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A special needs Jewish day school is in the works for NYC, would be the first pluralistic special education Jewish day school in the country. Not an inclusion model, but meets the needs of parents who prefer a program tailored for special education

'Miss' Emily Aronoff Teck is a Jewish Music Educator who believes wholeheartedly in the power of informal education and utilizes music as her tool of choice. Emily studied at Brandeis University and in Israel before graduating from Florida Atlantic University with a B.A. in Jewish Studies. Emily was awarded the Grinspoon-Steinhardt Award for Excellence in Jewish Education in 2010. In 2012, Emily received a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Music from Florida Atlantic University. She is currently pursuing an Ed.D. in Jewish Education from Gratz College. Emily's primary focus in her career is early engagement of young Jewish children and their families through developmentally appropriate, enjoyable and meaningful musical experiences. She has written and recorded 4 albums of music and was featured on a PJ Library song compilation. Emily is grateful every day for the fact that it is possible to make a living doing what you love, and is looking forward to developing new ways for young families to meaningfully engage with their Judaism. - See more at: http://www.jewishlearningmatters.com/A-Director-JewishLearningMatters-com-Emily-Aronoff-Teck-M-Ed-508.aspx#content

Chicago area Jewish special needs program: gives " educational, recreational, vocational and social programs "

This is a great article about integrating the smartboard into your lessons. We don't have smartboards at the Synagogue (not yet) but they have one at the day school and at the federation. I've taught some classes before for adult ed at the federation and for kids at the day school and using the smartboard is quiet an experience. It is so much fun and really is the future. Typical story though: We have this family who donated a smartboard to the school but then wanted the smartboard to be used in the same class as their daughter who will be in first. But the director want's to have the smartboard in fifth grade so it can maximize student learning. Plus, the first grade teacher doesn't know how to use it and doesn't really want to incoorporate it into her classroom experience. If you were the director, would you put the nicely donated smartboard where the donor wanted it to go in the first grade classroom with their child or use it in another classroom entirely because that's what would benefit the school? Or would you humbly say no thank you to the gift because it has strings attached?

I would let the donor know that it is best suited in the fifth grade class. However, anytime any teacher wants to use it, arrangements would be made so that they could use the smart board. That's what we did in our religious school. The classes that would most likely use the smart board received it in their room. But if a teacher was doing a special project or needed use of the smart board, the classrooms were switched so that someone else could use it if need be.

Makes good sense to me. Giving gifts with strings attached really complicates the matter and everybody loses in my experience.

Rosh Pina is new Jewish organization, providing assistance & certification for schools and other Jewish institutions striving for inclusivity. (Full disclosure: the brilliant founder of said organization is my sister-in-law.)