A Pivotal Year for Welcoming Students and Families

by Cindy Terebush, Early Childhood Consultant and author of "Teach the Whole Preschooler: Strategies for Nurturing Developing Minds”

In the best of years, the “Welcome Back” days of school can be intense.  Typically, the opening days are an emotional and tiring time. Young learners may be anxious.  Their families are nervous for their children and are adjusting to the new routine.  Early childhood staff members are working to reassure everyone while getting to know their new classes.  Those of us who work in early childhood education have come to expect a certain level of frenzy as classroom doors open for the first days. This year, however, will be different.  We are not living during typical times. Unsettling world events fill our television screens, newspapers and social media. Emotions and opinions are more intense than usual. This does not go unnoticed by young children... 

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Preschools Prepare to Welcome Students

Responding to Tragedy

Dear Friends,

It has been an eventful few weeks in the world. Our members have been deeply impacted by the vile and horrifying events in Charlottesville, and with the devastating effects of Hurricane Harvey. For some, the impact has been on their own communities, and for others, the impact has been helping the children and families process what they are seeing and hearing. For all, our hearts are struggling with what we can do to help. Many directors and teachers are being asked how to address the topics of hate and loss with the children in their care, and also, what families with young children can do to combat hate in communities near and far...

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Staff Review Tips and Tools

We hope that you check your in-boxes from the ECERJ Discussion List for tools, support, and resources.

Now that the year has started here are a few tools from directors to help with new and returning staff reviews. Teacher review and observations of the first 8-12 weeks of school: 

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A Forkful of Judaism

by Carol Paster

A few years ago, the senior staff of Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel (TSTI) in South Orange, New Jersey applied for a grant from Jewish Community Foundation to explore innovative ways to engage young families in Jewish life. The senior staff, being a team of creative thinkers, couldn’t agree on which new program to submit to JCF, so we did the next best thing - we proposed all of our ideas under one umbrella, entitled ‘A Forkful of Judaism; A 4-Pronged Approach to Young Family Engagement.’...

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URJ Biennial

Join ECE-RJ at the URJ Biennial 2017!

The URJ Biennial is the largest Jewish gathering in North America, bringing together 5,000 Reform leaders, including lay leaders, professionals, clergy, and youth leaders representing 1.5 million North American Reform Jews.  With over 140 sessions, you will have opportunities learn, pray, share ideas, network, and celebrate.  Be a part of the ECE-RJ presence at Biennial!  For more information and to register visit Biennial 2017.

Questions:
Please contact Fern Katz, VP of Conferences and Biennials
fkatz@chicagosinai.org

2019 ECE-RJ Conference