The הנני Hineini Leader

Collaboration in Science

Erik Denning, Middle and Elementary School Science Teacher

Most of the 6th grade science curriculum includes some amount of collaborative learning. Such learning has many benefits. When students work together, it builds self-esteem and confidence. Students are able take on roles that appeal to their learning style and know that the entire project is not resting on their shoulders alone. Collaboration uses a team approach to problem solving while maintaining individual accountability. It resembles real-life social and employment situations, and compels students to consider the ideas of others and to compromise. As we know, compromising isn't always easy.

Working collaboratively in science allows students to use a variety of thinking strategies to approach different kinds of problems. We all carry different keys to the locks we encounter in scientific problems. Allowing for multiple perspectives and interpretations can prevent the unintentional biases that may rise when working alone. Science students need to learn to collaborate now, because the problems they encounter when they are older are going to be more challenging and more technically demanding. A scientist working in isolation is very uncommon and not very productive.

Students tend to enjoy collaborative work because it allows them to socialize and to communicate ideas. Collaboration is fun! In the classroom, collaborative activities usually allow more movement and more creative opportunities, in an environment designed for active, involved, exploratory learning . We can use collaborative work situations to take students out of their comfort zones and team them with classmates they would not normally choose to work with. Because they can benefit students in so many ways, strong collaborative, cooperative learning skills are valuable beyond science class and beyond school!

70 to Israel! 70 to Hillel!

Morah Tamar Levran-Galai, Elementary School Ivrit Teacher

This year at Hillel, one of our major goals is to focus on Ivrit speaking skills, namely conversational communication, while embeddingthe fundamentals of the language in a day-to-day experience. The students practice questions and answers regarding daily routine interactions, such as greetings, weather, student education and individual information.

This year, honoring the significant establishment of the State of Israel as well as Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy, we are involved in an Israel-inspired curriculum, designed to foster an authentic connection to Medinat lsrael and Ivrit. Throughout the year, students will explore the legacy of Benjamin Ze'ev Herzl and Eliezer Ben-Yehuda during our Ivrit lessons. The past month was filled with meaningful Jewish and Zionist learning, and I am very excited and honored to join the Hillel family and the Ivrit team during this distinguished and meaningful year!