Blog Posts

Prayers for Voting

10/23/2020

Pro-Democracy Practices for the Classroom, from a Jewish Lens

10/22/2020

Webinar from Harvard about Civic Education

10/9/2020

“Civic engagement is empowering... But too many young people don’t know where their voices fit in — or, after historical exclusion and oppression, have turned away from politics as an avenue for change.”

Make a Voting Plan!

10/7/2020

How are you voting? #ParadigmShifter Kathy Pomer voted by mail and shares with us her process!

“Thrilled that our ballots came yesterday we immediately got busy filling in ovals and preparing the envelope for sending back and being counted. But what to do next? Send it back from the Post Office? Put extra stamps and put it back in our box? Take it to town hall today or on November 3!? Amazing though we've had a plan (and back ups) for voting the moment came and it was paralyzing!!! We decided the good old USPS got it to us - it would get it where it needed to go - and so with double stamps (and a tracking number!) we happily share this and this!”
#shmakoleinu #hearourvoice #voteforECE

Advocating for children and ECE

10/7/2020

Advocacy for ECE, children, and families is both essential to the future of Jewish early childhood education and an ethical imperative for our field. We are getting involved wherever possible. Many of us found ourselves at this pre-debate virtual rally.

Here are some of the signs we brought with us:

Check out this Children's Book!

10/6/2020

"We were just gifted this new book for my son. The animals are fed up with the king and learn about democracy. They have demonstrations, runs campaigns and go through the election process!" -Aliza Plotkin.

Exploring the Big Idea

10/2/2020

Announcing the Intention

9/30/2020

Announcement: We have an #intention we are proposing for the year ahead. We will share more about this in the coming days. For now, what does #HearOurVoices #ShmaKoleinu mean to you? What resonates and what does it stir up for you personally and professionally? Here are some responses from the field:

We, children, educators, and families are all citizens with a place in this world. A unique view as a person that deserves to be shared. (Aliza Plotkin)
We are all one in the world. Collectively we need and have the same rights but each has their perspective and when we listen we can all be heard and respected. (Robin Bright). (Lisa Plotkin responded: I love the idea of listening leading to positive changes... and giving ourselves the time to figure out what listening means, and the many styles of listening.)
The time is NOW to make sure the voices and the stories in early childhood are heard so that they become change agents. When this happens the world will become aligned with the values we all share. (Kathy Pomer)
Listen to the voices of the children, families , and teachers and administrators -- listen with your whole soul--- childhood is precious... we must be evangelists for the rights of children ! (Lisa Heiser-Polin)
I hear shma and remember a “shhhh mmmm ahhhh” mindful/meditative practice - a beautiful way for children and adults to capture presence in a moment... one, here, now... it’s a really positive memory. Shma Koleinu for me stirs up joy and inspiration for what we can do next! (Lisa Plotkin)
Hear - pay attention -in all ways and all levels. Silence and sound.Our - not only mine or yours. All. Our community. Our differences. Our similarities.Voices - expression, dissent, assent, joy, grief. Young and old. Simple, sophisticated. Superficial and depth. Sh’ma koleinu. Hear our voices with the intention of action. (Cherene Radis)
Two separate words that can be joined after exploring them individually. What does it mean to listen? and What is my/our voice?. Sharing a great TED talk on listening: https://www.ted.com/.../julian_treasure_5_ways_to_listen (Shira Ackerman Simchovitch)
Shma Koleinu- from the liturgy is a declaration of our active appeal to the merciful Gd to accept our prayers. So to, as early childhood advocates, we need to raise our voices, listen to and uplift voices around us, with empathy and humility, to transform our classrooms, communities, policies, and norms. Just as a bat kol- a divine voice- came down from heaven- lo bashamayim hee- it is not in heaven- we must commit and affect change in our world. And when we make kol into koleinu- our voice- we need to reflect on our biases, assumptions about children and families, identities, and power. Shma Koleinu- hear our voices- together- we can be heard- and must- until it is accepted. (Ilana Dvorin Friedman)

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