Success

   =I had a tefilla success today! =

Did something go right in your tefilla class today? If so - please share it with all of us!                                   We have discussed the importance of tefilla to each of us, and my focus has been on a respectful and meaningful tefilla. I also have decided to work on the anim zemirot in the hope that some of my boys will be comfortable enough to attempt it in shul.

Susie Ammer 3rd Grade

Upon entering the class in the morning, each student finds one of the brachot for the shmoneh esrei on his desk. Instead of saying all of the brachot together, each student does them one at a time. The students enjoy having the opportunity to "hear themselves". I enjoy watching them keep track of which brachah comes next and seeing who is paying attention! The cards are illustrated so they have a visual as well as an auditory davening and it becomes more meaningful for them.

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I have had many Tefillah successes in my 4th grade class this year

1. Davener of the week is a big hit. Thank you R Penn for the idea

2. I always enjoy sharing Sephardic/ edot mizrachi customs with my students. We started with שמע. The children learned how sephardim make a shin with their right hand when they cover their eyes. The kids are very conscientious about covering their eyes with their 3 fingers.... Another custom I shared is opening their hands when they say פותח את ידיך in אשרי.

On Rosh Chodesh we sing some parts in sephardic melodies with the help of you tube. Kids are allowed to dance/move at that time, starting Rosh Chodesh the new month with songs and dance the kids love it!!!

What I really love is that the children embrace different minhagim and they don't make fun of it.....

3. At first I didn't know how to reward the children who davened nicely b/c in 4th grade nekudot are no longer used. I started to give them shekalim that they could buy a prize every Rosh Chodesh at our sale. They get shekalim for being chazan/chazaneet, chair monitor, me shebarach person, Hallel helper,tzedakah person and of coarse "coat" monitor. The kids love having jobs and getting "paid" to do it.

Dalia Golbari 4th Grade

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During tefilah we have the smartboard on with photographs that I have posted (as recommended in the workshop). Some of nature, food, kotel....The children really like it and we talk about it, hope to enhance spirituality and make tefilah meaningful and sensory.

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Rahel Grebler 1st Grade