Teacher Resources

Teacher Resources

Books

Brinn, R.E., J. Groner and M. Wikler. Bible Story Crafts for Little Hands. Rockville, MD: Kar-Ben, , 2000.

Brinn, R.E., J. Groner and M. Wikler. Jewish Holiday Crafts for Little Hands. Rockville, MD: Kar-Ben, 1993.

Brinn, R.E. Jewish Holiday Games for Little Hands. Rockville: MD: Kar-Ben, 1995.

Burstein, C.M. The Jewish Kids Catalog. Philadelphia: JPS, 1993.

Cooper, I. Jewish Holidays All Year Round. New York: Harry Abrams, Inc, 2002.

Drucker, M. The Family Treasury of Jewish Holidays. Boston: LB. 1994.

Etkin, R. A Singing Calendar: Early Childhood Songs, Nursery Rhymes and Playlets. NY: Tara. 1992.

Furfine, S.S. and N.C. Nowak. The Jewish Preschool Teachers Handbook. Denver: ARE, 1981. (out of print)

Goodman, L.G. and A.H. Zell. Head Start on Holidays: Jewish Programs for Preschoolers and Parents. Denver: ARE, 1991.

Gross, J. Celebrate: A Book of Jewish Holidays. New York: Grosset and Dunlap, 1992.

Jewish Early Childhood Association of Baltimore. Jewish Activities Throughout the Year. (You can e-mail me for purchase information).

Kolatch, A.J. A Child's First Book of Jewish Holidays. Middle Village, NY: JD, 1997.

Nathan, Joan. The Children's Jewish Holiday Kitchen. Schocken, 1995.

Peterseil, G. The Energizing Jewish Holidays for Children. NY: Pitspopany,1999.

Ross, K. The Jewish Holiday Craft Book. Brookfield, Conn: Millbrook, 1997.

Rouss, S. Fun with Jewish Holiday Rhymes. NY: UAHC, 1992.

Silverman, M. My First Book of Jewish Holidays. NY: Dial, 1994.

van Elden, Anita Kramer. In the Key of Me! Plunk, 1999.

Weilerstein, Sadie R. What Danny Did. New York: Bloch, 1944. (out of print)

Jewish Early Childhood Resources

ARE

This is the resource book of all resource books...

every director, teacher and specialist should have a copy!

Written by Maxine Segal Handelman

with musical contributions by Julie Jaslow Auerbach,

every page of Jewish Every Day will be ear-marked!

Maxine Segal Handelman and Deb Schein have collaborated on another wonderful resource for Jewish Early Childhood Educators. The text is divided into five parts: Food, Animals, The World Around, All About Me and Popular Children's Books and Authors. Each part contains many popular classroom themes, integrating Hebrew language, Israel, literacy and values connections for the Jewish EC classroom.

Fingerprints: Discovering Jewish Life from the Jewish Education Center of Cleveland

A practical guide to a Jewish holiday curriculum. The text is full of background, resources, ideas and activities. I especially like the developers' concept of "fingerprints," the general concepts of structures, food and birthdays, that are woven into the Jewish year. A sample chapter is available online through the JECC website.

URJ Press

Another amazing music compilation by Judy Caplan Ginsburgh. Twenty-five simple songs to transform the transitional parts of the day from ordinary to exciting and rich in learning! In a variety of styles, Judy's tunes will enhance your circle time, line-leading, cleaning up, lunch time as well as teaching of basic concepts like feelings, colors, counting, opposites, months and days. The Hebrew language and prayers are woven into the songs beautifully. The CD may be purchased by itself or with a companion teacher's guide that includes music, lyrics and curriculum ideas.

Bereshit Early Childhood Curriculum from Machon L'Morim

This CD, developed by the CJE of Baltimore, includes a wonderful Jewish-based curriculum for the following themes:

All about me	World around us	Senses
Chicks	Cantor	Shabbat
Dentist	Farm	Space
Fall	Mammals	Spring
Firefighter	Me and my family	Winter
I am special	Rabbi

The First Steps Curriculum from Board of Jewish Education of Greater New York

First Steps: Learning and Living for Young Jewish Children
- An experiential curriculum that follows the Jewish calendar with sections devoted to holidays and special events
- Includes practical suggestions for integrating Jewish living through songs, games, recipes, art and science projects
First Steps in Learning Torah With Young Children, Vols. 1 and II (Bereshet and Sh'mot)
- Draws upon a wide range of curriculum areas -- language, science, math, social studies, art and music
- Reinforces children's understanding that Torah is an integral element of their lives

If you are looking for a fabulous resource that will make the connection between Torah stories and the lives of the children, First Steps in Learning Torah with Young Children is for you! For teachers who may focus on the Torah reading for the week, the format of the book will be ideal. I appreciate the authors' thoughtfulness in the headings they provide for several of the subtitles and for related activities and discussions. These headings may provide opportunities for the teacher who wants to incorporate Judaica in the most ordinary moments. For instance, if a teacher overhears how a family has brought a new pet into the house (or the addition of a classroom pet), she may talk about caring for pets....a heading that may be found which corresponds with the story of Rebekah. Another example: two children are arguing over a toy. What better way to "teach" conflict resolution than by telling a story. As one flips through the pages of First Steps, she would run across the chapter Lech Lecha: Learning from Avraham: Resolving Conflicts. What a great short narrative to present at the next circle time and relate it to classroom conflicts in a non-threatening, less personal (for the children) manner.

The BJE of Greater New York children's books

written by Floreva G. Cohen

My Special Friend

Doron and Jonathan are friends who meet together every Shabbat for services. One Shabbat morning the boys are asked to lead the Adon Olam. Read how one friend's confidence leads to another's courage in doing something new.

Sneakers to Shul

Follow the footsteps of a family's Yom Kippur preparations as seen through the eyes of a young boy.

A Hanukkiyah for Dina

Everyone in Dina's family has his own Hanukkiyah, except for Dina. A visit to her grandfather's house, some potatoes and oil make Dina's Chanukah celebration the best ever!

Before Shabbat Begins

Shira can't wait to wear her new beautiful dress for Shabbat. Of course she must show all of her neighbors. Her mother doesn't mind as long as she is careful and is back in time for the candle-lighting. But what could possibly happen?

BJE of Greater New York's video

All of Us Together: How Families Can Include Children in the Mourning Process

A 16 minute video that includes suggested reading list for parents and children.

Lively Legends-Jewish Values by Miriam Feinberg and Rena Rotenberg from ARE Publishing

Formatted the same way as Torah Talk, the authors have adapted 17 value-rich stories for storytelling to young children. Each story is accompanied by a variety of teaching extensions, including ideas for pre-reading, circle time, center time, revisitation and home connections. I waited far too long to order this resource...don't you!

Tastes of Jewish Tradition from JCC of Milwaukee

Another collaborative community resource by the educators and parents affiliated with the JCC in Milwaukee. This fabulous resource started out as a cookbook but became so much more! Developed around the theme of the Jewish holidays, each chapter contains holiday explanations, "Traditions and Text," "Fascinating Food Facts," menus, prayers, "Kids in the Kitchen," crafts activities and a read-aloud story written with children in mind!

Dance...

Latifa Kropf, author of It's Challah Time and other books in the series, has a fabulous new resource for EC classrooms: Jewish Dances for Young Children. I purchased the Instruction manual, music CD and Quicktime video disk when I saw Latifa in Washington DC at the Jewish Network day. My kids performed "Like a Tree" for our senior friends at a nearby center we visit. The dances are simple to teach and easy to learn! For some samples of Latifa's dances, check out her website at www.jewishsacreddance.com. This is a must-have!!!! Thank you, Latifa!

Music...

(Recordings that are not categorized as "Jewish music" are denoted by *...however, songs on these albums may be referred to in various sections of this website throughout the year.)

Abrams, Leah (Tara Publications)

Apples on Holidays and Other Days

Allard, Peter and Ellen

*Good Kid

*Raise the Children

*Sing It! Say It! Stamp It! Sway It! Volume 1

*Sing It! Say It! Stamp It! Sway It! Volume 2

*Sing It! Say It! Stamp It! Sway It! Volume 3

*Sing Shalom: Songs for the Jewish Holidays

Avni, Fran

*I'm All Ears: Sing into Reading

Latkes and Hamentashen

*Little Ears: Songs for Reading Readiness

The Seventh Day

Berkner, Laurie (I purchased several CDs by this artist after I came across an online article mentioning how she is donating the proceeds of a CD to help fund early childhood arts programs. I ran out to Nordstroms children's shoes department (Elefanten shoes is a partner in this venture) and bought the CD, Bumblebees and Googleheads. I loved it so much, I ordered all of her CDs!)

*Buzz Buzz

*Under a Shady Tree

*Victor Vito

*Whaddaya Think of That?

Buchman, Rachel

Jewish Holiday Songs For Children

Shine Little Candles: Chanukah Songs for Children

Craig 'n Co.

My Jewish Discovery

My Newish Jewish Discovery

Daniel, Karen

Teachable, Singable and Jewish