your friends, not having to sit in the classroom, and getting to explore a new environment was the perfect recipe for a fun day at school – because we weren’t in school. As adults, we don’t have these types of opportunities very often, if ever.

On March 11, ElevatED directors, mentors, and emerging educators were invited to visit Beginnings Nursery School and the Teaching Beyond the Square Material Center in New York City. Since so much of our learning through the ElevatED community has been online, we were excited to sign up for this opportunity to take a field trip on a school day!

Brynn: The most meaningful part of the day for me was being able to see the ways in which other schools and teachers do what we do – teach young children. The experience of walking into another school environment, seeing their classroom set up and design, and the ways in which other teachers teach, encouraged me to think about the ways in which I do things in my own classroom. I came away with newly found inspiration of ways I could do things differently with my own class.

Caroline: Seeing the Reggio Emilia approach in practice in a different environment reminded me that there are so many ways that it can be done in our school. Talking to other teachers, sharing ideas and insights and being able to reflect on what each of us does in our own classrooms was the best part of it all.

Coming from a suburban town on Long Island and visiting an urban preschool in the heart of New York City, there were obvious differences between the two schools. Our school on Long Island is set on nine acres of property, with wide open spaces, grass and trees, and ample playground space. Beginnings is located on multiple floors of a building in downtown Manhattan, near Union Square. Classrooms are smaller and space is at a premium. The coolest, most impressive part of the school is their Material’s Center, which houses the largest assortment of loose parts we had ever seen. Seeing their center inspired us to think about ways we could start something similar in our school on a much smaller scale. We started coming up with items we could ask parents to start saving right now – laundry caps, coffee stirrers, carpet squares, paint swatches, bottle caps and more! We took lots of pictures of ways in which teachers use these loose parts in their classrooms, from birthday charts to counting and more.

Caroline: Being able to play with loose parts was a lot of fun. Brynn and I made a sukkah out of bag ties, straws and other upcycled materials. We were very proud of our creation! When we returned to school, we were talking about the letter T and I pulled out our loose parts and we called the activity “Trashy Treasures”.

Brynn: I was inspired talking to another teacher about sitting in circle time. This class used actual pretzels to demonstrate seating positions. The pretzel twist was used to represent “crisscross applesauce,” while the pretzel sticks were examples of legs outstretched, etc. I plan on using this when the children come to school in September. I took so many pictures of easy ways to change things up using nature and loose parts. I loved seeing numbers represented using chestnuts on a string. Such a simple, yet fun way to teach counting.

Jen: Brynn and Caroline had so much to share when they came back to school after their field trip. They sent me pictures during the day, and they were excited to share with the other teachers in the 3’s about what they saw and learned. As we look towards the fall, they are already talking about ways in which to incorporate some of their learning into new curriculum. I am already thinking about ways to make our own materials center (on a much smaller scale!) in our facility. ElevatED’s field trip was just what my teachers needed to stay inspired for the rest of the school year and beyond. I hope that we can offer staff a field trip like this yearly because the benefits of this type of learning surpass what can be learned in a conference or workshop. The best part for me is seeing my teachers inspired and excited. I am also now in conversation with other local preschools about finding days we can “swap” staff. Visiting other schools offers our educators the unique and valuable opportunity to engage in conversations on-site where they can share ideas and support one another. This is the true meaning of kehillah kedoshah!

Jen Schiffer, ECC Director

Brynn Klein, Caroline Smith, Head 3's Teachers 

The Community Synagogue

Sands Point, NY

Professional development has always been an important part of the learning that happens for teachers and staff in early childhood education. During COVID, we were unable to gain access to the face-to-face connections we looked forward to making during conferences and days of learning with other early childhood professionals.  

This year however, a “pop-up” conference opportunity presented itself, and I, along with a few colleagues, was able to attend a day of learning at Salanter Akiba Riverdale Academy, most often referred to as SAR Academy in the Bronx. While the Bronx is not conveniently located to Long Island, the hour-long drive was well worth it. 

Upon walking into the school, we were in awe of the school’s design and the learning happening in classrooms and outdoor spaces. The Early Learning Center at SAR is a new construction, completed in September of 2020, with open spaces for learning, a rooftop playground, indoor play spaces complete with a ball pit and climbing wall, as well as spaces for cooking, STEM learning and so much more.  

While SAR is a day school, and our early childhood center in Port Washington does not offer a Hebrew-immersion component, there was still so much to be learned from our visit We were lucky enough to visit SAR on the heels of the school’s Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebration, and we loved getting new ideas from the ways in which the individual classes celebrated. From hot air balloons created in blue and white with the number 75 on the basket (for Israel’s 75^th birthday), to a life-sized Kinneret that demonstrated for the children the ways in which the water gets into their homes – there was inspiration everywhere.  

The school design in itself was impressive. There were spaces for children to move and play, to hone their gross motor skills, and the rooftop playground was simple yet inspiring. The other teachers and I took many pictures to bring back to our colleagues in Long Island.   

As an added benefit, we were able to ask questions of the SAR staff, and also to get to know other educators in attendance. During lunch, we sat with educators from a school in South Carolina. We had a rich conversation about how we run our classrooms, our available resources, and the ways in which we infuse Judaism into our curriculum. 

The SAR staff was welcoming and friendly. Some of my favorite takeaways were simple and easy to incorporate into my classroom. I couldn’t wait to get back and put them into action.  

As a teacher who has been teaching for over 20 years, and working in the same preschool for 11 years, I surprised myself by how much I got out of this conference. It is rare that we get the opportunity to tour a different school and to interact with other early childhood educators in this way. I am grateful to have been given this unique opportunity and to incorporate so many new ideas into my classroom. 

Co-Written by Jaimee Stulberg, Head 3’s Teacher & Jen Schiffer Director  

The Community Synagogue L’Dor V’Dor Early Childhood Center 

As early childhood educators, we understand the importance of continuous professional development and the role it plays in enhancing our knowledge and skills to better serve our students. Recognizing this need, the Early Childhood Educators of Reform Judaism (ECE-RJ) recently organized a three-part professional development Meet Up Series for Early Childhood Directors and Assistant Directors. The series aimed to address the challenges faced by supervisors in mentoring their staff and provide insights into becoming productive and supportive supervisors.

The first session, titled "Professional Development Dilemma: What? So what? Now what?" was held on May 23, featuring guest speaker Jenna Turner. The session focused on the crucial task of determining the professional development needs of educators and finding the most effective format to deliver the necessary training. Attendees engaged in a lively discussion about maximizing the professional development budget and exploring collaborative opportunities within the community.

The second session, titled, "Reflecting on your Role as a Supervisor & Building Productive Supervisory Relationships with Staff," is scheduled for June 28 at 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm ET. Led by Elana Paru, a professional coach, mentor, and organizational consultant, this session will delve into the multifaceted nature of supervision. Participants will explore the importance of developing a professional and collaborative relationship between supervisors and supervisees. The session will offer strategies for providing and receiving effective supervision, emphasizing the shared responsibility and mutual accountability between supervisors and their staff. This interactive conversation promises to provide valuable insights and best practices for establishing and maintaining productive supervisory relationships.

The final session, titled "Creating Intentional Supervision For Your Staff," will take place on August 17, from 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm ET. Denise Moyes-Schnur will lead this session, addressing the challenges faced by early childhood supervisors working to meet the individual needs of their staff. Participants will explore the benefits of adopting a purposeful philosophy of staff supervision and how it can strengthen relationships within the team. Attendees will gain practical strategies and tools to implement intentional supervision practices, ensuring the growth and success of their early childhood teams.

Supervision plays a vital role in supporting teachers and promoting their professional development. Effective supervision goes beyond managing tasks and meeting deadlines. It entails building a nurturing and collaborative environment where both supervisors and supervisees feel valued and supported. By establishing a productive supervisory relationship, teachers can thrive and deliver high-quality education to their students.

To ensure the success of supervision, it is essential for supervisors to adopt best practices. These include providing regular feedback, setting clear expectations, fostering open communication, and promoting a culture of continuous learning. Additionally, supervisors should create opportunities for professional growth, such as offering relevant professional development opportunities, encouraging participation in conferences, and facilitating peer collaboration. By investing in the development of their staff, supervisors contribute to the overall improvement of the learning environment and the quality of education provided.

The Meet Up Series organized by ECE-RJ provides an excellent opportunity for early childhood directors and assistant directors to enhance their supervisory skills and explore innovative approaches to mentor a diverse staff effectively. By attending these sessions, participants can gain valuable insights and practical strategies that can be implemented in their respective institutions.

To register for the upcoming sessions or access the recording of the previous session, please visit the following links:

Session 1: Professional Development Dilemma: What? So what? Now what? Recording Link

Session 2: Reflecting on your Role as a Supervisor & Building Productive Supervisory Relationships with Staff - Registration Link

Session 3: Creating Intentional Supervision For Your Staff - Registration Link

Investing in professional development and promoting effective supervision practices are essential steps towards creating a nurturing and supportive relationship with early childhood educators and staff.

Zoë Miller and Mihaela Schwartz, Vice Presidents of Learning, ECE-RJ

As we head toward the summer months, we should all try to find moments of peace. Those hours spent diving into a good book helps us tune out the world and tune into ourselves. Here is a list of books, suggested by ECE colleagues that you might want to check out. They are separated by personal and professional suggestions, but I have found that many books that are listed in the “professional” category, have also had an impact on my personal perspective too. Thanks to those who shared their favorites to be included in these lists. And if you have others to share, please add them to the thread in the forum.

Happy reading!!!

The BEST of …Professional Reads

1. Teaching to Thinking by Ann Pelo and Margie Carter,
2. Appreciative Leadership by Diane Whitney
3. Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most by Douglas Stone
4. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
5. Dare to Lead by Brene Brown
6. Start with Why by Simon Sinek
7. The Importance of Being Little by Erika Christakis

The BEST of… Relaxing, enjoyable summer reads

1. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
2. Fresh Water for Flowers by Valerie Perrin
3. The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
4. The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
5. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
6. A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
7. Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
8. The Candy House by Jennifer Egan
9. Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Jennie Rubin

Assistant Director of ECE

Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel

South Orange, NJ