L’DOR V’DOR F A M I LY, E D U C A T I O N A N D S E N I O R L I V I N G
NEW BIRTHDAY TRADITIONS IN THE CLASSROOM
By Rachael Ledesma, Jewish Community Alliance
It used to be celebrating a birthday in the classroom meant decorating a party hat and eating cupcakes with your classmates. However, I recently found a new way of celebrating that is much more meaningful to the child. One thing that makes it so special is that the celebration includes the family as well. Several weeks before a child has a birthday, I send the family an email asking for pictures from each year of their child’s life with a small description or cute story about their child for each given year. Parents are
more than happy to partake in this. On the day of the student’s birthday we all sit in a circle. In the middle of the circle is a sun we made and painted as a class with a flameless candle. I give the birthday child a globe for them to carry. We sing a song about how the Earth goes around the sun as the child walks and takes a trip around the sun. Before each trip around the sun, we share their photos and stories. We learn a lot more about each student and it makes them feel very special on their big day. After, we take all the photos and descriptions sent by the family and make a book that will be displayed
in the classroom. This ritual fosters Brit, which is a sense of belonging and commitment. It allows us to partner with the families and is a way for them to feel involved in the classroom. It also gives each child a sense of belonging and it honors their individuality. Rachael Ledesma is a kindergarten teacher at Michele Block Gan Yeladim Preschool & Kindergarten and
has taught at the school since 2004.
TORAH ACADEMY CELEBRATES SUKKOT
Torah Academy preschoolers build model sukkahs out of legos and magnatiles. 18
Kindergarteners symbolically throw away their sins during tashlich.
