Hebrew school teacher

amother

Sun, Jul 10 2022, 7:52 pm

I recently applied for a Hebrew school teacher job. I have a phone meeting with the director of the program this week and I'm incredibly nervous. Is anyone here a Hebrew school teacher and can tell me a little bit about it and if you enjoy it? I've taught in the past but have been home for over 12 years, which is probably why I'm so nervous.

amother

Chambray

Sun, Jul 10 2022, 7:59 pm

I'm Chabad and all my friends and I taught Hebrew school at some point or another. I enjoyed it, every Hebrew school is different so it's hard to give specific insight without much info about where you are teaching

mushkamothers

Sun, Jul 10 2022, 8:22 pm

It requires a fine balance between classroom management and being like a camp counselor- warm, friendly, fun, doing crafts and activities. My personal objective is for the kids to have a good time and warm feelings towards Jewish studies, not for it to be super academic, but this very much depends on the parent body and their expectations.

Good Friend

Sun, Jul 10 2022, 9:26 pm

I've taught in a number of Hebrew schools and now I run my own. I agree with what the previous posters said, and want to add that it's a special zchus, because generally for the students in a Hebrew school this is their only source of Jewish education. Because of that it's really important for both the students and the parents to be happy. It has to be fun for the students so they view their Judaism as a positive aspect of their lives, and also so they don't complain to their parents that they're bored and want to quit, and it has to be educational so that the parents feel like it's worth it to send their kids. So as the teacher you'll have to really be in tune to that.
For example the parents at my school mainly want their kids to learn Hebrew because the parents are Israeli but we don't live in Israel. So I focus a lot on Hebrew reading, and try to speak to the kids in Hebrew, and send the parents videos of their kids reading in Hebrew, even though for me that's not the most important part, but if I want the kids in the school that's what's necessary.