Hebrew School: Not Just for the Kids!

We recently conducted a series of focus groups to better understand how synagogues' websites can improve in connecting parents, kids and teachers. Our groups were comprised of parents with children under the age of ten from multiple types of Jewish backgrounds. The top take-away was that parents want to be better involved in what their kids are doing in Hebrew school. They often see themselves as “fallen as a Jew,” and face discomfort and anxiety about their engagement starting and ending when they drop-off/pick-up their child at Hebrew school.

Parents are looking to be more in touch with Judaism and the synagogue. It can start in the classroom. Remove any barriers that may leave the parents on the outside of the classroom wall. Create “Parent Tools”-- easy to understand, applicable information that will keep them up-to-date and connected with what their child is learning in class and help them to extend it outward -- to continue the learning at home and as a family.

Based on our research, here are some easy things you can provide to the parents in your congregation:

• Introductory kit to your Hebrew school. This can be a printed document or a page on your website. Include your educational mission, how you work with students, a basic understanding of the curriculum approach based on grade level. And the basics–identify the principal and how to contact her/him, list your teachers with bios, suggest reference tools for the home. The more information you can supply to parents, the more comfortable they will feel.
• Weekly overview of what will be learned in class for the coming week. Identify and describe key concepts and provide age-appropriate language to help parents engage in conversations with their kids prior to and post-class. Think about providing questions that can be used at the Shabbat dinner table.
• School-year calendar with all the important dates. Including times when parents are invited into the classroom.
• Online holiday resources. Provide an appropriate guide for how parents can find more information on holidays. Make this available on your website.
• E-newsletter with the weekly Torah portion and additional links from children's stories to family learning opportunities.
• Online games and fun links on your site from which kids can learn and explore safely.
• Jewish alphabet. Add a great looking digital version to your website; make it easy to learn and easy to find and print.
• Lastly, tell your congregation about the learning opportunities that are available on your website. And then tell them again. And again. And again.
  
  

Families know that the old model is not working anymore: “Jewish education happens in Hebrew School only.” Parents want Jewish education to happen at home, where they can connect and educate, even when they don’t have all the information. Let the search for more information happen on your website; don't just rely on them "Googling it." Be the resource parents need and want you to be. Help parents teach their children. What are you doing today to foster a community of teachers and learners?