Who is this child? Teaching towards each learner in our classroom
Registration will close on Friday, February 14th.
This day long conference, planned by The Jewish Education Project and The Jewish Early Child Association offers a plethora of workshops for early childhood educators to learn about how to support each child in their classroom's needs and interests.
Tentative conference schedule
8:30-9:00 Arrival Check in
9:00-9:15 Welcome and Bagel Breakfast
9:15-10:00 Keynote
10:15-11:15 Workshop 1
11:30-12:30 Workshop 2
12:45- 1:30 Lunch and age band based discussion groups
1:30-1:45 Closing/Israeli Dancing
Participants will have the opportunity to attend two different workshops. Please see below to learn more about each workshop choice. Some presenters will offer two different workshops, while others will offer one workshop and repeat it twice.
Keynote: Learning to Answer This Crucial Question, “Who is This Child?”
Understanding the make-up of each of our students is essential to us as educators. Considering the components of “Who is This Child?”, will enhance our skills, help insure learning in those children who have been entrusted to us, and make school the place they children so genuinely enjoy. There is a different answer to “Who is This Child?” for each of our students and appreciating that is our gift.
Dr. Lydia Soifer
Dr. Soifer is a language pathologist with more than 50 years of experience in clinical and private practice, as well as university teaching. For its highly respected and valued 25-year tenure, Dr. Soifer was the founder and director of The Soifer Center for Learning and Child Development, which was the first multidisciplinary private diagnostic and remedial setting established in Westchester County. Dr. Soifer continues to provide educational consultation and advocacy services to families on behalf of their children, in coordination with other professionals and schools. As a parent educator, teacher trainer, and staff developer, she specializes in the role of language in the development of children's learning, literacy, behavior, and social-emotional development. Classroom Language Dynamics ©, the teacher training program Dr. Soifer designed is used in a variety of school settings to empower teachers and invigorate learners of all kinds. A frequent presenter at local, national and international conferences, Dr. Soifer focuses on guiding all educational professionals to answer the essential question, “Who is this child?” She is also the author of a chapter entitled, The Development of Oral Language and its Relationship to Literacy for a textbook published in September 1999 by Brookes, Multisensory Structured Language Teaching: Theory and Practice, now published in a 4th edition, as well as a contributor to local publications. In 2017, Dr. Soifer was the honoree of the Eagle Hill School, Greenwich, CT at their annual gala. In 2022, Dr. Soifer received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Smart Kids with LD of Wilton, CT. A respected educator, Dr. Soifer is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Eagle Hill School in Greenwich, CT and the Gateway School of New York, in New York City. With the opening in the 2023-2024 school year of the Torah and Language (TAL) Academy, a special education orthodox yeshiva, Dr. Soifer has assumed the role of Director of Methodology and Language. Additionally, she is Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and faculty member in the Early Intervention Training Institute (EITI), both at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
Workshop 1: Building Bridges with Parents: Successful Parent/Teacher Relationships and Conferences
Positive parent/teacher relationships develop when there is a sense of mutual trust, understanding, openness, and respect. Do you ever feel that the children are the fun part of the job, but working with the parents makes you uncomfortable? Come and explore the complex dynamics that parents and teachers bring to the relationship and learn ways to sensitively and successfully convey difficult information to concerned parents.
Workshop 2: Understanding and Responding to Power Struggles of Young Children
Do power struggles with children in your class take up too much time and emotional energy? We will explore discipline from a developmental perspective and focus on teaching and learning, rather than punishing. Come and learn ways for children to gain self control, respect the rights of others and learn from their mistakes. Participants will gain tools to share with parents about challenging behaviors at home.
Jean Schrieber
Jean Schreiber is an early childhood educational consultant who, for over three decades, has developed and directed early childhood programs and parenting centers. She earned her M.S. in Early Childhood Education from Bank Street College of Education where she is an instructor in the Continuing Professional Studies Program. An engaging and highly informative speaker, Jean presents her workshops on topics such as fostering the social and emotional development of young children, creating developmentally appropriate classroom experiences, and supporting the emotional and professional growth of parents and educators. She serves as a consultant to a wide variety of early childhood and elementary school programs and provides guidance to parents in both individual and group settings. Please visit www.jeanschreiber.com to learn more about my workshops and presentations.
Brain-Changing Words: Shared Classroom Language That Transforms How Kids Think, Feel, and Achieve
Words aren't just tools for communicating with others, they're also tools for regulating and positively navigating our interior worlds (Barrett, 2017). This truth carries profound implications for the ways in which teachers talk to young children. This workshop offers language suggestions that can trigger a tectonic shift in how kids perceive themselves and navigate challenges—in the classroom, at home, and beyond.
Lily Howard Scott
Lily Howard Scott (MSEd) teaches in the Continuing Professional Studies Department at Bank Street College of Education and provides professional development to teachers and school leaders around the country. Her work is centered around helping children navigate their inner lives, connect with each other, and take the risks that lead to meaningful learning. Scott presents regularly at national conferences and is the author of The Words That Shape Us: The Science-Based Power of Teacher Language (Scholastic). For nearly 10 years, Lily taught elementary school in both public and independent settings. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two young children.
Who are you in the life of infants and toddlers?
This workshop will help you understand the different elements it takes to provide a supportive infant toddler environment that addresses all the developmental domains of children ages 0 – 3. We will discuss the appropriate environment, teacher interactions, materials and routines which all play a part in creating a positive experience for everyone.
Mary Lou Allen
Mary Lou Allen, MS Mary Lou Allen is an experienced early childhood educator who views Jewish early childhood experiences as a gateway for families to engage in and commit to Jewish life. For the last 15 years, her work has focused on creating quality infant toddler environments in child care settings and supporting directors in all aspects of early childhood programs . Prior to that, she was the national director for early childhood education at the Coalition for the advancement of Jewish Education (CAJE). Mary Lou is currently a volunteer with the GRANDFRIENDS program (intergenerational initiative with the EC school) at her synagogue in Caldwell, New Jersey. Mary Lou is also hoping to become a "cuddler" in the NICU at Newark Beth Israel Hospital.
How to Talk With Children (and their Grownups) About Death and Dying
In light of the pandemic and other world and local events in recent years, many educators and parents are now having more open conversations with children about death, dying, and other difficult topics. Using best practices from child development along with age-old Jewish wisdom. This workshop will consider the ways in which we can provide age-appropriate responses to hard questions about life and death.
Rabbi Melanie Levav
Rabbi Melanie Levav is passionate about helping to improve end-of-life care, and conversations and brings this commitment to Shomer Collective as the Executive Director. Prior to Shomer Collective, Rabbi Levav served as the Director of PJ Library in New York. Rabbi Levav has held positions at the Marks Jewish Community House of Bensonhurst, the Mandel Center for Jewish Education at JCC Association, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, and UJA-Federation of New York, in the areas of Jewish education, fundraising, and volunteer management. An alumna of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship, Rabbi Levav was ordained as a rabbi by the Jewish Theological Seminary; she is board certified as a chaplain by Neshama: the National Association for Jewish Chaplains, received her graduate degree in social work from Columbia University, and holds a certificate as an end-of-life doula from the University of Vermont. She is a proud life-long New Yorker who has lived in 4 of the 5 boroughs.
The Art Area as a Reflection of the Children and the Community
Engaging with art materials and tools allows for two crucial things to happen: 1) art-making allows for each child's individuality to become visible and tangible, and 2) art-making provides an opportunity for a group of children and teachers to find connections between one another and form a community. In this session, we will be actively looking at an art area and physically changing it over the course of the hour to reflect the ways in which an art area might evolve during the school year. We will discuss what materials and tools could be offered and changed out, the role of the teacher in skill development and acquisition, and how documentation and reflection could energize art-making for each child.
Robin Koo
Robin Koo has been teaching in the field of early childhood education for 23 years. Her pedagogical approach reflects inspiration from her studies of the Reggio Approach, and from her mother and grandmother who taught her to reuse and repurpose. Opportunities to collaborate with fellow colleagues has fueled her work in early childhood. More recently, she has been exploring the role of art in the fight for climate stability with her students at Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn, where she teaches Art for Pre-K through 1st grade.
Stress? Trauma? How We Can Support Children and Families in Our Schools
As early childhood educators, it is often difficult to figure out what a child's behavior is telling us. This workshop will look at children's challenging behavior, when to look deeper, and how to help children in the classroom with both stressful and traumatic situations through play. Participants will leave with multiple tools and ideas to use right away.
Sharon Bacharach
Dr. Sharon Bacharach works at American Jewish University and is the associate director of early childhood degree programs for the Masor School for Jewish Education and Leadership. She cherishes her teaching and supportive role with students, mentors, and faculty. Her favorite part of the week is leading her social skills group for children with various challenges. Sharon is also a licensed clinical social worker who has worked with children and families in a school and hospital setting.
Dance, Drum, Sing, and Play - DDSP
Dance, Drum, Sing, and Play is designed specifically for children ages 3-5. Using a variety of tactile materials and props, this program gets students excited about their Jewish heritage, values and holidays. Recycled materials are also used as part of educating the children on our responsibility to nature. Using active learning to its maximum potential, this program engages all the senses of young students. All musical material for the programs are classic and modern Hebrew songs.
Shmulik Gov-Ari
Shmulik Gov-Ari is a talented Israeli dance choreographer, and master educator. Shmulik's background of as a professional touring dancer and university faculty member has greatly informed his work. As a movement educator, he has developed art infused Jewish education programs for all ages, from toddlers to adults. His programs are multi disciplinary in nature, involving various forms of the arts, including dancing, singing, playing, and even crafting. Shmulik's programs have been a fixture in the curriculum of Jewish institutions in the tri-state area for over 25 years with generations of students as alumni.
Finding the Right PITCH
Setting up an ECE classroom is no easy task given that there are four different environments to prepare. Physical, Interpersonal, Temporal, and Curricular. These four, PITC, when successfully planned, to give us the right PITCH. This workshop will help support your work by providing a deep understanding of just how to accomplish this.
Tamar Andrews
Dr. Tamar Andrews has been in the field of Jewish Early Childhood Education for over four decades. She has held positions of assistant, teacher, director, mentor, and consultant. Currently, she is the Director of ECE Degree Programs at the American Jewish University and adjunct professor at Stern College for Women.
Exploring with loose parts through a Jewish lens
Educators will have opportunity to explore open ended materials and have opportunity to share in a conversation about the experience. We will consider how open ended materials can enrich the Jewish environment, values, and celebration of our classrooms. My Instagram is @playcurator.
Linda White
Linda White is the founder and creator of Imagination Play Project. As a play curator, her focus began with young children and has grown to working with people of all ages and abilities. Drawing inspiration from the schools in Reggio Emilia, Italy and the rich aesthetic landscape of NYC, she creates experiences using a variety of objects that encourage exploration, engage the senses, and inspire creativity.
Classroom Detectives: Empowering teachers to identify & support developmental success
Join us for this interactive session, you'll learn how to spot early signs of developmental delays, explore accessible resources to support students and their families, and discover practical, easy-to-apply strategies to create an inclusive and thriving classroom environment. Whether you're a seasoned educator or just starting out, this workshop is packed with real-world solutions and fresh ideas to help you nurture every learner's potential. Let's turn challenges into opportunities—together!
Neetu Lakhani
Neetu has been practicing pediatric Occupational Therapy for nearly 25 years, after graduating from Columbia University with an honors in pediatric OT. Currently, she works at both the Bank Street Family Center in the Infant Toddler Program / Integrated Preschool and at Westchester Preshcools. Neetu's experience in the area of Evaluation (ages 0-5) and work in schools, home-based early intervention, and private clinics allows her to identify developmental delays with sensory processing, fine motor, visual motor, and self help skills, as well as support development with the holistic child in mind.
Neetu values the importance of team collaboration with both families and teachers in the child's development and thus incorporates sensorimotor activities in the classroom to facilitate learning as well as play development. Neetu's specialized training includes: Conducting a Pediiatric Evaluation for Ages 0-5, Evaluating and Treating Sensory Procssing, Auditory Defensiveness, Reflex integration, Creating Sensory Diets, Handwriting without Tears, Quickshifts, Vision, and Therapeutic Handling Techniques. This further study has helped her create multidimensional treatment plans for her children, their teachers, and their parents.
More Than Writing Numbers and Counting Goldfish: Why it's Important to Teach Math in Preschool
This workshop will address the importance of math education in the early years. Participants will come away with concrete ideas for developmentally appropriate learning opportunities that integrate seamlessly throughout any school day (and it's not using calendars!). This session will be useful for experienced teachers and those newer to the profession.
Merril Feinstein
Merril Feinstein has been involved in early childhood education her entire career including 18 years as the director of the Brotherhood Synagogue Nursery School. Before Brotherhood, Merril was on staff at the All Soul's School and the AJ Heschel School, both in Manhattan. She served as a mentor for students at the Jewish Theological Seminary and as a literacy staff developer for the NYC Board of Education. Merril was a member of the education department at Stern College for Women, Yeshiva University, and a facilitator for math workshops through a joint effort with Bank Street College and the NYC DOE to support teachers in the city's Universal Pre-K classrooms. On the national level, Merril was involved in advocacy issues with the Coalition for Advancement on Jewish Education (CAJE). Merril holds a Masters Degree in Education from Bank Street College of Education.
Workshop 1: Intro to LGBTQ+ Equality and Belonging in Early Childhood Education
Description: This intro-level training will cover core terms and concepts related to LGBTQ+ identities, make connections between LGBTQ+ equality and Jewish values, and identify some classroom practices and educational content that support self expression, respect, and dignity in ECE.
Workshop 2: Building a Culture of LGBTQ+ Equality and Belonging in Your Classroom
This higher-level training assumes that EITHER you attended the previous intro training at 9:15am OR that you have a comfortable working understanding of LGBTQ+ terms and concepts. This training will identify some common barriers that impact the experience and development of LGBTQ+ children, offer principles and tools for creating LGBTQ+ affirming schools, classrooms, and curriculum, and explore having developmentally meaningful conversations and learning around LGBTQ+ identity with students.
Eli Lurie Sobel
Eli Lurie Sobel is the Greater Boston Education & Training Manager at Keshet, where our mission is for LGBTQ+ equality in Jewish life.
The Jewish Value of Human Dignity: A Deep Dive
This session will explore the concept of Human Dignity in Jewish sources – it will be an exciting opportunity for you to learn some Jewish texts and gain a deeper understanding of this value, as well as thinking about how you could make this value come to life in your early childhood classroom.
Rabba Yaffa Epstein
Rabba Yaffa Epstein is the Senior Scholar and Educator in Residence at the Jewish Education Project. Formerly, she served as the Director of the Wexner Heritage Program at the Wexner Foundation. Epstein has also served as the Director of Education, North America for the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies and was a member of the faculty. She has served on the faculties of Yeshivat Maharat and the Drisha Institute. Epstein has served as an Educator and Scholar in Residence for the Dorot Fellowship, Moishe House, Jewish Federation of North America, the Covenant Foundation, the Nahum Goldmann Fellowship, Repair the World, the Meorot Fellowship, and the KADIMA Fellowship. She has lectured at numerous Limmud events around the globe, has written curriculum for the Global Day of Jewish Learning and has created innovative educational programming for Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life. She received Rabbinic Ordination from Yeshivat Maharat, earned an additional private Ordination from Rabbi Daniel Landes, holds a Law Degree from Bar-Ilan University, and studied at the Talmud Department at Hebrew University.
- Early Childhood
Discover more
Leadership and staff have transformed their school into a play-based Reggio-inspired center at Beth El Synagogue Nursery School.
The Jewish Museum provided us with the perfect setting to explore how early childhood educators might use art and artifacts in their classrooms differently.
Congregation Tifereth Israel (CTI), Glen Cove, NY. CTI learners and their families participate in hands-on experiential learning. The curriculum focuses on Jewish values learned through our stories (both modern and ancient).