[HANASHIR:4645] Re: 6th and 7th graders

[Judy Caplan Ginsburgh <jerd...>]

You can also do Israeli dancing using scarves or handkechiefs (bandanas
even).  Use it as a spring board to talk about customs and traditions.

Judy :)

Emily Blank wrote:
> 
> You can do Israeli dancing without the  handholding!  In fact, we do it all
> the time in the class I attend (unless we're doing couples dances).  I'm
> kind of ambivalent about the handholding thing myself.  Emily
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From:   Emworobey (at) aol(dot)com [SMTP:Emworobey (at) aol(dot)com]
> Sent:   Wednesday, December 22, 1999 1:20 AM
> To:     hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> Subject:        [HANASHIR:4642] Re:  6th and 7th graders
> 
> My 6th grade class (the one that acted like they were at a funeral a week
> ago) did a complete 180 degree turn this week.  I attribute it to several
> factors:
> 
> Having gathered lots of ideas and insights from you all, I approached the
> class with renewed hope.  I didn't say anything but I think I must have
> projected a different demeanor.
> 
> They were scheduled in the last time slot of the day instead of the first
> (when they aren't fully awake yet).   I think that kids this age aren't
> really awake until after 10 or 11 a.m.
> 
> I started with a parody, "Puff the Kosher Dragon" which I am sick to death
> of
> but several of the boys exclaimed "I LOVE this song" before I got started
> so
> I thought, "What the heck!"  Actually, it was on the backside of a song
> sheet
> I had just finished distributing.  I wasn't even planning to do it - I was
> going to do just the stuff on the other side - and frankly, I forgot that
> it
> was even there.  Well, did these kids sing out without any inhibitions and
> with ruach like you wouldn't believe!  I almost fell over.  From that point
> on, I just tried to keep the momentum going by moving from one song to the
> next, as some of you suggested, with very little pause in between.  I did
> decide to take a risk and teach a song that has become the favorite of K &
> 1,
>  "Hiney Rakevet."  I thought, "It's either going to be a big hit or it's
> going to bomb and if it bombs I'll try to gracefully move right along".  I
> prefaced it by saying that if they had little brothers or sisters or if
> they
> ever babysit they can teach it to the little ones and they'll eat it up.  I
> think that made them feel very grown up and receptive to the song.  Anyway,
> I
> taught it with all the hand motions and Rabbi Black's added verse (chicken
> soup and matzo balls, etc.) and they went nuts.   They got very silly
> making
> the tooting noises and doing all the hand motions but they loved it!  In
> fact, after singing it completely through, they asked to do it all over
> again.
>   I just hope that I can re-capture the spirit that filled the room.  It
> was
> a beautiful thing!  I think I would like to try some other parodies.  Can
> anyone suggest any that have been well received by your classes?  Also, I
> think I may also try to teach one or two Israeli dances but I'm not sure
> about the whole hand holding thing.  I don't know if this age group will
> feel
> comfortable with that so I'll have to contemplate that further.  If any of
> you have had experience with that, please comment!
> 
> Thanks,
> Emily Worobey
> 

-- 
IMPORTANT: My e-mail address is changing to jerd (at) centurytel(dot)net(dot)  
Please
make this change in your address book.

Judy Caplan Ginsburgh, Award-winning Singer/Music Specialist
       http://www.jewishentertainment.net/judy
Director:  Jewish Entertainment Resources
       http://www.jewishentertainment.net
1999 Louisiana Professional Artist of the Year!!
Past Conference Chair:  23rd Conference on Alternatives in Jewish
Education

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