How to react to a student who says, “I don’t care, do whatever you want, I don’t want to be here anyway”. How can a teacher, with many students, interest a student who seems to have little to no desire in being in the class or participating in the lesson? How can the child be motivated to participate and enjoy the learning? Is it possible to teach a class in a way that the student wouldn’t want to miss a day?
Rather than responding to the student’s words, it may be far more important to respond to the student himself. The foundation for true success in the classroom, behaviorally and academically, begins with a meaningful personal connection. It is an awareness that the teacher is there for the student, rather than the focus being on the material to be taught. No matter how excited a teacher is about the subject, if the celebration is about the information, there is a good chance that some students may not be interested. When students feel that their teacher is invested in them, and cares about them personally, the students feel a sense of belonging and connection which causes them to take more interest and participate in the class.
You may likely remember your most meaningful year in school, as the year you felt that your teacher was truly there for you. It’s not enough for the teacher to feel it, rather it must be expressed in order for it to be meaningful. A simple gesture, eye contact, a smile, a warm greeting, a brief phone call, an attentive ear, an extension of extra support, these things can have a tremendous effect. Once this foundation is set and reinforced, the education process and achievement can develop and thrive.
This summer, join the 6th annual ART OF CHINUCH intensive training with Rabbi Levi Feldman. Take a deep-dive into the fascinating world of true Chinuch, carefully balancing care, warmth, and kindness, with structure, rigor and achievement. Explore the ingredients of delivering unforgettable life-long lessons for your students, who will come back and share the incredible impact that you had on them. If you are already investing so much time and energy into your teaching, do it right, and enjoy the process!
Mechanchos online interactive course, begins this Monday 19 Tammuz / July 18th
Mechanchim in-person & online course begins 4 Av / August 1st
Registration and more information is available at www.ArtofChinuch.com
Highlights
Create an environment where each student feels cared for
Deliver unforgettable lessons
Turn classroom problems into opportunities for growth
Enjoy teaching without getting drained by discipline
Inspire students to exceed expectations
Rabbi Levi Feldman bases his courses on Chassidic teachings, showing their timeless relevance within the modern-day classroom. “Some of the challenges we face today are new,” says Rabbi Feldman, “especially following Covid, with new anxieties and attention and focus issues. But having Chassidus as a foundation ensures our methods remain true to our goals and values.”
Unlike others, he’s not an education lecturer, rather he is a real teacher. “It is very rare that you get a teaching course from a teacher with many years of experience who is still teaching full time in the classroom,” says Rabbi Yosef Wolowik of Los Angeles. “With Rabbi Feldman, it’s not theory,” says Rabbi Hershel Lustig, veteran Oholei Torah Dean, “It’s based on what is tried and tested in the classroom.”
Rabbi Feldman has become a sought-after education consultant, offering workshops and seminars for teachers in his native Crown Heights, as well as Borough Park, Flatbush, Chicago, Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, London, and numerous other communities.
Rabbi Feldman’s knowledge, clarity and passion have become valuable commodities for teachers across the spectrum of the Jewish community. “As a first-year teacher, jumping into school was daunting,” says Ms. Leah Deren of Pittsburgh, PA. “But what kept the classroom running were the reminders, tips, and tools I gained from Rabbi Feldman’s classes.”
“Rabbi Feldman’s training was invaluable,” says Rabbi Fogel, Principal of Yeshiva Torah Temimah. “His classroom management techniques have been implemented as part of our staff handbook.”
“Your clarity combined with your passion truly inspired our teachers to make practical changes,” says Rabbi Shmuel Geisinsky from Buenos Aires, Argentina. “The bite size titles in conjunction with your practical anecdotes, are instantly doable and empowering to all level Mechanchim, veterans and novices alike.”
“This course addresses many pressing challenges a teacher encounters both in and out of the classroom,” says Mrs. Chavi Rappaport of Toronto. “It provides systematic routines and solutions to everything, from lesson planning to delivery and teacher-student interaction.”
Registration and more information are available at www.ArtofChinuch.com
As the saying goes “people don’t care what you know until they know that you care”. Of course connection with the student is vital for the teacher to teach the student. However it begins with the teacher being connected and at peace with himself. That is the starting point. Glad these important ideals are being discussed.
How many people do you know, including yourself, who are truly connected and at peace with themselves? I agree that’s an ideal, but not a starting point.
I think R. Feldman’s approach is a solid improvement to what’s generally offered in the classroom
and it improved my teaching drasticly!
very worth it