Passive Learning vs. Active Learning

This morning 2 of my kids said the following in reference to an experience in Hebrew School.

11 year old son - "I feel like I have to do things to make the whole world happy."

8 year old daughter (very matter of factly) - "Trust me I've been there!"

I was such a good student (I thought).  I sat at my desk, took notes and spewed back those notes during tests.  I didn't interrupt or ask questions, even though we were asked if we had questions.  Those kids who did have questions were the trouble makers because the goal was to be done.   As an adult I look back at my school years; I had some good times and some bad times.  I learned.  I learned to think passively.  I was trained, whether it was by certain teachers or by the presence of students and peer pressure to think passively.

Everyone has a different learning style.  However,  one thing that should remain constant is the ability to ask questions.  If you are asking questions, then you are actively thinking about what you are being taught.  How many times did we want to ask a question, even as an adult, and didn't because we thought it may sound stupid?  I can raise my hand on that one!  It is thought that the student who asks the most questions is learning the least because he doesn't understand.  However, the student who is asking questions is probably learning the most.  His/ her brain is engaged, they are wrapping their mind around the subject and looking at it from different angles. 

When students study Talmud, it is all about asking questions.  Ideally, 2 students are paired together who think differently.  These students can go back and forth on a topic for hours, asking each other questions and defending their position, or changing their minds.  Iron sharpens iron!

I tried to put this into practice today when I went to Chabad for Torah study.  I asked at least 3 questions, and the answers were helpful.

Regardless of where we are learning, it is so important to engage our brains and ask questions, I would even say make ourselves ask at least one question during a study session or class.  It will change the way we learn and think.

Everything Has To Do With Everything

The Torah portion this week is Shmini (Leviticus 9-11).   It means the 8th day.  What is so special about the 8th day?  Seven days represents nature, the Talmud compares the first seven days of celebrating the construction of the Tabernacle to the seven days of Creation.  The first seven days is an element or component in and of itself, the eighth day starts us over at a new level, it is above nature.  A bris milah (circumcision) is done on the eighth day.  Even if a bris milah falls on Shabbos, it is performed because this act is above nature, above logic.  We must connect the eighth day to the previous seven days.  Everything we do now means something for the future.

The Tabernacle was built for the sin of the golden calf.  Each day for seven days the Tabernacle was erected, and the Israelites waited for G-d's fire to come down.  For seven days His fire did not come down so the Israelites dismantled the Tabernacle, made sure their repentance for the golden calf was sincere and complete, and tried again the following day.  On the eighth day G-d's fire came down. 

All revelations of the future depend on what we do now.  In other words, the future depends on what we do now.  Are we learning Torah, fulfilling commandments?   The holiness of Shabbos is connected to creation, we make it happen. 

Here is a wonderful story, this can definitely be shared with our families over the Shabbos table, or anytime.

A king went out hunting in his hunting clothes.  He got lost just outside of the forest but he saw a light.  He followed the light to a hut and knocked on the door to ask for help, however, the peasant told him he could not help him.  He then goes to the next hut where a man named Moshe answers the door.  Moshe says he does not have much but he is welcome to what he has.  Moshe gave the king (not knowing he was the king), some straw to sleep on and some goats milk to drink.  The next day the king was able to leave and find his way home.  Three days later the king sent his royal carriage to Moshe's hut and Moshe is told the king wants to see him.  Moshe cant figure out what he has done wrong that the king should want to see him.  The king thanks Moshe for his help, for the straw and goats milk, and tells him he will build him a beautiful home right next to the palace and give him money so he should not want.  Moshe meets another man and this man asks him how this happened.  Moshe said he gave the king straw and goats milk.  So.....this man knocks on the castle door with straw and goats milk and tries to give it to the king.  The man is kicked out.  The king doesn't need straw and goats milk now. 

We are in exile, and G-d is in exile with us.  Anything we do for Him now, G-d will give us back a gift so much greater than what we gave to Him. 

Can you see how we are connecting the 7 days of Creation with the 8th day?  Creation represents our effort, we start from darkness and make it light (there was evening and then morning-all of our days on the Hebrew calendar start at night), G-d starts with light and penetrates the dark. 

Good Shabbos!

The Maccabeats - Purim Song

But the Food is Kosher!

When we hear the word kosher, we immediately think of food.  However, the definition of kosher is proper or fit, not just for food but for everything in our life.  Kosher is such a well known word that you don't have to be Jewish to use it. 

We celebrate Purim in a couple of days, it is such an exciting holiday, especially with children.  Costumes, groggers, food, drink....some say it is holier than Yom Kippur.   How can this be?  Because on Purim we are to have such a good time that we don't recognize the difference between Haman and Mordecai.  What does this mean?  This means there is no appearance of evil, this means we are back in Gan Eden (paradise). 

However, let's talk about a party that led up to the events of Purim.  King Achashverosh threw a huge party and promised there would be kosher food.  The Jews would have no excuse not to come, right?  Mordecai explained that we should not attend such a party, that even though the food may be kosher, the party was not.  In the end Acheshverosh made a mockery of the Jews, he wore priestly garments, and he ate from the Temple vessels,  The king also wanted his queen to show up with only her crown so people could see how beautiful she was.  She refused, but this tells us what kind of king this was and that this was not a kosher party!

Where do we spend our time today, where are our kids, what are we/they involved with?  Is it kosher?  We don't live in a kosher world,  it is up to us to bring G-d's light into the world through our actions, what we read, what we watch, who we hang out with, where we go.  It all counts.   Let's hold onto our principles, to our Torah.  One thing is for sure, the world is watching and will respect a person who stands up for their values, and their convictions.   Let's keep it kosher!

We All Bounce On A Little Trampoline

To the tune of We All Live In A Yellow Submarine:  We all bounce on a little trampoline, a little trampoline, a little trampoline.

Now try and get that out of your head today!  lol.

We were given a little trampoline years ago, and it has sat in the garage and then in the shed.  I often thought of getting rid of it but (and don't laugh), it was just cute and I felt I may need it some day. 

Since then my neighbor called and asked if we would like their big trampoline, its 14 feet across, and her kids have outgrown it now.  I said yes.  Her husband, daughter, my son and I, all rolled this trampoline down the street to our backyard-yes we almost lost it a few times.  My kids have been enjoying it, literally spending hours on it.  Imagine being told to go jump on the trampoline between math and science?  Another great benefit to homeschooling.   I decided to join in the fun and after 5-10 minutes I got off.  Wow, how do they do this for hours?  They flip and run and jump all over the place.  I basically bounced, not jumped, my feet stayed in tact with the surface below me.  I came in to lie down-why was jumping, or bouncing, so exhausting? 

I have done some research and it turns out jumping, or bouncing, is one of the healthiest exercises around.  You can google it and its out there.  Here is a list of some of the health benefits of trampoline jumping:

~ helps combat depression
~ normalizes blood pressure
~ helps prevent cardiovascular disease
~ improves coordination
~ enhances digestion
~ gives relief from neck and back pain
~ strenghtens the immune system
~ better mental performance
~ good for the lymphatic system

The last one really intrigued me:  the lymphatic system.  The lymphatic system is responsible for carrying nutrients to the cells and waste away from the cells.  It doesn't move on its own, it relies on us to move to get it going.  If we don't exercise, our cells will just sit in their own waste and be starved of nutrients.   This of course contributes to aging and diseases.  So why is jumping up and down one of the best ways to get it moving?  The fluid in our vessels moves in one direction-up; up the arms, legs and torso.  This is why jumping up and down is so effective, especially on a trampoline, a trampoline gives where the ground does not; less chance for injury to the bones etc... 

I am not a doctor by any means, these are things I read on the internet on several sites.  It makes sense to me and I wanted to share it.  I am enjoying bouncing with my kids but I am also glad I kept my little trampoline, which will be moving from the shed to the house!   

We all bounce on a little trampoline, a little trampoline, a little trampoline......

There's No Place Like Home

I am a big fan of the 1990's TV show Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman.  I love the west, the outdoors, and times gone by.   My kids have also seen this show many times with me and know when to get the box of tissues, I tend to cry at everything since hitting my 40's.  I notice watching this show and others like it, that the people spent a lot of time outdoors, they did their living outside more than inside-gardens, livestock, fishing, playing, laundry, even bathing.  People could travel for days by horse and get used to the sights and sounds of the great outdoors.  However, at the end of the day or the end of the trip, everyone would say the same thing - its great to be home! 

It may seem like a strange thought or perplexing question but if we like the outdoors and can do so much living away from home then why do we need a home, a permanent place to hang our hat and call our own, a place with 4 walls?   Its more than familiarity, although that is part of it.  Its comfort, love, a haven, a place we can be ourselves, even an extension of who we are.

We just finished 4 parshas regarding the Mishkan, or Tabernacle.  G-d is everywhere,  yet He desires a place to call home.    It is amazing to think that the Creator of the Universe wants to be with us and share our home.   Since we do not have the Tabernacle right now, we are His home.   We've heard that before but when we think what this means, what a home represents and how important a home is, its quite amazing.   This means the Creator of the universe uses us as His haven and we become an extension of Him.   What an awesome thought!

Bei Mir Bistu Shein - Traditional Yiddish Folk Song

The Fortunate Man

Tehillim (Psalms) is a wonderful thing to read with our kids before bed.   We bought a pocket sized Tehillim for each of our kids for Rosh Hashana a couple of years ago.  We gave them that along with a $10 bill.  We told them we wanted them to start the new year right with blessings and prosperity.

The Tehillim we bought has both Hebrew and English in it and is called the Metsudah Tehillim.

Chapter 1, verse 1 says: Fortunate is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the wicked, and in the ways of the sinful he has not stood, and in the seat of the scornful he has not sat.  

I thought I would share how I went over this verse with my kids.

What are the actions described here?  walked, stood, sat
When do we walk, sit and stand?  We do these things all day long, after we wake up in the morning.
What is the fortunate man to avoid?  counsel of the wicked, ways of the sinful, seat of the scornful.

There is a popular saying - walk the talk and talk the walk.

Basically, the walk is how we live our lives.  Here it is saying not to walk in the counsel of the wicked.  What does wicked mean?  It means unscrupulous or capable of harm.   Do we want counsel or advice from anyone who is capable of harming us?  No, because we can also turn around and hurt others the same way.  Its very important to watch the company we keep.  Just because someone gives us advice does not mean its good advice, we need to consider the source.

Next is avoid ways of the sinful.  What is the character of this person?  Do they get themselves in trouble, how is their speech, who do they hang around with?  We are not to stand in the way this person stands.  There is an expression that says we need to stand up for ourselves.  When we stand up for ourselves we are avoiding those who try to change us with bad habits-its resistance.

What does scornful mean?  A person who will treat you as though you are worthless or have no value, as though you don't count.  A person who looks at you with scorn is not a good thing!  Each one of us count, our mitzvot count in Hashem's eyes and we will be rewarded for them, don't let someone steal these from you by making you feel you don't count.

Is it any wonder that Psalms starts in this way; telling us who we should avoid so we don't take on bad characteristics?  This means a couple of things.  If we are being told how not to act, then we are already starting out on the right foot.  We come into this life with purity, not as a blank slate per say but as a good, wholesome soul.  We are starting off on the right foot so this advice tells us how to stay on track.  Also, verses tend to connect.  You can't take one verse and use it alone.  If this verse is telling us now not to act, who not be to with,  then the next verse must tell us what we need to do to keep ourselves on the right path.

Verse 2 But only in the Torah of Adonai is his desire, and in his Torah he meditates day and night.

The Torah is not meant for scolars alone.  It is meant for all of us.  It has applications for us that are practical and also very spiritual-we are made of flesh but have a soul so we need both.

Its important for our kids to feel familiar and comfortable with the Torah, then they can relate with the fortunate man in Tehillim 1.


Shalom,
Tamar

Homeschool Resources

       To hear my homeschool interview on blogtalk radio visit blogtalkradio.com/utomdotorg. 

 
There is an abundance of homeschooling resources at our disposal.   It is very easy to get overwhelmed so having someone make suggestions as to what is worthwhile is a big help.  Also, join a homeschool group for support for you and your kids.  These moms will be glad to share their experiences, good and bad, with you.  We belonged to a couple of different groups and co-ops over the years, and it provided a good experience for us.  There is a Jewish homeschooling Yahoo group called Chevra which is wonderful, we belong to this and its members are all over the United States.  

Here is a list of companies (websites, catalogs, books) that I have used and recommend:

www.currclick.com  (online curriculum you can download (some are free) and online live courses)

http://chinuchonline.com/  (Torah education for all ages in both Hebrew and English)

www.rainbowresource.com  (ask for a free catalog-its huge and will give a good idea of whats out there)

http://www.charlottemasoneducation.com  (an old fashioned way of teaching, not geared toward text books but toward a wide variety of short lessons throughout the day) I refer to her books often.

http://www.queenhomeschool.com/  (I visited their both at a homeschool convention and they had a vast array of homeschool supplies)

Ruth Beechick, You Can Teach Your Child Successfully (book can be found on Amazon or look in your library). Basically how to get away from textbooks, and individualize learning for your child.  A great book!

How To Teach Your Child To Read in 100 Easy Lessons.  Also found on Amazon.

Artscroll has some great children's books that I have learned a lot from such as Children's Book of Yonah, Children's Book of Ruth, Children's Siddur.  Lots of pics, like a comic book.

If you are looking for workbooks for Hebrew, Behrman House has a nice selection.   Our Hebrew school uses them and we have used them at home as well.    http://www.behrmanhouse.com

http://eps.schoolspecialty.com/
(they have math and reading)  I use the Explode the Code series for phonics and Wordly Wise for vocabulary.

Google Books - Handbook of Nature Study (887 pages).  I print the pages I want to teach from (not all pages are available on google books) and my kids have a nature notebook they draw in and take notes.  We've learned how valuable dandelions are by sitting in the front yard and watching them in their different stages.  I would love a hard copy of this book.

Jewish History - Ken Spiro is a fabulous historian and can be heard on Aish.com and simpletoremember.com.  He has also written a book called Crash Course in Jewish History.
My oldest son is a history buff and we listened to the whole series and then he read the book.

www.thehomescholar.com  This site is by a mom who homeschooled her children and sent them off to college with scholarships.  

The library is a fabulous resource that should not be overlooked.  Even if a book is needed for the moment, that does not make it a keeper.  The library will let you borrow books for 2-3 weeks and probably renew if you need to.  No reason to spend money for a book, dvd or cd that you only need for a short time.  On occasion we go to the library to do schoolwork just for a different environment.


Some Things I've learned along the way:

Don't be afraid to scrap your plan for the day if something better presents itself.

You don't have to use an entire book, you may only like one section of the book, use that and forget the rest.

Homeschooling does not produce perfect kids.

Leave books scattered around that you would like your kids to pick up and look at.

Its tempting but not necessary to buy fancy curriculum.

Kids copy what we do more than what we say.

Just because children come from the same parents does not mean they will learn in the same way, they will  have different personalities and learning styles.

Kids go at their own pace.  With homeschooling, a  child who would be in 5th grade can do 7th grade science, 3rd grade math and 5th grade reading-no need to rush through and skip so they can go to the next grade with the rest of the class or keep them from excelling.

If you want your kids to embrace their Jewish heritage, don't rely on your synagogue/Hebrew school-they should only be a supplement to what you do at home.  Kids will see real fast what is important to you.  

I hope this was helpful!

Shalom,
Tamar

A Jew at Heart

Two men are talking in Israel,  one is a Yeshiva student who studies Torah, the other is an Israeli soldier who is in the army.  The soldier says to the student that he is not observant,  but he is a Jew at heart.  After a while, the soldier starts making fun of the student and finally says to him that he should be in the army.  The student replies that he is a soldier at heart! 

I love this story, it speaks volumes.  This week's Torah portion, Pekudei, (Exodus 38:21-40:38) mentions the word Tabernacle 2 times in the first verse.  Why?  Because it is speaking of 2 different tabernacles, a spiritual tabernacle and a physical tabernacle.  Which tabernacle fulfills G-d's desires?  The physical tabernacle.  Why?  Because G-d desires to  have a physical dwelling place in this world.  With a physical tabernacle we can do certain mitvot.  Why is this important?  Because even though G-d doesn't need us to do mitzvot, He wants us to do mitzvot. 

A wife does not want to hear I love you from her husband through the course of their marriage without him doing something special for her;  flowers, making breakfast, fixing something, etc...

G-d desires our mitzvot.  Even though the tabernacle is not here now, we represent the tabernacle and there are still plenty of mitzvot to do.  These mean so much to G-d and will bind us to Him.  As we light shabbos candles tonight, we are doing a very important mitzvot connecting our world with the world to come, our family with the creator.  

Shabbat Shalom!

The Privelege of Speech

I recently shared with my kids how wonderful the gift of speech is.  Hashem could've let our pets speak as well but He didn't.  Why?  Because we have the ability to learn and to grow and to share this knowledge with each other through actions and speech.   We use our speech to build each other up and unfortunatlely we abuse it by tearing each other down as well.  Also, how else would we communicate with our Creator without the gift of speech?   We have had our lab for 6 years and she is the same now as she was when we got her, only a little older.  

I am reading the book Around Sarah's Table, its awesome.  Its about a group of women in NY who gather at Sarah's house for Torah study.  In one part of the book they speak of the Tower of Babel.  It says the people were supposed to unite with G-d but, instead they unified with themselves.  This unity gave them the strength to feel they could rebel against G-d.  "The Tower of Babel was an outgrowth of their plan to rebel.  Therefore, the privilege of speaking the holy tongue was taken away from them.  Instead of speaking words that expressed essence, their speech was reduced to 'babble'."  (pg. 156).

So I ask myself, and my kids, are we worthy of the gift of speech?  Do we take it for granted?  Do we curse and gossip?   Speech truly is a gift and when used right Hashem will bless us!