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.
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Hello Reader, This is the first of a seven-part series on Lesson Planning. For the full Post, please visit Menschenables. Defining clear learning objectives is the foundation of effective teaching. Lessons can lack direction and impact without a clear vision of what students should learn. Learning objectives guide instruction, assessment, and student engagement, ensuring that lessons are purposeful and measurable. This week’s Blog Post complements the Book of Judges Flipbook. When you signed up for Just to Menschen Newsletter, you should have received a copy of the Book of Judges Character Analysis Flipbook. If you missed it, click HERE for a copy. The following are lesson objectives for a lesson using that resource: Learning Objectives for the Book of Judges Character Analysis Flipbook
By defining strong, measurable learning objectives, you can create lessons that are meaningful, structured, and aligned with your students’ academic and spiritual growth. Thoughtful objectives ensure that Judaic learning and academic skills reinforce one another, leading to a well-rounded education. Next week, we will discuss Gathering and Preparing Materials, a vital step in lesson planning and classroom management. As always, please reply to this email with any comments or assistance! 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,...