Cultivating Kavanah in the Calendar​

By ISJL Education Fellow Isaac Gamoran
 
Do you ever feel like religious school ends before it even started? Like you never had a chance to take a breath and appreciate the day? What about the year? Oftentimes, it can be easy to get caught up in the hysteria of it all without taking a moment to evaluate the intention that is being put into the various programs of the day or year. The goal of this short newsletter is to offer some simple strategies to build kavanah (intention) into the religious school schedule in the New Year. Below are six religious school techniques, three for the day and three for the year, to try out!
 
Strategies for the day:
 

1. Kick Off in Kehillah: Get the school day started with the value of community! Starting the day as one school gives teachers a chance to breathe before the day starts, students time to see friends or family in other classes, and a moment for the whole school to enjoy being together. Whether the group starts with a short ten-minute song session, a longer twenty-minute t’filah (service), or even a five-minute energizer activity, be intentional about opening with kehillah (community).
2. Combining for Closing: The end of the day is another opportunity to build intention! By combining grades and having a debrief at the end of the day, students could have time to listen to and recognize what other classes are learning. This can help students take ownership over what they learned as a class and teach it to the other grades. Furthermore, having students review class in their own words gives teachers time to evaluate the lesson and realize which messages were taken home.
3. Meaningful M’nuchah: Yes, snack time is important. However, rest time is important too! Students and teachers need time to relax, and assigning a twenty-minute chunk for a mindful activity can do just the trick. From listening to a podcast with their eyes closed or doing a coloring activity, to journaling about something that happened during the week or even just taking a moment to meditate, there are all sorts of options to provide students meaning through m’nuchah (rest). Not to mention, m’nuchah gives the teacher time to unwind too!

 
Strategies for the year:
 

1. Spacing Out the Schedule: Consider spacing out all-school programs and larger events with regular class time and varying the forms of learning. The more variety and diversity in the calendar, the more excited and energized the teachers and students will be. Make sure to give children and instructors alike time for much needed days off, in the same way they need breaks each day. Occasional time away can re-energize the school and help teachers maintain balance throughout the year!
2. Celebrating the Chagim: We all know that the chagim (holidays) structure the Jewish year. However, they also structure the religious school year. Instead of being bogged down by how fragmented the year can feel, you can use the holidays for specific opportunities to be mindful and grateful. Find moments to talk about themes of mindfulness that relate to the various festivals from thinking about goals for the New Year on Rosh Hashanah to embracing life’s journeys on Passover.
3. Making Each Week Count: As the weeks go by during the year, it can be easy to slip into feeling stressed and lose sight of the beauty of what is right in front of you. This third and final technique focuses on a pre-school and post-school action plan. Before the school day, ask teachers to write down one part of the day that they are looking forward to experiencing. Once the day ends, teachers will then jot down something they are grateful for or appreciated from the day, whether related to the pre-school note or not. Hopefully, this will add meaning and intention to the weeks and months and can serve as a resource to look back at for smiles and inspiration!

 
We hope these strategies provide a jumping off point to cultivate kavanah in your calendar!