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Long Island, New York: Hebrew Academy of Long Beach (HALB)
On Dec 13th, 2021, more than ten Jewish Day School & Yeshiva Principals from across the New York area gathered at the Hebrew Academy of Long Beach (HALB) in Cedarhurst, NY, to learn about the Lomdei Blended & Personalized Learning (BPL) program. Principals heard about the finer points of the Blended and Personalized Learning Project from Mrs. Chani Richmond, Lomdei’s BPL Director of Curriculum Development, Teacher Training, and Coaching, and Mr. Richard Altabe, Principal of HALB and Chairman of Lomdei’s Principal Advisory Committee. Principals were also invited to get a firsthand look at BPL in action, observing its implementation in both Judaic and General Studies HALB classrooms.
Upon arrival, principals were welcomed by Mr. Altabe, who has led HALB to become one of the first Jewish day schools to adopt BPL in both General Studies and Limudei Kodesh. During his address, Mr. Altabe highlighted the need for teachers to personalize their students' learning experience. He described how Lomdei’s unique approach to professional development and follow-up coaching has helped the rebbeim and moros at HALB successfully integrate BPL in their classrooms. He emphasized that Lomdei’s coaches are rebbeim and moros themselves who are professionally trained to provide culturally relevant support to the educators that are participating in Lomdei’s BPL Project. Principals then heard from Mrs. Chani Richmond, who gave an overview of the goals and processes of the PD and Coaching Division.
Finally, the principals had the opportunity to observe various classes at HALB in which BPL is implemented under Lomdei’s training and guidance. These classroom observations afforded the principals the chance to see how the structure of BPL in a Limudei Kodesh classroom can allow for a highly engaging and dynamic learning experience.
Miami, Florida: Yeshiva Toras Chaim Toras Emes
On Feb 16th, 2022, over eight school Principals from the Florida area gathered at Yeshiva Toras Chaim Toras Emes in North Miami Beach to learn about the PD and Coaching Division and see it in action. Rabbi Kalman Baumann, Menahel of Toras Emes, welcomed the principals and talked about how Toras Emes has been implementing BPL both in their Limudei Kodesh and Limudei Chol classrooms. He pointed out how effective a program like Lomdei BPL can be when provided by like-minded people who understand the needs of a yeshiva or Beis Yaakov and the potential obstacles that are avoided by having a course tailored to meet those needs. Additionally, Rabbi Baumann pointed out that Lomdei’s course can be geared to teachers or schools who are hesitant to use technology in their classroom structure, yet still strive to provide a personalized learning experience for their students.
Rabbi Baumann was followed by Mrs. Chani Richmond, who gave an overview of the goals and processes of Lomdei’s BPL course. Principals were then given the opportunity to observe Limudei Kodesh and Limudei Chol classrooms whose teachers are currently participating in the PD and Coaching Division. Principals were inspired by seeing all that had been discussed in action and were eager to bring strategies of Blended & Personalized Learning back to their school classrooms.
New Jersey: Zoom Session for Principals of New Jersey Yeshivos
On Feb 23rd, 2022, eight school Principals in the New Jersey area gathered on Zoom to learn about the PD and Coaching Division. Similar to the in-person sessions in New York and Florida, Mr. Richard Altabe talked about the educational successes achieved by his school via the implementation of the Lomdei PBL program. He also advocated for schools to move towards this model in their classrooms and described how Lomdei can facilitate this move in the most dynamic and impactful way. Mr. Altabe was followed by Mrs. Chani Richmond, who gave an overview of the goals and processes of Lomdei’s BPL course.
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