ECE Workshop Descriptions

Keynote Description:

 “As If You Were There”: Bringing the Jewish Early Childhood Classroom to Life through Sensory Theater and Imaginative Play

Jonathan Shmidt Chapman

How can you bring the Jewish early childhood classroom to life through immersive theater and imaginative play? How can you think of your role as an artist in the classroom? This keynote presentation will inspire early childhood educators to consider how their approach to the classroom might be enriched by thinking about themselves as creative artists. Jonathan will introduce concepts, techniques, and research supporting the use of theatrical play in the Jewish early childhood classroom. Jonathan will use the field of arts education practice coupled with Jewish tradition to support the idea that we can deepen impact, develop memory-making, enhance Jewish identity formation, and support social bonding through the use of dramatic play and sensory storytelling in the ECC classroom.

2025 Workshop Descriptions:

Let There Be Play: Exploring Torah in Early Childhood

Jonathan Shmidt Chapman

How can the Torah become a playground for imagination, creativity, and connection for young children? Inspired by Jonathan's book Let There Be Play: Bringing the Bible to Life with Young Children, this hands-on workshop will guide early childhood educators in using play as a way to explore Jewish tradition. Each week of the year, Jewish communities around the world read a section of the Torah, making their way through the entire core text before beginning again. How can this framework provide early childhood classrooms with an opportunity to spark creativity, act out big adventures, and play together using the weekly Torah portion as the catalyst? Jonathan will provide an accessible, inclusive, hands-on, easy-to-follow approach that offers all ECC educators a new way to discover Jewish stories together.

Jewish Justice Pedagogy in Early Childhood Education: Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors

Rabbi Dr. Meir Muller

Early childhood educators excel at creating nurturing classroom communities. As the diversity of our students and staff continues to grow, our role is to expand the horizons of what community truly means. One powerful framework to adopt is the concept of 'mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors,' which illuminates the brilliance of all cultures both within and outside our schools. Join this workshop to explore accessible theories and practical, classroom-ready ideas. Ensure that every child not only appreciates the beauty of their own culture but also understands the value of diversity in our shared community.

Stress? Trauma? How We Can Support Children and Families in Our Schools

Dr. Sharon Bacharach

As early childhood educators, it is often difficult to figure out what a child’s behavior is telling us. Many children are misdiagnosed with ADHD because symptoms can look similar to PTSD due to traumatic experiences or severe stress. This workshop will look at children’s challenging behavior, when to look deeper, and how to help children in the classroom with both stressful situations, such as doctor appointments, and traumatic situations through play. Participants will leave with multiple tools and ideas to use right away.

Balancing Sensory Needs: Tools and Strategies to Support Sensory Regulation in the Classroom

Lindsay Astor Grant, MA, OTR/L

In this workshop, you will review the principles of sensory regulation and understand how it impacts the brain's readiness for learning. Identify common “challenging” behaviors that indicate sensory dysregulation and discover interactive strategies to foster a sense of calm and balance in your classroom. Leave with practical tools to seamlessly integrate into your daily routines, supporting sensory regulation and promoting positive engagement with your students.

All Kids Read: How to Choose and Present Books to Children of All Abilities…and Create “Reading Love” for Life!

Jamie Kiffel-Alcheh

In this workshop, Jamie will explore how our Jewish early childhood literacy programs can be inclusive of all learners, using PJ Library books as examples wherever possible. During the workshop, participants will learn how to identify and choose accessible books by looking at a variety of qualities that can make books more accessible. Jamie will also spend time exploring how to find books with inclusive themes, and she'll present strategies for reading aloud to young audiences with diverse abilities. Participants will come away from this session with book suggestions, skills for choosing books, and practical skills for including all students in their classroom literacy program.

Effective Classroom Strategies for Preschool Teachers: Addressing Speech Sound Disorders,
Language Impairments, and Stuttering

Gabriella Meltz MS, CCC-SLP

This workshop provides preschool teachers with essential tools to foster young children's communication skills. Gabriella Meltz will equip educators with strategies for addressing speech sound disorders, language impairments, and stuttering by focusing on early identification and practical, classroom-based interventions. Emphasizing collaborative, easy-to-implement techniques, this presentation empowers teachers to create inclusive, communication-friendly environments that support each child’s unique needs.


Strategies for Supporting All Learners in Group Settings

Curated Family Therapeutics

Through this presentation, educators will learn to integrate individualized support within group settings, collaborate effectively with aides/providers, and create a balanced, yet inclusive experience for ALL students. With classroom management strategies tailored to tangible daily teaching activities (circle time, centers, etc...), this presentation aims to foster engagement for neurodiverse students while balancing the learning of the classroom as a whole. By understanding the unique needs of their classroom and those who support it (including themselves), teachers can create a supportive environment that maximizes inclusion and learning.

Out of Music Comes Movement

Kira Rappaport

This workshop explores the connection between music and movement in the early childhood classroom. Fine motor, gross motor, improvised and structured movements are all important aspects of music. Join us as we move, dance, sing, and play. It is sure to be a joyful day!


Teaching Jewish Values in all Settings

Rabbi Rebecca Schatz

Rabbi Rebecca Schatz created a school curriculum and guide that will walk us through ways of integrating Jewish values into general or secular studies and classrooms. Through music, activities, home projects, and vocabulary, teachers of any background can learn how to infuse Jewish values into their teaching. The values focused on are universal for all people, religions, and ages, but are geared specifically towards ECC-K and through the lens of Judaism. It would be great to have teachers looking to infuse Jewish values and vocabulary and culture into their classrooms join us!

“Why is the Tree Shaking?”: Intertwining Nature & Art 

Jen Pugsley, Tali Soffer, and Jonathan Hart

We invite you to our outdoor spaces created specifically for nature and art exploration. In our Teva Lab, you will experience hands-on gardening and interactions with nature (we love earthworms!). In the adjacent Outdoor Art Studio, you will find rich provocations to engage with materials and tools in creative ways. These spaces allow children to develop a sense of wonder, inquiry and creativity as they engage in authentic, messy, joyful experiences.


How to Bring the Joy and Wonder of Israel into your Classroom

American Jewish University’s Masters of Arts in Education Class of 2024

Join the Masor School for Jewish Education and Leadership at American Jewish University (AJU) graduating class of 2024 as they present their MAEd ECE degree capstone project.  Entitled "How to Bring the Joy and Wonder of Israel into your Classroom" is a curated collection of ideas, recipes, activities, photos, and more that you can implement immediately and throughout the year in early childhood programs. Representatives of that graduate cohort will be providing educators with the narrative of how the book came together and how you can easily use it. Today more than ever it is important to provide our young children with a sense of pride and understanding of Israel and their connection to the land.

Time to Play

Dr. Natalie Maddison

This workshop explores the key principles of ‘playing school,’ including why play is essential, the roles of players, and the characteristics of different types of play in the classroom. Participants will learn how to design a preschool classroom environment that fosters play and develop creative strategies to address common challenges in play-based learning effectively.

Israeli Dance in the ECE Classroom

Orly Star Setareh

Participants in this workshop will learn that teaching Israeli dance is a way to connect tiny dancers to Judaism using elements of Hebrew and energic movements. During the session, participants will get to learn Israeli dances and see first person how Israeli dance can create an exciting and lasting cultural experience for our youngest learners. This session is recommended for educators who teach children from 3+ years old.


Piece of Cake Newsletters: Sweet and Simple Techniques for Classroom Communication

Samantha Loveman

Your classroom newsletters can be powerful tools of communication for you and your classroom community. With the right organization and simple tech shortcuts, your newsletters can make you less stressed and can even become a great tool for your curricular reflection and planning. This workshop is suitable for anyone looking to enhance their technology and newsletter writing skills. Leave with practical ideas that will make your required writing a piece of cake.

**If you are planning on attending this workshop, please bring a device with you that you use to create newsletters with WiFi capabilities: iPad, Laptop, iPhone, etc.


Infant/Toddler Track Workshops

I Got You, Babe: 0-2 Year Olds in Preschool

Dr. Maxine Mintzer

A look into the physical and emotional development of babies and toddlers, with an emphasis on issues of attachment and early separation, engagement and exploration, emotional ups and downs, appropriate play and expectations.

Exploring Judaism Through the Senses

Ray Sherman

As we lay the foundation of Judaic life for our youngest community members, we also open their minds to the wide array of components that make up our holidays, rituals, and traditions.  In our session we will navigate how to make the cycle of our Jewish year age appropriate for infants and toddlers through the medium of sensory experiences.  Whether it be the besamim (spices) we smell during Havdalah, the 7 species we study for Sukkot, or the saltwater we dip into for Passover, can all be used as children’s first encounter with their Judaisim.  Using all of their senses is a way to ignite curiosity and place the first building block of life long learning of our religion for our youngest students. This session is open to educators that work with children 0-24 months old and who have signed up for the Infant/Toddler track.