Rome wasn't built in a day, and we don't become masters of our trade in a year. A good approach to professional growth is to take baby steps for the short term while maintaining a long term perspective. This podcast includes some suggestions for choosing specific areas of focused growth.

How does Judaism view higher level thinking? Reflections on the relationship between Judaism and thinking skills.

Report cards can either be a nuisance or a motivating force and educational tool. Here are some reflections on how to make it the latter.

For students to be fully engaged in learning, they need to be challenged with tasks that go beyond remembering and explaining. This episode reviews the six thinking skills of Benjamin Bloom's Taxonomy and suggests ways of using them in the Judaic studies classroom in order to nurture higher level thinking.

Do all students learn in the same way? Of course not. So why should we teach them all in the same way? It may sound difficult, but there are practical ways teachers can easily adjust their lessons to meet the different needs of different students. Here are some reflections on differentiated instruction in the Judaic studies classroom.

When your students just want to be doing something else - anything else - how can you pull them in so they want to learn? And how can you help them to sustain their drive to learn for the duration of the year, and maybe even beyond? This episode analyzes a few effective motivational approaches, with plenty of examples, including one special for Chanukah.

Here's one way to put some variety into your lessons in order to grab more students' interest and attention and hold it for longer. Includes a fun Chanuka lesson idea.

Parents should be your allies in helping your students grow and develop. Here's a "top ten" list of guidelines to help conduct constructive communication with parents.

What do you do when your student fails a test? Whose problem is it? What should you say to the student and what do you say to the parents? Here is a comprehensive guide to handling this situation with competence and professionalism.

You can't be everything for everyone, so, as a teacher, what exactly are you and for whom? Where do the responsibilities of a classroom teacher begin and end? Clarifying your role as teacher will focus your efforts on real achievement and can significantly reduce your stress levels.