early childhood
Simchat Morim 2008 was a great day. Click here for pictures.
SAJES recognizes that Jewish early childhood education is often an entry point - the first "official step" into the Jewish community.Susan Remick Topek is the Director of the SAJES Department of Early Childhood Education, providing multiple and varied professional learning opportunities for all EC educators. Under her guidance and direction the department:
- publishes A Sense of Jewish Symbols, a weekly newsletter with ideas and suggestions for the preschool and primary classroom. You can also find a full collection of Israel 24/7 with great ideas for teaching Israel in the early childhood classroom.
- facilitates the SAJES Jewish Early Childhood Directors Network, a group representing 21 preschools who have been inspired, though the work of the Network, to develop quality seminars and presentations on topics that impact developmentally appropriate curricular changes in their schools and in the methods, techniques and philosophy of the teachers.
- hosts Simchat Morim, our annual conference for Jewish Early Childhood Educators, attended by more than 200 EC educators.
- facilitates the Teachers of Toddlers and Twos Chat Group (3Ts), a professional development forum for teachers of toddlers and twos. Meeting every six weeks, each session offers a discussion topic with resources specific to Toddlers and Twos, as well as featuring a time for an open form discussion. A 'Certificate of Participation' is given at the conclusion of each meeting.
- NEW! A pot luck evening for Teachers of Threes and Fours. Teachers are invited to bring original ideas for curriculum, activities and events to share on an announced topic. Resources and an open forum for discussion is included. 'Certificate of Participation' is given at the conclusion of each meeting.
- hosts workshops to update educators’ skills on topics such as CPR and First Aid.
- provides both on and offsite workshops for early childhood and primary educators and an Early Childhood Resource Center for both parents and educators.
ENGAJE Long Island, a project of SAJES, is dedicated to transforming Jewish Early Childhood Education in this region. ENGAJE Long Island is made possible through generous funding provided by the Commission on Jewish Identity and Renewal (CoJIR) of UJA-Federation NY.
SAJES is a change agent for the professional learning of early childhood educators. We are excited and proud of ENGAJE Long Island, a project that is transforming Jewish early childhood educators and education on Long Island. We believe that through their participation in ENGAJE LI, the current cohort of eighty Early Childhood educators in five sites on Long Island will have the motivation, knowledge and tools to enact and integrate new ideas into the Early Childhood classroom.
Dont' miss photos of the successful opening Yom Iyun at the Long Island Children's Museum.
The five participating institutions in this first cohort for ENGAJE Long Island are:
Rabbi Tracy Kaplowitz coordinates ENGAJE Long Island. Click here for information on ENGAJE Long Island.
For more information on SAJES Department of Early Childhood Education, please contact Susan Remick Topek.
