How Does a Teacher Engage Her Entire Class?

Mechanchos participating in last years conference. Illustration Photo.

Rabbi Jacobson, an educational consultant from Los Angeles, will introduce and train participants in using what is arguably the single most powerful instructional strategy. Participants are first exposed to the concept from both the theoretical framework of educational psychology as well as from their own experience. The different categories and uses of Active Participation are learned and practiced.

Rabbi Jacobson, will be spending time in NY next fall, as the Chabad Consortium, a project of the Merkos Chinuch Office, inaugurates full participation on the part of Chabad educational institutions in federal funded professional development opportunities. Through the continued efforts of the Chinuch Office, the much anticipated program of high quality professional development will begin funded in entirety under the federal government’s Title I and Title II programs. This will include workshops, coaching and mentoring services for teachers and principals is schools that have signed up through the Chinuch Office.

Rabbi Dovid Jacobson, a well-known consultant and professional development practitioner who has been working on the plan since its inception, describes the available services as “custom-fit to the needs of the particular school and teacher.” Elaborating, he explains, “This funding will enable us to not only provide quality workshops on a wide variety of topics to the schools, but will also allow us to design and conduct individualized mentoring and coaching of many teachers and principals. That is where real growth as a Mechanech happens.”

Mrs. Fraidel Bukiet, principal of Bais Chaya Mushka in Los Angeles and Mrs. Devorie Kreiman, erstwhile principal of Beis Rebbe, the junior high school, had Rabbi Jacobson give workshops and mentor teachers in their school. Both are very enthusiastic about the program, especially the mentoring experience:

Mrs Kreiman commented: “Rabbi Jacobson worked with each of us (she herself was mentored!) where we were at and focused on the exact areas with which we needed help. He provided practical and individualized input and, because he repeatedly visited our classrooms and offices, there was room for feedback and growth. In his gentle manner, he was able to guide us into successful implementation. In the past, many teachers would like a new idea, but drop it after a few tries or feel it was too theoretical to apply.”

Rabbi Reuven Goldstein, a shaliach in northern California has been mentored by Rabbi Jacobson at South Peninsula Hebrew Day School in Sunnyvale, CA. “Even experienced teachers can gain a lot from his services, He commented. ”Rabbi Jacobson helped me deal more effectively with the wide range of abilities and backgrounds in my class, and to have my students take more responsibility for their learning.“

”Just having another pair of eyes in the classroom is extremely helpful. It energized our teaching,” added Kreiman.

Rabbi Nochem Kaplan, director of the Merkos Chinuch office who developed the Chabad Consortium to help Chabad schools nationwide, anticipates similar programs commencing in Florida, Seattle WA, in the near future with long term plans including many states across the country.

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