By Leah Lemchen, Congregation Beth Shalom ECC
When we started the Fellowship for Leadership and Excellence in Jewish Early Childhood in June 2011, our school was on the verge of change and our teachers, including those of us in the Fellowship, were really ready to grow. It is such a fun journey to be part of a growing school, and when you are ready to learn and grow, it is so great to have support and inspiration like that which the fellowship provided.
The Fellowship was structured around lenses which guide our work. The lens of Brit - Covenant (Belonging and Commitment) is about living in partnership and creating nurturing and trusting relationships. This lens has been a guide for our school, helping us to value quality relationships and a sense of community.
The topic of home visits came up during our first Fellowship retreat. The whole idea was a bit overwhelming as this wasn't something that any of us had done before. As a director, I thought it was a great idea, but it was not something I felt willing to ask of our teachers. Teachers have such busy jobs as it is with classroom set up and clean up, planning curriculum, newsletters, documentation, bulletin boards…not to mention actual time in the classroom. But I underestimated the commitment of the amazing teachers at our school. The teachers at the Beth Shalom ECC that were involved in the Fellowship were really inspired and motivated by all that Diana shared about the benefits of home visits. They came to me really wanting to do home visits, and I’m not one to hold up growth! Home visits began slowly at our school, starting with our 2 year old class. Our preschool class followed not long after.
By the second year, the teachers were experts. They posted sign-up sheets and visited each family within a three-week period. The teachers made sure to let families know not to worry about making them food or cleaning up. They just wanted to form stronger bonds with children and their families to help set the tone of their relationship for the upcoming year. It was very special for the children to be able to show their teachers their rooms and have some special time with both teachers focusing only on them. It helped the teachers gain a deeper understanding of each child as they prepared for a year of meaningful experiences together. The teachers made a book full of pictures of each child’s home visit that the children love to look at together at school.
Home visits are now an important part of our school’s identity. I feel happy and proud to work with teachers that are so committed to their jobs and to the children and families in our school. I get really excited when I wonder about the things that will inspire teachers in the future to push our school to grow in new ways. What are your thoughts on home visits? What do you like about the idea and what concerns do you have?
When we started the Fellowship for Leadership and Excellence in Jewish Early Childhood in June 2011, our school was on the verge of change and our teachers, including those of us in the Fellowship, were really ready to grow. It is such a fun journey to be part of a growing school, and when you are ready to learn and grow, it is so great to have support and inspiration like that which the fellowship provided.
The Fellowship was structured around lenses which guide our work. The lens of Brit - Covenant (Belonging and Commitment) is about living in partnership and creating nurturing and trusting relationships. This lens has been a guide for our school, helping us to value quality relationships and a sense of community.
The topic of home visits came up during our first Fellowship retreat. The whole idea was a bit overwhelming as this wasn't something that any of us had done before. As a director, I thought it was a great idea, but it was not something I felt willing to ask of our teachers. Teachers have such busy jobs as it is with classroom set up and clean up, planning curriculum, newsletters, documentation, bulletin boards…not to mention actual time in the classroom. But I underestimated the commitment of the amazing teachers at our school. The teachers at the Beth Shalom ECC that were involved in the Fellowship were really inspired and motivated by all that Diana shared about the benefits of home visits. They came to me really wanting to do home visits, and I’m not one to hold up growth! Home visits began slowly at our school, starting with our 2 year old class. Our preschool class followed not long after.
By the second year, the teachers were experts. They posted sign-up sheets and visited each family within a three-week period. The teachers made sure to let families know not to worry about making them food or cleaning up. They just wanted to form stronger bonds with children and their families to help set the tone of their relationship for the upcoming year. It was very special for the children to be able to show their teachers their rooms and have some special time with both teachers focusing only on them. It helped the teachers gain a deeper understanding of each child as they prepared for a year of meaningful experiences together. The teachers made a book full of pictures of each child’s home visit that the children love to look at together at school.
Home visits are now an important part of our school’s identity. I feel happy and proud to work with teachers that are so committed to their jobs and to the children and families in our school. I get really excited when I wonder about the things that will inspire teachers in the future to push our school to grow in new ways. What are your thoughts on home visits? What do you like about the idea and what concerns do you have?