Resetting our priorities
As Jewish people we are blessed with Shabbat – a day of rest, to reset your priorities, to focus on important things like family and friends, education, traditions, and legacy.
For ...
Tag: Gradinita Gan Eden
Feedback Day and More
Today was a beautiful day. We started the day by visiting three classes in the preschool. We were welcomed warmly into each room by teachers and children. Following our observations, we met with Beti, ...
How Powerful!
It is so powerful to see 40 Jewish early childhood educators sitting together in one room, speaking 4 different languages, all buzzing with excitement and eager to learn. We were warmly welcomed ...
Connections
We started the day at Gan Balagan, meeting up with Beti and Niya, as well as our friends who came from Lauder Javne Ovode in Budapest, with their director Szonja. Beti and Niya took us on a tour of ...
Where to now?
That’s it! It is finished! I packed my bags, I said goodbye to old friends ( my Europe support group Sonya and Vera from the Lauder kindergarten in Budapest, Beti and Vanessa from Gan Balagan in Sofi), to mentors ( Mara and Nama who made this approach not only doable but also so well fitted with our Jewish heritage), to rediscovered friends (like Kate and Erin from Temple Emanuel that shared not only the room) but also their views on this process, their hopes and dreams and plans, to new friends (70 teachers from USA and Israel ready to share their experience on this journey), to pedagogistas and atelieristas and teachers that took time to share their excitement, curiosity, knowledge, ways of working and looking at kids with us.
And now what? Where do I go from here? In one of the workshops, they told us over and over: theory and practice go hand in hand all the time.
So the next step is practice. Here is my to-do list for home:
– define a workgroup. A workgroup is a bunch of people working together with a common goal.
– take the I out of the conversation and of the process of thought. They said we weren’t on a professional training program but in a process of ” transformazione”. Because we change the basics of how you deal with a world, you transform yourself, you evolve. And one of the concepts is acknowledging multiple ways of looking at the world. And you can not do that if everything is around me: I think, I want, my opinion is;
– documentation, observation, questions, and repeat the process with the new input.
So children, here I come! It is our Gan so it has to be no longer what I think is good and important but what WE think. Parents, members of the community lets be a functioning working group!
Does this mean that in x amount of time everything will be perfect? For sure not! But at least we will evolve together aware of our reality, history, traditions, culture, and dreams! ~ Dalia Golda, Director Gradinita Ganeden, Bucharest, Romania
The colors of the rainbow
It’s been 5 days since I am here in Reggio Emilia, looking at projects that children and teachers are developing together, but more importantly discover the magic that is behind this projects – the documentation, the questions – always there is a Why strongly connected to a How, the attention for details, but also the importance of everyone’s voice and the values of working in a group.
I look at the society we are living in and I am thinking of what kind of a world we want our children to inhabit. I look around and I am surrounded by people always complaining, not satisfied whit what they have, with how the world goes, how decisions are taken. But are we doing something about it? No, because often we answer: who am I to say something different? Do you want people to look different at me? I am nobody, no one cares about what I have to say? We do so many things we strongly disagree with only because it is easier than trying to find a reason, an explanation, or even a solution – not necessarily a better one, but to show a different perspective on things.
We say we want our kids to be different but we tell them from the beginning: you are not capable of anything, you are a baby – so the child will learn: what’s the point of trying if I am not going to get it right, or on time like the adults. We tell them exactly how the world is – and we make it black and white, without options, without possibilities, with only one truth – the one of the adult, everything in order in a precise box.
One of the ideas that struck me here is that we have to truly believe that kids have a voice, they are capable and equal citizens of the world. If you are true to this belief we can have the world painted in the colors of the rainbow. Let’s give our kids the gift of wonder, of curiosity, of time to analyze and reflect, of responsibility, let’s be their partners in this journey because we too deserve a world painted in colors!
Thank you SOS for taking me on this journey! You heard our sos and you answered with all your energy, and power, and knowledge and care and I am extremely grateful! ~Dalia Golda, Director Gradinita Ganeden, Bucharest, Romania
HINENI
How do you put into words something that transcends your whole body, it affects your senses and your mind is overwhelmed.
It’s been a year and half since I first discovered these words: the Reggio Emilia approach, and since then, all I’ve heard is: you have to be there, to really grasp it. And so, since December 2017, I’ve been dreaming about my Mecca, 
my promised land – Reggio Emilia.
And guess what: for the past 4 days, I am walking on the streets of Reggio Emilia, breathing the air of Reggio Emilia and talking to teachers and pedagogistas and atelieristas from Reggio Emilia.
Are you jealous yet? You should be!! It is all they have promised and much more!!!
We started the week with a beautiful havdala ceremony because we had to wake up all our senses – our eyes, our brains, our ears and our hearts to this experience.
I could talk to you about the 100 languages of the child – and how it all started, how people saw a need to educate kids for a reality that had to be totally emersed in the educational process, or I could talk to you about a city that values education and displays the works of the children, I could go on and on about confident and creative and independent children that create magic with their hands, working in groups, helping each other and going deeper than I ever gave them credit for, but at the end of the day I think I have to look at this experience through my Jewish lances and tell you: HINENI!
It is our responsibility to change first, to be the best we can be, and be there for the child – because when we are REALLY there, the child never forgets. We really and truly have to be there for the child, learn to listen to children in order to understand them, to see how they think and what they are saying, how they look at the world and how they interpret it, what are their dreams and struggles.
We have to be true to our beliefs and commit to providing our kids with the best we can be, and then we will give them the best education – and it is possible, I am looking at it, and I am seeing the results and it is the right of our kids to get it! ~ Dalia Golda, Early Childhood Director, Gradinita Gan Eden, Bucharest, Romania
We’re in it together
3 is a magic number – for us, 3 represents the number of Fairy Godmothers that came all the way from Maryland, USA, to share with us a magic potion that is REGGIO EMILIA. In the first 3 days spent with them, from morning till evening, we learned how to enhance the curiosity and the creativity of children by trusting their abilities and making them feel comfortable with all the materials and different techniques.
But we are not alone in this process of changing and developing – on Wednesday 6 more teachers from Budapest and Sofia joined us in this training. It makes you feel more relax and hopeful when you see that kindergartens just like ours, that are in the countries close to us, are going through the same process.
Not only that we learned together but they worked with us to improve our space and we look forward to give back to them on our next meeting.
One of the things that stuck to me is what a difference it makes when you expose a work that the children do in a beautiful frame on a shelf –it shows your respect towards the children and how you view them.
In our training, we worked on the Jewish curriculum – how to take the Jewish holidays and point out with the children not only the historical background or the traditions but the values that we all need to have and practice. We discovered that by asking questions and allowing the children to be part of the learning process as partners we can reach an incredible universe filled with wonder.
Always with a smile on their faces and a hand ready to guide and help, these 3 Fairy God Mothers introduced to us by the SOS International: Enriching Jewish Identity, presented a new approach of the curriculum based on the interests of the child and his curiosity.
By bringing nature in our classes, by using recyclable materials not only we are sending them a clear message that we are responsible for the world we leave in, but it also allows them to be more creative and connect on a deeper level with the themes we are studying.
I feel encouraged and happy to have such a real support system not only from our partners in USA but also in the teachers that work in similar kindergartens in Sofia and Budapest. I look forward on continuing this experience and see the changes in our kids – because at the end of the day they are our future and they deserve everything!
Ana Maria Nedelea
Shabbat – a common bond
Due to Small Union Day, a national holiday, there were fewer children in the Gan. But the children’s big smiles and hugs made us feel welcome on our last day in the Gan. After morning exercises and breakfast, the teachers took the children into their newly designed classrooms and we saw their delight first hand, as they explored their rooms. They jumped up and down, touching everything in sight. It was very rewarding for us to watch this happy time. While the children played in their classrooms, we had a discussion with Szonja and Julia, our colleagues from Budapest, about parent communication and documentation in our schools. All of us agreed that ongoing communication with parents is the key to a strong partnership. Later in the morning, all three classes joined 
together for music with the music specialist. Although we did not understand the words, we followed along, mimicking the hand motions and tapping our feet to the beat. As always, the children knew just what to do and we tried our best to join in the fun! Following music, each child made a challah and we did too! We welcomed Shabbat 
with candles, grape juice, and our freshly baked challah, of course. Shabbat brings us together, no matter where we are from or what language we speak. It was hard to say goodbye to Dalia and the children but we are grateful that our paths have crossed and for the week we shared together. Thank you, SOS International, for all that you are doing to support Gradinita Ganeden, a wonderful school for young children.
Elaine, Michelle and Meredith
Investing in our children
It was an amazing week spent together with very creative and optimistic people that all through the week shared with us knowledge, information, advice and suggestions on how can we improve our work as educators.
We spent a lot of time discussing the importance of approaching different activities, that it shouldn’t go only from the teachers to the students, but always a dialogue, and also the importance of materials – naturals, real – no plastic, no fake things.
This approach to education has the child at its center, its needs and wishes so we have to use it since children are the main reason why we are in education.
I would like to mention one of the days, that for me it was a turning point – Wednesday, when I talked with Meredith, one to one, and she explained to me for my group how I should talk to them, what kind of activities I should look into and how to help them be ready for school not only according to their knowledge but most important according to their confidence in their strengths, their ability to communicate with peers and to ask questions, not only to give answers and take everything just as it is given without processing it with their own minds. It was a very warm and relaxed discussion that made me aware of the importance of relationships between the teacher and the students, and between the other teachers.
Elaine and Michelle guided me on how I should organize my room in order for the kids to feel welcomed, and attracted to different areas and reflecting the kids work.
It was an interesting week and I am looking forward to applying everything I’ve learned. Thank you for investing in me!
Andreea – educator Gradinita Ganeden
Mini Conference Day
We arrived at the Gan with our European friends from Bulgaria and Hungary for a day of learning. First, we met with the directors of our partner schools to discuss next steps and how to proceed on this journey we are all taking together. A short while later, the remaining educators arrived and participated in an introductory Reggio workshop followed by a materials workshop led by Michelle and Elaine. Meredith worked with Dalia to rearrange and enhance the classroom environments. The Romanian teachers arrived later in the day for an afternoon workshop. Before we 
began, we surprised them by showing them their classroom transformations. They were like kids in a candy shop…touching everything and smiling from ear to ear. They were so touched by the generosity of the SOS International program and by our hard work to make over their spaces. For our final workshop of the day, we focused the learning on bringing Jewish values and curriculum to a Reggio inspired early childhood classroom. We all shared how we celebrate the holidays and brainstormed together about ways to improve our programs. It’s always amazing to find that no matter where you are from or what language you speak, Judaism connects us all. We concluded the day with a festive Romanian dinner and said our goodbyes to the Bulgarian team leaving in the morning. Our learning will conclude tomorrow with challah making and a Shabbat celebration with the kids in the Gan.
A miracle come true
You all know that in any good story there is a lady in distress, a prince charming and miracles happening on a daily basis. Although every good story begins with Once upon a time…., my story begins only a year ago.
I jumped on a train that I had no idea where and how fast I would travel.
The lady in distress of this story is my community, my kindergarten – we need to improve how we see our kids, how we value them and help them become the best human beings possible. The prince charming is a foundation – with a very appropriate name SOS International: 
Enriching Jewish Identity that decided to invest in the future of Jewish education in Europe and sent to Bucharest, Romania, 3 amazing teachers to transform our kindergarten.
Since Monday early morning these ladies have spent every minute on helping us understand better our role as educators, how the image of the child is reflected in our teaching, our actions and in the way we set the goals for the future. Then they moved on the next important part of education – the environment – that has to be calm, homey, welcoming, filled with possibilities and opportunities to discover the world, age appropriate and it has to reflect the kids and the work that they do.
So Gan Eden Kindergarten is going through a full makeover – and the impact on the kids, and staff and parents is instant and is heartwarming – the kids are excited and proud to see their work displayed beautifully on the walls, the parents see the process of thinking of the kids, and, maybe for the first time truly value their thoughts and work, and the staff feels that is a pleasure to work in such a beautiful space.
I am left almost without words and in total owe in front of this amazing gesture of kindness, of support, of total dedication from these people.
Today we got the news that we have more money to transform the other classrooms and I know that this is a changing point in our future – we have a TOTAL make over – the environment, the teachers and their knowledge and the parents – a true partner in this process, that now, due to a great workshop, understand better the goals, the responsibility and the methods.
So miracles are happening, and not only in stories – we are living a HANUKA story – 8 days of miracles!!!
THANK YOU! We promise to transform the seeds you are planting now in beautiful, strong, long-lasting flowers – we owe it to you, but more importantly we owe it to our children!
Makeover Day
Today started out as usual with hugs and love from the children in the Gan. We spent our morning observing the teachers and students in their classrooms in addition to working one on one with the teachers. We discussed new and exciting ways to reinvent the great work they are doing. They even implemented some of it right after our meeting and received immediate positive reactions from the children.
We were all so excited about our new purchases from IKEA that we dove right into making physical changes in Dalia’s three-year-old classroom. She told her students that we were making a surprise for them in their classroom that they could see next time they arrived at school. The changes were transformative as we were able to take a very busy and cluttered room and turn it into to a calm and welcoming new environment. We are also excited to see the children’s reactions.
Later in the afternoon, we welcomed our colleagues from Bulgaria and Hungary. They toured the school and then joined the parents in the meeting room for our parent workshop introducing the merits of the Reggio Approach. We had a great parent response and some of them even stayed late to talk with us more about the possibility of changes coming to their children’s school. We concluded the day at a dinner with our European partner educators.
Materials Matter
Our second day in Gradinita Ganeden began with early morning exercises and welcoming smiles from the children and staff. After the children ate Breakfast, we had the opportunity to spend quality time in each classroom. We identified areas of strength and places where we can be most supportive during our visit. We were able to observe meeting time and center activities in all of the classrooms. The children engaged with us as we sat along-side them during their math & language instruction time.
After taking notes on what we observed, we shared our thoughts with Dalia and gave her constructive feedback. 
We continued our discussion with the teachers which focused on the environment and classroom materials. As a group, we watched “Environments to Support Playful Inquiry” & “The Wonder of Intelligent Materials” created by the Opal School in Portland, Oregon. We showed photos of our school before & after we made changes to our environment, which led to a discussion about the positive impact change can make for children in an early childhood center. We also showed pictures from our ECC Blog & our classroom Shutterfly sites.
We concluded with a private discussion with Dalia and shared with her the news that we would be taking her shopping at IKEA to purchase classroom materials to begin transforming her classroom spaces. This trip was made possible by the generosity of SOS International. After our successful shopping trip, Dalia felt very supported and grateful that we are investing in her school’s successful future.
Tomorrow we look forward to welcoming our collaborating educators from Sofia, Bulgaria & Budapest, Hungary!
Tu B’Shevat In The Gan
Arriving late at night to Bucharest, we were greeted by the beautiful lights decorating the city for the Independence Day National holiday. This morning, we were up and ready to meet our Romanian colleagues at the Gradinita 
Ganeden. We watched in awe as the children arrived and were checked head to toe by the school nurse. With patience and full cooperation from the children, she deemed each one well enough to spend the day at school with us. Starting with early morning exercises, we danced with the children and listened to them recite their morning blessings before they headed to breakfast. The children looked at us with blank faces until they realized that we were there to play and engage with them at which point their stares turned into smiles and giant hugs.
The big excitement for the day was the Tu B’Shevat Seder. The children were asked to wear green to school and some showed up in homemade artwork in the form of leaves and fruit adorning their clothes. As a group, they were able to taste all kinds of tree fruits and plant flowers bulbs in honor of the holiday. We brought them a gift of child-sized pitchers to enhance their self-help skills. They used these pitchers to pour their own juice for the Seder. They were so proud of themselves at this new accomplishment. One boy even asked if he could have a pitcher at home!
After the Seder, we all went outside to give gifts to the trees. The oldest children made recycling bins before our arrival to give to the trees while the younger children gifted school-made bird feeders. After the children presented these gifts, they joined in a circle to sing to the trees. It was a wonderful tribute in honor of the holiday.
We concluded our day at the school by holding a mini-workshop with the main teachers of the school. We showed them a video depicting a day in the life of children at the preschools in Reggio-Emilia. This was followed by a group discussion about the merits of the Reggio approach. We look forward to hearing from them tomorrow once they have time to personally reflect on what they heard and saw.
The seeds have been planted
Today is Tu b’Shevat and we are celebrating the beginning of new life, a new cycle, and we plant trees for the next generation. What better moment than this one to start planting the seeds of change with the help of an incredible team sent to us by SOS International.
Today was only the beginning of an amazing and I am sure very inspiring week: we got to see how a simple thing like a pitcher can make a child feel independent and confident – thank you so much for this present! We took a moment to dream and to see how far we can go by watching eye-opening movies of kids from Reggio Emilia Kindergarten in Italy and realized how important is to be aware of whose voice you hear in the classroom and also what kind of message you are sending to the kids through your actions. What my actions tell my kids now is: I am the master of all the knowledge and I will give it to you when I think you are ready for it, but what I want to transmit is: you are born with curiosity and incredible intelligence and I am here to help you be aware of it by trusting you to discover the world by yourself.
I am extremely excited to see what tomorrow will bring! The seed is planted, now we have to water it and allow it to grow!
A Beautiful Life
Dalia Golda
Do you remember when we were in school and we used to have guests, and the teacher was preparing you: don’t talk out loud, don’t move from your chair, smile a lot and behave!
And they would take a deep breath the second the guests were out the door: thank god they are out and you didn’t embarrass me!
I don’t know about all of you, but I heard this a lot.
I came to schools like Beth Sholom (Potomac, Maryland) and Temple Emanuel (Kensington, Maryland) – they work with open doors, the teachers are so honestly welcoming you and there are no fake smiles, but pure and honest openness, and willingness to share, and discuss. I created connections with teachers I’d seen the I’mlast time and the moment I am back I feel like I’m in such a familiar place, it is almost unreal.
The kids are something else – they are so focused on what they do, their interest in the projects is so high, that they are oblivious to our presence. You see their routines, how independent they are and it amazes me.
I saw 2 kids – 3 years old: one was trying to pour paint from a huge jar, and the other one sad: Can I help you? The girl pouring said: No, thank you! And what would you think the other one said??? Ok!
You hear about collaborative work, not fighting over who is the best, the first, doing better, having more than others, and you think is just in the papers, not reality, but I am telling it is just as real as you and me.
Kids having the confidence and the skills to take care of themselves, of the environment, of their friends, not have grownups hovering over them for everything, not giving them a chance to even try, is a great thing to have in mind not just an educator but as a parent. Kindergarten is a family, and we should have the same values in both environments.
So, a thought for the day: doing things for your kids, doesn’t help them, it is only not giving them a chance to show their true potential! So teachers, parents, think twice before you dress your kids, feed them, talk instead of them! Give them a chance at a beautiful life!!!
Join me on my journey
And guess who is back!!! It’s been a year since I had the amazing honor meeting this strong, united and committed to education community and coming back makes me realize what an impact they had on me for the last year.
A community that has at its center the strong, competent, capable and full of potential child, and makes sure that the Jewish values are totally integrated into every aspect of the education, is a community that has a stable and flourishing future. And this is what I want for my community!
For years, I grew up hearing that we are a surviving community, we survived the Holocaust, we survived communism, but I don’t want this definition anymore for my community, I want us to be a growing community, a changing a community, a better and an evolving community.
The theme of this year’s Jewish Early Childhood Conference in Rockville, MD was Hear our voices – my community has a voice, and I want its members to be aware of their voice, proud of it and use it for the right reasons, at the same time I dream that they hear the voices of those around them, learn how to listen, respect, and understand each other, and unite their voices to make an impact.
In my work, as an educator, I feel that sometimes, in the classrooms, you hear the voices of the teachers, and not as much the voices of the children. But until I was here last year I didn’t hear them. SOS International: Enriching Jewish Identity, with the help of really dedicated and committed, not to mention knowledgeable educators like Mara, Elaine and Fran, opened my eyes and ears to what is around me. They gave me tools on how to better listen to the voices of the children, understand them better, and at the same time quiet my voice to make it stronger, and more focused, more intense.
Did I conquer the mountain? Am I at the top? No – but I am grateful I am not wondering at the bottom, not being aware of the beautiful sky and where I can get.
I am on a journey – a journey of knowledge, of self-development, of growing as an individual, an educator, a member of my community. And I am so excited to have started. I think this journey will shape me, my work, my community, will unveil new possibilities and will give me and my community the strength to define our dreams and reach them.
Change is scary, but developing means hope, means chances, opportunities, and we, as a community, will learn to see them and use them, because you opened your heart and mind to us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So thank you – we are an evolving community because of you!
A sparkle to scare away the darkness
Celebrating Hanuka at Rodef Shalom
Tonight is Hanuka, is a magical night, a period of time when miracles are part of life so I will blame my mood on this special atmosphere, or the fact that I’ve just received home made Hanuka cookies from Fran, and that made me feel so taken care of, so spoiled, so welcomed.
It is said that all you need is a sparkle to scare away the darkness. After these past 2 days of seeing teachers talk the talk and walk the walk, I feel we are lost in the dark and a candle has just been lighted.
I was lucky enough to spend the past 2 days in classrooms in Beth Sholom, and see teachers go through their daily routine – I saw the change, but more important I saw the steps, the struggles, the questions and the desire to do the right thing – to have the child as your main focus, and to understand that he is capable, far and beyond what I’ve imagined. Just to give you a taste: I saw 2 years old eat by themselves – no bread cut in too small pieces, no baby food – real food, in normal grownup form (big sandwiches, pasta, fruits, veggies), drink milk from regular cups, 4 years old discussing about wooden structures and balance, elements that permit light to go through, kids playing the dreidel and talking about geography and monetary systems, kids analyzing spinning materials and discovering the different types of car washing systems around the world.
I could be telling you about great classrooms, amazing materials from wood, incredible playgrounds, works of art welcoming you, but the thing that blew me away were the kids – independent, responsible, working in teams, problem solvers, creative, relaxed, enjoying themselves, communicating in an elevated form – this is what I want back home. This is the generation that needs to come out of our hands, we need these kind of people in order to grow as a community, as a society.
And as the first candle of Hanuka is dancing in the windows of Jewish homes, Jewish kindergartens and schools, JCCs and synagogues, I hope that we will remember to keep on dreaming and fight for our dreams because they can come true, I’ve seen it!
I want the same feeling
Shabbat has ended and it is time to start a new and exciting week. Friday morning started perfectly – we’ve met with Naama – a symbol of strength and perseverance – you see something you know it is good, do it no matter what. She said – don’t try to change the exterior, ask the questions: why do you need something? who are you? what is your vision? what is your message? is your message transmitted in the right way to everybody else? In 2 hours she gave us basic info of how to view Early Childhood Education from Reggio Emilia perspective.
Theory is great but practice is amazing – after the meeting we got to see a kindergarten that puts in practice for 10 years all of these principles. and let me tell you it was something different, totally. Can I replicate what I saw? no. Do I want to copy paste this? no, but I want to have the same feeling, atmosphere back home – the respect for the child and its capabilities, the ongoing dialogue between kids, staff and parents.
And after all that I came home – where our host prepared an oneg Shabbat like home – we lit the candles with the kids, said the brachot, ate delicious home cooked meal and just enjoyed a relaxed and warm Shabbat.
Shabbat ended and havdala was done surrounded by kids and parents – and in all that organized chaos it was clear – they were a community, and they cared for the Jewish education of their kids – PJ library looked at Hanuka from different perspectives with the help of books – who would have thought that making a kaleidoscope is something for Hanuka, but as I read to one of the kids there, a constellation is the Hanukia that God is lighting in the sky!
On that note I am looking forward to be enlightened all through next week!
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Feedback Day and More
Today was a beautiful day. We started the day by visiting three classes in the preschool. We were welcomed warmly into each room by teachers and children. Following our observations, we met with Beti, ...
How Powerful!
It is so powerful to see 40 Jewish early childhood educators sitting together in one room, speaking 4 different languages, all buzzing with excitement and eager to learn. We were warmly welcomed ...
Connections
We started the day at Gan Balagan, meeting up with Beti and Niya, as well as our friends who came from Lauder Javne Ovode in Budapest, with their director Szonja. Beti and Niya took us on a tour of ...
Where to now?
That’s it! It is finished! I packed my bags, I said goodbye to old friends ( my Europe support group Sonya and Vera from the Lauder kindergarten in Budapest, Beti and Vanessa from Gan Balagan in Sofi), to mentors ( Mara and Nama who made this approach not only doable but also so well fitted with our Jewish heritage), to rediscovered friends (like Kate and Erin from Temple Emanuel that shared not only the room) but also their views on this process, their hopes and dreams and plans, to new friends (70 teachers from USA and Israel ready to share their experience on this journey), to pedagogistas and atelieristas and teachers that took time to share their excitement, curiosity, knowledge, ways of working and looking at kids with us.
And now what? Where do I go from here? In one of the workshops, they told us over and over: theory and practice go hand in hand all the time.
So the next step is practice. Here is my to-do list for home:
– define a workgroup. A workgroup is a bunch of people working together with a common goal.
– take the I out of the conversation and of the process of thought. They said we weren’t on a professional training program but in a process of ” transformazione”. Because we change the basics of how you deal with a world, you transform yourself, you evolve. And one of the concepts is acknowledging multiple ways of looking at the world. And you can not do that if everything is around me: I think, I want, my opinion is;
– documentation, observation, questions, and repeat the process with the new input.
So children, here I come! It is our Gan so it has to be no longer what I think is good and important but what WE think. Parents, members of the community lets be a functioning working group!
Does this mean that in x amount of time everything will be perfect? For sure not! But at least we will evolve together aware of our reality, history, traditions, culture, and dreams! ~ Dalia Golda, Director Gradinita Ganeden, Bucharest, Romania
The colors of the rainbow
It’s been 5 days since I am here in Reggio Emilia, looking at projects that children and teachers are developing together, but more importantly discover the magic that is behind this projects – the documentation, the questions – always there is a Why strongly connected to a How, the attention for details, but also the importance of everyone’s voice and the values of working in a group.
I look at the society we are living in and I am thinking of what kind of a world we want our children to inhabit. I look around and I am surrounded by people always complaining, not satisfied whit what they have, with how the world goes, how decisions are taken. But are we doing something about it? No, because often we answer: who am I to say something different? Do you want people to look different at me? I am nobody, no one cares about what I have to say? We do so many things we strongly disagree with only because it is easier than trying to find a reason, an explanation, or even a solution – not necessarily a better one, but to show a different perspective on things.
We say we want our kids to be different but we tell them from the beginning: you are not capable of anything, you are a baby – so the child will learn: what’s the point of trying if I am not going to get it right, or on time like the adults. We tell them exactly how the world is – and we make it black and white, without options, without possibilities, with only one truth – the one of the adult, everything in order in a precise box.
One of the ideas that struck me here is that we have to truly believe that kids have a voice, they are capable and equal citizens of the world. If you are true to this belief we can have the world painted in the colors of the rainbow. Let’s give our kids the gift of wonder, of curiosity, of time to analyze and reflect, of responsibility, let’s be their partners in this journey because we too deserve a world painted in colors!
Thank you SOS for taking me on this journey! You heard our sos and you answered with all your energy, and power, and knowledge and care and I am extremely grateful! ~Dalia Golda, Director Gradinita Ganeden, Bucharest, Romania
HINENI
How do you put into words something that transcends your whole body, it affects your senses and your mind is overwhelmed.
It’s been a year and half since I first discovered these words: the Reggio Emilia approach, and since then, all I’ve heard is: you have to be there, to really grasp it. And so, since December 2017, I’ve been dreaming about my Mecca, my promised land – Reggio Emilia.
And guess what: for the past 4 days, I am walking on the streets of Reggio Emilia, breathing the air of Reggio Emilia and talking to teachers and pedagogistas and atelieristas from Reggio Emilia.
Are you jealous yet? You should be!! It is all they have promised and much more!!!
We started the week with a beautiful havdala ceremony because we had to wake up all our senses – our eyes, our brains, our ears and our hearts to this experience.
I could talk to you about the 100 languages of the child – and how it all started, how people saw a need to educate kids for a reality that had to be totally emersed in the educational process, or I could talk to you about a city that values education and displays the works of the children, I could go on and on about confident and creative and independent children that create magic with their hands, working in groups, helping each other and going deeper than I ever gave them credit for, but at the end of the day I think I have to look at this experience through my Jewish lances and tell you: HINENI!
It is our responsibility to change first, to be the best we can be, and be there for the child – because when we are REALLY there, the child never forgets. We really and truly have to be there for the child, learn to listen to children in order to understand them, to see how they think and what they are saying, how they look at the world and how they interpret it, what are their dreams and struggles.
We have to be true to our beliefs and commit to providing our kids with the best we can be, and then we will give them the best education – and it is possible, I am looking at it, and I am seeing the results and it is the right of our kids to get it! ~ Dalia Golda, Early Childhood Director, Gradinita Gan Eden, Bucharest, Romania
We’re in it together
3 is a magic number – for us, 3 represents the number of Fairy Godmothers that came all the way from Maryland, USA, to share with us a magic potion that is REGGIO EMILIA. In the first 3 days spent with them, from morning till evening, we learned how to enhance the curiosity and the creativity of children by trusting their abilities and making them feel comfortable with all the materials and different techniques.
But we are not alone in this process of changing and developing – on Wednesday 6 more teachers from Budapest and Sofia joined us in this training. It makes you feel more relax and hopeful when you see that kindergartens just like ours, that are in the countries close to us, are going through the same process.
Not only that we learned together but they worked with us to improve our space and we look forward to give back to them on our next meeting.
One of the things that stuck to me is what a difference it makes when you expose a work that the children do in a beautiful frame on a shelf –it shows your respect towards the children and how you view them.
In our training, we worked on the Jewish curriculum – how to take the Jewish holidays and point out with the children not only the historical background or the traditions but the values that we all need to have and practice. We discovered that by asking questions and allowing the children to be part of the learning process as partners we can reach an incredible universe filled with wonder.
Always with a smile on their faces and a hand ready to guide and help, these 3 Fairy God Mothers introduced to us by the SOS International: Enriching Jewish Identity, presented a new approach of the curriculum based on the interests of the child and his curiosity.
By bringing nature in our classes, by using recyclable materials not only we are sending them a clear message that we are responsible for the world we leave in, but it also allows them to be more creative and connect on a deeper level with the themes we are studying.
I feel encouraged and happy to have such a real support system not only from our partners in USA but also in the teachers that work in similar kindergartens in Sofia and Budapest. I look forward on continuing this experience and see the changes in our kids – because at the end of the day they are our future and they deserve everything!
Ana Maria Nedelea
Shabbat – a common bond
Due to Small Union Day, a national holiday, there were fewer children in the Gan. But the children’s big smiles and hugs made us feel welcome on our last day in the Gan. After morning exercises and breakfast, the teachers took the children into their newly designed classrooms and we saw their delight first hand, as they explored their rooms. They jumped up and down, touching everything in sight. It was very rewarding for us to watch this happy time. While the children played in their classrooms, we had a discussion with Szonja and Julia, our colleagues from Budapest, about parent communication and documentation in our schools. All of us agreed that ongoing communication with parents is the key to a strong partnership. Later in the morning, all three classes joined together for music with the music specialist. Although we did not understand the words, we followed along, mimicking the hand motions and tapping our feet to the beat. As always, the children knew just what to do and we tried our best to join in the fun! Following music, each child made a challah and we did too! We welcomed Shabbat with candles, grape juice, and our freshly baked challah, of course. Shabbat brings us together, no matter where we are from or what language we speak. It was hard to say goodbye to Dalia and the children but we are grateful that our paths have crossed and for the week we shared together. Thank you, SOS International, for all that you are doing to support Gradinita Ganeden, a wonderful school for young children.
together for music with the music specialist. Although we did not understand the words, we followed along, mimicking the hand motions and tapping our feet to the beat. As always, the children knew just what to do and we tried our best to join in the fun! Following music, each child made a challah and we did too! We welcomed Shabbat with candles, grape juice, and our freshly baked challah, of course. Shabbat brings us together, no matter where we are from or what language we speak. It was hard to say goodbye to Dalia and the children but we are grateful that our paths have crossed and for the week we shared together. Thank you, SOS International, for all that you are doing to support Gradinita Ganeden, a wonderful school for young children.
Elaine, Michelle and Meredith
Investing in our children
It was an amazing week spent together with very creative and optimistic people that all through the week shared with us knowledge, information, advice and suggestions on how can we improve our work as educators.
We spent a lot of time discussing the importance of approaching different activities, that it shouldn’t go only from the teachers to the students, but always a dialogue, and also the importance of materials – naturals, real – no plastic, no fake things.
This approach to education has the child at its center, its needs and wishes so we have to use it since children are the main reason why we are in education.
I would like to mention one of the days, that for me it was a turning point – Wednesday, when I talked with Meredith, one to one, and she explained to me for my group how I should talk to them, what kind of activities I should look into and how to help them be ready for school not only according to their knowledge but most important according to their confidence in their strengths, their ability to communicate with peers and to ask questions, not only to give answers and take everything just as it is given without processing it with their own minds. It was a very warm and relaxed discussion that made me aware of the importance of relationships between the teacher and the students, and between the other teachers.
Elaine and Michelle guided me on how I should organize my room in order for the kids to feel welcomed, and attracted to different areas and reflecting the kids work.
It was an interesting week and I am looking forward to applying everything I’ve learned. Thank you for investing in me!
Andreea – educator Gradinita Ganeden
Mini Conference Day
We arrived at the Gan with our European friends from Bulgaria and Hungary for a day of learning. First, we met with the directors of our partner schools to discuss next steps and how to proceed on this journey we are all taking together. A short while later, the remaining educators arrived and participated in an introductory Reggio workshop followed by a materials workshop led by Michelle and Elaine. Meredith worked with Dalia to rearrange and enhance the classroom environments. The Romanian teachers arrived later in the day for an afternoon workshop. Before we began, we surprised them by showing them their classroom transformations. They were like kids in a candy shop…touching everything and smiling from ear to ear. They were so touched by the generosity of the SOS International program and by our hard work to make over their spaces. For our final workshop of the day, we focused the learning on bringing Jewish values and curriculum to a Reggio inspired early childhood classroom. We all shared how we celebrate the holidays and brainstormed together about ways to improve our programs. It’s always amazing to find that no matter where you are from or what language you speak, Judaism connects us all. We concluded the day with a festive Romanian dinner and said our goodbyes to the Bulgarian team leaving in the morning. Our learning will conclude tomorrow with challah making and a Shabbat celebration with the kids in the Gan.
together. A short while later, the remaining educators arrived and participated in an introductory Reggio workshop followed by a materials workshop led by Michelle and Elaine. Meredith worked with Dalia to rearrange and enhance the classroom environments. The Romanian teachers arrived later in the day for an afternoon workshop. Before we began, we surprised them by showing them their classroom transformations. They were like kids in a candy shop…touching everything and smiling from ear to ear. They were so touched by the generosity of the SOS International program and by our hard work to make over their spaces. For our final workshop of the day, we focused the learning on bringing Jewish values and curriculum to a Reggio inspired early childhood classroom. We all shared how we celebrate the holidays and brainstormed together about ways to improve our programs. It’s always amazing to find that no matter where you are from or what language you speak, Judaism connects us all. We concluded the day with a festive Romanian dinner and said our goodbyes to the Bulgarian team leaving in the morning. Our learning will conclude tomorrow with challah making and a Shabbat celebration with the kids in the Gan.
A miracle come true
You all know that in any good story there is a lady in distress, a prince charming and miracles happening on a daily basis. Although every good story begins with Once upon a time…., my story begins only a year ago.
I jumped on a train that I had no idea where and how fast I would travel.
The lady in distress of this story is my community, my kindergarten – we need to improve how we see our kids, how we value them and help them become the best human beings possible. The prince charming is a foundation – with a very appropriate name SOS International: Enriching Jewish Identity that decided to invest in the future of Jewish education in Europe and sent to Bucharest, Romania, 3 amazing teachers to transform our kindergarten.
Since Monday early morning these ladies have spent every minute on helping us understand better our role as educators, how the image of the child is reflected in our teaching, our actions and in the way we set the goals for the future. Then they moved on the next important part of education – the environment – that has to be calm, homey, welcoming, filled with possibilities and opportunities to discover the world, age appropriate and it has to reflect the kids and the work that they do.
So Gan Eden Kindergarten is going through a full makeover – and the impact on the kids, and staff and parents is instant and is heartwarming – the kids are excited and proud to see their work displayed beautifully on the walls, the parents see the process of thinking of the kids, and, maybe for the first time truly value their thoughts and work, and the staff feels that is a pleasure to work in such a beautiful space.
I am left almost without words and in total owe in front of this amazing gesture of kindness, of support, of total dedication from these people.
Today we got the news that we have more money to transform the other classrooms and I know that this is a changing point in our future – we have a TOTAL make over – the environment, the teachers and their knowledge and the parents – a true partner in this process, that now, due to a great workshop, understand better the goals, the responsibility and the methods.
So miracles are happening, and not only in stories – we are living a HANUKA story – 8 days of miracles!!!
THANK YOU! We promise to transform the seeds you are planting now in beautiful, strong, long-lasting flowers – we owe it to you, but more importantly we owe it to our children!
Makeover Day
Today started out as usual with hugs and love from the children in the Gan. We spent our morning observing the teachers and students in their classrooms in addition to working one on one with the teachers. We discussed new and exciting ways to reinvent the great work they are doing. They even implemented some of it right after our meeting and received immediate positive reactions from the children.
We were all so excited about our new purchases from IKEA that we dove right into making physical changes in Dalia’s three-year-old classroom. She told her students that we were making a surprise for them in their classroom that they could see next time they arrived at school. The changes were transformative as we were able to take a very busy and cluttered room and turn it into to a calm and welcoming new environment. We are also excited to see the children’s reactions.
Later in the afternoon, we welcomed our colleagues from Bulgaria and Hungary. They toured the school and then joined the parents in the meeting room for our parent workshop introducing the merits of the Reggio Approach. We had a great parent response and some of them even stayed late to talk with us more about the possibility of changes coming to their children’s school. We concluded the day at a dinner with our European partner educators.
Materials Matter
Our second day in Gradinita Ganeden began with early morning exercises and welcoming smiles from the children and staff. After the children ate Breakfast, we had the opportunity to spend quality time in each classroom. We identified areas of strength and places where we can be most supportive during our visit. We were able to observe meeting time and center activities in all of the classrooms. The children engaged with us as we sat along-side them during their math & language instruction time.
After taking notes on what we observed, we shared our thoughts with Dalia and gave her constructive feedback. We continued our discussion with the teachers which focused on the environment and classroom materials. As a group, we watched “Environments to Support Playful Inquiry” & “The Wonder of Intelligent Materials” created by the Opal School in Portland, Oregon. We showed photos of our school before & after we made changes to our environment, which led to a discussion about the positive impact change can make for children in an early childhood center. We also showed pictures from our ECC Blog & our classroom Shutterfly sites.
We concluded with a private discussion with Dalia and shared with her the news that we would be taking her shopping at IKEA to purchase classroom materials to begin transforming her classroom spaces. This trip was made possible by the generosity of SOS International. After our successful shopping trip, Dalia felt very supported and grateful that we are investing in her school’s successful future.
Tomorrow we look forward to welcoming our collaborating educators from Sofia, Bulgaria & Budapest, Hungary!
Tu B’Shevat In The Gan
Arriving late at night to Bucharest, we were greeted by the beautiful lights decorating the city for the Independence Day National holiday. This morning, we were up and ready to meet our Romanian colleagues at the Gradinita Ganeden. We watched in awe as the children arrived and were checked head to toe by the school nurse. With patience and full cooperation from the children, she deemed each one well enough to spend the day at school with us. Starting with early morning exercises, we danced with the children and listened to them recite their morning blessings before they headed to breakfast. The children looked at us with blank faces until they realized that we were there to play and engage with them at which point their stares turned into smiles and giant hugs.
Ganeden. We watched in awe as the children arrived and were checked head to toe by the school nurse. With patience and full cooperation from the children, she deemed each one well enough to spend the day at school with us. Starting with early morning exercises, we danced with the children and listened to them recite their morning blessings before they headed to breakfast. The children looked at us with blank faces until they realized that we were there to play and engage with them at which point their stares turned into smiles and giant hugs.
The big excitement for the day was the Tu B’Shevat Seder. The children were asked to wear green to school and some showed up in homemade artwork in the form of leaves and fruit adorning their clothes. As a group, they were able to taste all kinds of tree fruits and plant flowers bulbs in honor of the holiday. We brought them a gift of child-sized pitchers to enhance their self-help skills. They used these pitchers to pour their own juice for the Seder. They were so proud of themselves at this new accomplishment. One boy even asked if he could have a pitcher at home!
After the Seder, we all went outside to give gifts to the trees. The oldest children made recycling bins before our arrival to give to the trees while the younger children gifted school-made bird feeders. After the children presented these gifts, they joined in a circle to sing to the trees. It was a wonderful tribute in honor of the holiday.
We concluded our day at the school by holding a mini-workshop with the main teachers of the school. We showed them a video depicting a day in the life of children at the preschools in Reggio-Emilia. This was followed by a group discussion about the merits of the Reggio approach. We look forward to hearing from them tomorrow once they have time to personally reflect on what they heard and saw.
The seeds have been planted
Today is Tu b’Shevat and we are celebrating the beginning of new life, a new cycle, and we plant trees for the next generation. What better moment than this one to start planting the seeds of change with the help of an incredible team sent to us by SOS International.
Today was only the beginning of an amazing and I am sure very inspiring week: we got to see how a simple thing like a pitcher can make a child feel independent and confident – thank you so much for this present! We took a moment to dream and to see how far we can go by watching eye-opening movies of kids from Reggio Emilia Kindergarten in Italy and realized how important is to be aware of whose voice you hear in the classroom and also what kind of message you are sending to the kids through your actions. What my actions tell my kids now is: I am the master of all the knowledge and I will give it to you when I think you are ready for it, but what I want to transmit is: you are born with curiosity and incredible intelligence and I am here to help you be aware of it by trusting you to discover the world by yourself.
I am extremely excited to see what tomorrow will bring! The seed is planted, now we have to water it and allow it to grow!
A Beautiful Life
Dalia Golda
Do you remember when we were in school and we used to have guests, and the teacher was preparing you: don’t talk out loud, don’t move from your chair, smile a lot and behave!
And they would take a deep breath the second the guests were out the door: thank god they are out and you didn’t embarrass me!
I don’t know about all of you, but I heard this a lot.
I came to schools like Beth Sholom (Potomac, Maryland) and Temple Emanuel (Kensington, Maryland) – they work with open doors, the teachers are so honestly welcoming you and there are no fake smiles, but pure and honest openness, and willingness to share, and discuss. I created connections with teachers I’d seen the I’mlast time and the moment I am back I feel like I’m in such a familiar place, it is almost unreal.
The kids are something else – they are so focused on what they do, their interest in the projects is so high, that they are oblivious to our presence. You see their routines, how independent they are and it amazes me.
I saw 2 kids – 3 years old: one was trying to pour paint from a huge jar, and the other one sad: Can I help you? The girl pouring said: No, thank you! And what would you think the other one said??? Ok!
You hear about collaborative work, not fighting over who is the best, the first, doing better, having more than others, and you think is just in the papers, not reality, but I am telling it is just as real as you and me.
Kids having the confidence and the skills to take care of themselves, of the environment, of their friends, not have grownups hovering over them for everything, not giving them a chance to even try, is a great thing to have in mind not just an educator but as a parent. Kindergarten is a family, and we should have the same values in both environments.
So, a thought for the day: doing things for your kids, doesn’t help them, it is only not giving them a chance to show their true potential! So teachers, parents, think twice before you dress your kids, feed them, talk instead of them! Give them a chance at a beautiful life!!!
Join me on my journey
And guess who is back!!! It’s been a year since I had the amazing honor meeting this strong, united and committed to education community and coming back makes me realize what an impact they had on me for the last year.
A community that has at its center the strong, competent, capable and full of potential child, and makes sure that the Jewish values are totally integrated into every aspect of the education, is a community that has a stable and flourishing future. And this is what I want for my community!
For years, I grew up hearing that we are a surviving community, we survived the Holocaust, we survived communism, but I don’t want this definition anymore for my community, I want us to be a growing community, a changing a community, a better and an evolving community.
The theme of this year’s Jewish Early Childhood Conference in Rockville, MD was Hear our voices – my community has a voice, and I want its members to be aware of their voice, proud of it and use it for the right reasons, at the same time I dream that they hear the voices of those around them, learn how to listen, respect, and understand each other, and unite their voices to make an impact.
In my work, as an educator, I feel that sometimes, in the classrooms, you hear the voices of the teachers, and not as much the voices of the children. But until I was here last year I didn’t hear them. SOS International: Enriching Jewish Identity, with the help of really dedicated and committed, not to mention knowledgeable educators like Mara, Elaine and Fran, opened my eyes and ears to what is around me. They gave me tools on how to better listen to the voices of the children, understand them better, and at the same time quiet my voice to make it stronger, and more focused, more intense.
Did I conquer the mountain? Am I at the top? No – but I am grateful I am not wondering at the bottom, not being aware of the beautiful sky and where I can get.
I am on a journey – a journey of knowledge, of self-development, of growing as an individual, an educator, a member of my community. And I am so excited to have started. I think this journey will shape me, my work, my community, will unveil new possibilities and will give me and my community the strength to define our dreams and reach them.
Change is scary, but developing means hope, means chances, opportunities, and we, as a community, will learn to see them and use them, because you opened your heart and mind to us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So thank you – we are an evolving community because of you!
A sparkle to scare away the darkness
Celebrating Hanuka at Rodef Shalom
Tonight is Hanuka, is a magical night, a period of time when miracles are part of life so I will blame my mood on this special atmosphere, or the fact that I’ve just received home made Hanuka cookies from Fran, and that made me feel so taken care of, so spoiled, so welcomed.
It is said that all you need is a sparkle to scare away the darkness. After these past 2 days of seeing teachers talk the talk and walk the walk, I feel we are lost in the dark and a candle has just been lighted.
I was lucky enough to spend the past 2 days in classrooms in Beth Sholom, and see teachers go through their daily routine – I saw the change, but more important I saw the steps, the struggles, the questions and the desire to do the right thing – to have the child as your main focus, and to understand that he is capable, far and beyond what I’ve imagined. Just to give you a taste: I saw 2 years old eat by themselves – no bread cut in too small pieces, no baby food – real food, in normal grownup form (big sandwiches, pasta, fruits, veggies), drink milk from regular cups, 4 years old discussing about wooden structures and balance, elements that permit light to go through, kids playing the dreidel and talking about geography and monetary systems, kids analyzing spinning materials and discovering the different types of car washing systems around the world.
I could be telling you about great classrooms, amazing materials from wood, incredible playgrounds, works of art welcoming you, but the thing that blew me away were the kids – independent, responsible, working in teams, problem solvers, creative, relaxed, enjoying themselves, communicating in an elevated form – this is what I want back home. This is the generation that needs to come out of our hands, we need these kind of people in order to grow as a community, as a society.
And as the first candle of Hanuka is dancing in the windows of Jewish homes, Jewish kindergartens and schools, JCCs and synagogues, I hope that we will remember to keep on dreaming and fight for our dreams because they can come true, I’ve seen it!
I want the same feeling
Shabbat has ended and it is time to start a new and exciting week. Friday morning started perfectly – we’ve met with Naama – a symbol of strength and perseverance – you see something you know it is good, do it no matter what. She said – don’t try to change the exterior, ask the questions: why do you need something? who are you? what is your vision? what is your message? is your message transmitted in the right way to everybody else? In 2 hours she gave us basic info of how to view Early Childhood Education from Reggio Emilia perspective.
Theory is great but practice is amazing – after the meeting we got to see a kindergarten that puts in practice for 10 years all of these principles. and let me tell you it was something different, totally. Can I replicate what I saw? no. Do I want to copy paste this? no, but I want to have the same feeling, atmosphere back home – the respect for the child and its capabilities, the ongoing dialogue between kids, staff and parents.
And after all that I came home – where our host prepared an oneg Shabbat like home – we lit the candles with the kids, said the brachot, ate delicious home cooked meal and just enjoyed a relaxed and warm Shabbat.
Shabbat ended and havdala was done surrounded by kids and parents – and in all that organized chaos it was clear – they were a community, and they cared for the Jewish education of their kids – PJ library looked at Hanuka from different perspectives with the help of books – who would have thought that making a kaleidoscope is something for Hanuka, but as I read to one of the kids there, a constellation is the Hanukia that God is lighting in the sky!
On that note I am looking forward to be enlightened all through next week!