Reflections from the annual Women's Kinus/Convention 5775- 2015

(That is me looking down at my phone, white collar:), my sister to my left)

Dear Friends,

As many of you know Leah and I have just come back from an extended weekend convention called Kinus Hashluchos with over 1700  women from all corners of the globe who essentially do the same work as us.  We are Emissaries or Shluchos in Hebrew, of the late Lubavitcher Rebbe. We all  find ourselves in cities and countries far from home, all with the singular goal of connecting with/teaching every Jew that we meet with love and kindness.  Obviously this is a most simplified version of what we actually do on a day to day basis, but that is the gist.  As you can well imagine, being in NY surrounded by so many women, plus our host relatives and our away from home children, the energy is intense, even frenetic at times.  As many of our seasoned parents know, I am involved in an Early Childhood cohort with Chabad preschool directors from around the world. Israel, to China, to Australia and South Africa.  As such, I attended two events specific to this line of work. One was a Reggio Emilia exhibit which took place in Brooklyn at a non-Jewish secular school.  The other was a day of higher education, aimed at inspiring long time teachers and Directors.  I learned and shared at both of these workshops, walking away with an intense amount of gratitude for our teachers and our families at IJP.  It was affirming to notice how much of what we do is on the forefront of what is considered "Best practices" in education.  Not only early-childhood education, but in so many of the areas in which we are involved with teaching/camp; from the toddlers, elementary children, teens and adults.  The big ideas and philosophies all stem from the same basic premise; which is that we value our students.  We recognize that they come to us full of potential, it is only our job to help them bring it out in themselves.  As you can imagine, my involvement in all of this educational pedagogy has helped me immensely as a parent with my own children. Some of the things discussed that are worth sharing:

 *We believe in the children so we are not here to solve problems, but to be facilitators in helping the child/teen/adult work it out for themselves. 

*The teacher is a constant, totally involved with the child, the child knows this and doesn't forget this, in turn the child can feel comfortable enough to follow the rules. 

*Every behavior begets a deep question, the mindset is to be about the child, not the behavior. Don't get hung up on the behavior but what the child is going through.

*We see each child as competent. Reggio inspired means everything that happens in the school is consistent with our values, the values established by the school and the values that parents in the community bring.  

The theme of the Banquet that culminates the convention, was a 5 letter sentence the Rebbe had told to a nervous young shlucha (emissary) some 45 years ago: "Ich Fort Duh Mit Eich- I am really going with you". There are stories to regale you with about this insight from the Rebbe, but suffice to say, this is like you telling your child, as she leaves for college, "As your Mom and Dad, we are there with you, we are worrying, thinking about and still taking care of you, even while you are away" and in turn you hope this assurance leads your child down the proper path or give them strength when they indeed feel alone.  

Our presenter took these 5 words and broke them down to apply to our jobs as Educators;

Ich- I- This is the core sense of self of the child, they are competent, don't destroy that.  Build them don't break them.

Fort- Going- How is the Identity of your school actualized, how does it move you as an educator and your children, and families forward in the path of life?

Duch- Really-  Making the vision practical in all levels at our school. (How we talk to children, how we talk to parents, what materials do we use?, how do we celebrate the holidays? etc)

Mit-With- Teaching can be a lonely profession, we need to make this front and center, and bring the message that you are not alone. Reach out to parents, reach into yourself to be the most of you that you can be. The reason you went into this profession from the beginning.

Eich-You- Develop a school that has a culture of participation and all parties gain infinitely more in their experience with you as a learning environment.  

To be clear, that sentence the Rebbe told Mrs Lipskar was in yiddish, so if you did not recognize the verbiage- you are OK.  There is a lot more to share of course, and I don't know how much of it is already integrated into my soul, and how much more I can put from pen to paper, so I hope for now, this sharing will represent that I had you all in mind while engaging with my colleagues, all  for the goal of creating excellence right here in Atlanta, Georgia! Best Wishes for a Shabbat Shalom! Dena