CONCLUDING THOUGHTS AND REFLECTIONS

It would be an understatement to say that I learned a lot in my time at Azrieli. In all honesty, I cannot imagine teaching without the background and expertise that my professors and peers at Azrieli have given me in classroom management, curriculum and instruction, and understanding the needs of diverse learners. Skills and techniques that are fundamental to education - such as the concept of having a learning goal to drive and guide every lesson - are so obvious in hindsight but were missing from my teaching toolbox when I first started. I hope that the artifacts I’ve presented here are a testimony to my growth in that area. But perhaps more important than all of the technical details is this one last point: connection.

I remind myself of this every day I teach: Put yourself in their shoes. Students are not Lego mentchies. They’re people, people with backgrounds and challenges and strengths and baggage of all sorts. That means that it’s not you lecturing to a class of Playmobil, but you engaging in a room full of souls. Smile with them, laugh with them, share in their joys and sorrows. Realize that when a student is struggling to grasp a new concept, the struggle is real for her, even though it seems so obvious to you. When a student cheers “I got it!” even though you think it wasn’t a big deal, laugh and clap with her. The more you give to them the more you will really and truly feel connected, and then you can start learning together.

I remember the first class I ever took at Azrieli: Models of Teaching with R’ Dr. Feuerman ZT”L. The whole class he remained calm, quiet, and with the biggest smile you’ve ever seen on his face. From the moment we entered his classroom, he encouraged us to get to know our peers in the classroom, their names, what they preferred to be called, what they liked to do, what their goals were. He encouraged us to find our own path in education; to follow the science (the “Art and Science of Teaching” by R.J. Marzano) of what research has shown works best, but to also work within our personal goals and strengths. What stands out the most to me about his classroom is the way he made every single person in that small room feel safe and accepted. That is one enduring disposition I want to take with me as I continue growing in my journey as an educator: to build authentic connections with students in an environment that is warm, positive, and safe. I can’t promise to always keep a smile on my face the way R’ Dr. Feuerman did, but I will certainly try!