The scene of students admiring the Sukkah Building Contest submissions struck me this week. I first saw their enthralled expressions. Only then, as I turned to see the Sukkahs themselves, did I fully realize the immense creativity and uniqueness of each Sukkah. The colors. The shapes. The materials. Wow. I dub this week's pic: Sukkah City Skyline
Rising Action. Falling Action. Setting. The 7G girls intensely discussed and took notes on the different elements of plot in the short story they just read. It was amazing to see how focused and collaborative they were with the task at hand.
Mastering Math! This scene struck me as I noticed a number of student-centered tools in use for these 4th graders to master their math skills. The whiteboards allow independent practice. The Math Journal is filled with vocabulary terms and general rules and procedures they can look up while figuring out a problem. Their desks face each other, so if they need support, a classmate is within reach. And the benefits are clear . . . look how intensely they are working on complicated subtraction!
Learning for miles and miles. When I saw the K-2 hallway speckled with learning throughout its length, I had to snap a pic. This scene represents so much of what TDSA is about: small learning groups to ensure every child receives the attention they need during these crucial, foundational, building block years AND that learning may be most effective with the use of flexible spaces.
Middle School Boys' Kicked off the Year with an Olympic-themed, Team-Building Activity Led by the new Activities Coordinator, Rabbi Yehuda Pollack. Seeing these boys expressions of joy while cheering on their teammates uplifted my soul. I chose this pic as my weekly window into TDSA because it encapsulates simcha, achdus, and ruach in one, beautiful moment.
