With a background in both Judaic and general studies combined with 30 years of teaching in Jewish educational settings, I saw the same challenges again and again. Jewish educators were being asked to plan meaningful lessons without enough time, structure, or support. So, I began creating tools that bridge the gap between Judaic content and real classroom practice. Teachers need purposeful lessons that help students think deeply, build skills, reflect on Jewish values, and connect learning to their own lives. That is why I created Menschenables, my 5-step Jewish lesson planning framework, and the Kehillah Collective. My work is designed to help Jewish educators stop starting from scratch and start planning with more clarity, confidence, and joy. Because meaningful Jewish learning should feel thoughtful, doable, and deeply connected — for both teachers and students.
Going off the rails
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Hey Reader, Let me ask you something… Are you like me? I’ve been feeling really behind in my work. It’s almost April/Passover already, and all the “big plans” I had for the year feel like they’re slipping through my hands. You know…you have accomplished a lot of good stuff so far this year, but you still focus on that one thing you keep putting off? Are you ignoring all the “did accomplish” stuff and instead just feeling bad about the “did not accomplish” category? Yeah, me too. I figured I wasn’t the only one, so I’m just reaching out to let you know that you aren’t alone in it. In fact, I’m right here with you. Let’s give each other some grace, shall we? ANYWAY…enough about that. You’re on my list because you are an educator interested in blending Judaic content smoothly with standards and skills. So here’s something I wanted to share that relates to that: This is my most recent blog post. It describes my planning process for creating my resources. I begin with the end in mind and work backward. Over the next few weeks, I will provide tips and tricks for designing great lessons that blend Judaic content with general studies content and skills. Keep goingReader! I believe in you. B’Shalom - בשלום Frannie PS. Explore resources that bridge the gap between Judaic and General studies here! |
Menschenables
With a background in both Judaic and general studies combined with 30 years of teaching in Jewish educational settings, I saw the same challenges again and again. Jewish educators were being asked to plan meaningful lessons without enough time, structure, or support. So, I began creating tools that bridge the gap between Judaic content and real classroom practice. Teachers need purposeful lessons that help students think deeply, build skills, reflect on Jewish values, and connect learning to their own lives. That is why I created Menschenables, my 5-step Jewish lesson planning framework, and the Kehillah Collective. My work is designed to help Jewish educators stop starting from scratch and start planning with more clarity, confidence, and joy. Because meaningful Jewish learning should feel thoughtful, doable, and deeply connected — for both teachers and students.
Hi there, Reader, Have you ever sat down to plan a Jewish lesson and immediately felt like there were too many pieces to hold at once? The Parsha. The holiday. The Hebrew. The Jewish value. The activity. The classroom management. The meaningful takeaway. And somehow, all of that is supposed to fit into one short class period. If that sounds familiar, I want you to know this: It is not you. Jewish lesson planning often feels overwhelming because so many educators plan with limited time,...
Do you believe in luck, Reader? I’ve been lucky a time or two. Like scoring my new job! A couple of months ago, I was really missing being in the classroom and spending time with Jewish kids. Then the most remarkable opportunity came along: to be Director of Education at a very small congregation. (This is the main reason I have been MIA lately.) I feel pretty lucky to be back with students and teachers. As I said, the congregation is very small. We only have 16 students in our Sunday...
Dear Reader, friend and fellow educator, It’s hard to believe—it’s been five months since my last message to you. I’ve truly missed connecting with this incredible community. Though I’ve been quiet, please know that not a week has gone by without me thinking about all of you—the passionate, creative educators who care deeply about weaving Jewish learning and general studies together in meaningful ways. This vision—to build a collective of like-minded Jewish educators who bring depth,...