Entries by Maya Nissim

Helping Children Make New Year’s Resolutions

“The magic in new beginnings is truly the most powerful of them all…” It is that time of year again! Time for holiday celebrations as we close out 2021 and enter the 2022 new year. Every year we hear about New year’s resolutions and the different goals others set for the upcoming year. What is […]

Developing Critical Thinking Skills in Children

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.”  -Dr. Seuss  Research shows just how important critical thinking is for children, teenagers, and adults. That is why educational experts state that in order to develop students into critical thinkers, the skills need to […]

How to Teach the Story of Hanukkah to Kids

“A little light goes a long way…”   The word “Hanukkah” comes from the Hebrew meaning dedication. The Jewish holiday Hanukkah is an eight-day celebration known for being The Festival of Lights, representing joy, warmth, comfort, and miracles. The holiday is often spelled in different ways. Believe it or not, there are over 20 different […]

Teaching Children Gratitude

“There is always something to be grateful for…”  In a recent study on gratitude, it was found that teaching children appreciation and thankfulness by the age of 5 contributes to growing up feeling happier. Understanding gratitude and having opportunities to experience feeling grateful were shown to be important life lessons to teach in grades K-8, […]

Strategies for Tackling Homework

“Homework teaches children to be independent, to take initiative and responsibility for completing a task, and it helps children to develop a sense of self-discipline.” Research shows that homework plays a very important role in the process of learning and developing independence. Students are exposed to a variety of new concepts daily. Practicing new skills at […]

Empowering Children: Teaching Kids Resilience

“When children are resilient, they can face life with courage and curiosity. They have a greater ability to adapt. They are more confident which leads them to try new things and strive for growth.” -Dr. G Childhood tends to be idealized as a fun, stress-free and carefree time in one’s life. However, that is not always […]

Social Apps Parents Should Know About

“Nothing ever goes away once it is posted online…” Our children are growing up in a fast-paced world where technology affects their daily lives in way that is truly unprecedented. While using smartphone Apps has been a growing trend for some years now, with more students learning from home and having more electronic time during […]

Teaching Children About the Jewish High Holidays

“The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written.” Two Jewish travelers were on their way home for the Jewish high holidays. One of the passengers said to another, “Holidays came with traditions and special foods. Maybe you can even remember Shabbat candles and some Hebrew prayer melodies. […]

4 Ways to Inspire Children to Become Independent Thinkers

“People often avoid making decisions out of fear of making a mistake. Actually, the failure to make decisions is one of life’s biggest mistakes.” –Rabbi Noah Weinberg Encouraging children to become independent thinkers is one of the most important goals in a child’s education. Research shows that developing independence skills throughout elementary and middle school […]

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The Benefits of STEM Education

“Scientists discover the world that exists; engineers create the world that never was.”  STEM education supports the development of how one thinks and behaves. The educational benefits of STEM arise from integrating the four specific academic disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics into one cohesive learning experience. Rather than teach the subjects separately, the […]