[HANASHIR:4604] Re: 6th and 7th graders

[Joshua M. D. Segal <jsegal...>]

I'm teaching 6th and 7th graders this year, and it's actually my first time
teaching religious school.  I did work with that age group (song-wise) at
UAHC Crane Lake this summer, and as Beth talked about, took the same
attitude into the class room. Just as with other types of art the space
vs. negative space concept applies, as does it here.  I do not sing
straight through.  I will talk a bit and try and teach Judaism through
song.  The 6th and 7th graders seem to get it the best.  In addition to all
the fun campy style songs they do, I also try and throw in some "more
popular" songs, but as a Jewish spoof.  The words to Adon Olam and Hinei
Mah Tov fit into about anything, and sometimes playing those words with
more familiar melodies help.  Also, the sillier I look, I feel, the more
they will participate.  I have the kids that say they're too cool for this.
I more or less tell them "No you're not...look at me, I'm older but still a
kid [17] and I'm not too cool for it."  I also dress like they do (almost
always jeans ... usually some form of collared shirt or sweater).  But I
want them to be able to relate to me and to the music.  

Sorry for the rambling.

-- 


-Josh Segal
----------
jsegal (at) brandeis(dot)edu
781-529-4612
MB 1305 Brandeis University
PO Box 9110
Waltham, MA 02454-9110


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