Bridging Scholarship and Pedagogy in Jewish Studies
Seminar on Teaching Rabbinic Literature (2006-07)
What They're Saying: Participant Reflections on the Seminar
During the 2006-2007 academic year, a group of teachers of rabbinic literature from diverse settings met on a regular basis at the Mandel Center to talk about their practice, to read and think about issues and challenges in teaching rabbinic literature, and to develop research projects investigating their own teaching. When asked about the seminar, here is some of what they had to say:
“From the first sessions, the seminar was already pushing me to be more articulate and thoughtful about my practices in the classroom.”
“The most valuable aspect of the seminar … was the opportunity to think about and discuss common issues/problems with this intelligent and committed group.”
“I am very thankful for the opportunity to gain a language for what I do.”
“The discussion of orientations [towards the teaching of rabbinic literature] in particular … challenged me regarding the implications of using different approaches.”
“There is something very special about coming together from very different places and thinking about the different worlds in which people are teaching, and to have this sacred time.”
“I learned that being reflective and looking at what happens in our classes is part of being an excellent teacher, rather than a sign that we are not yet excellent teachers. The fact that there is still something to learn about teaching is not something to be ashamed of. I think that I did not really fully appreciate that before.”
“Something I still need to learn: I feel like I’ve slipped out of a discovery mode and into a ‘coverage’ mode, and I need to remember why and how I made time and space for more discovery. I need to learn how to slow down.”
“There is so much to learn from being curious about the teaching of our colleagues.”
“One thing I’ll continue to think about is how conversations that focus on research on teaching can serve as a common ground for teachers who teach in very different settings, with very different orientations.”
“It has also been wonderful to be part of this group, to be with other people who really believe deeply that teaching matters and really want to think about it, and to feel that I’ve gained more people that I can go to with questions about my teaching and about what’s going on in my classroom, and [to have] more partners in conversation. It’s a really wonderful gift…”
• Return to About the Bridging Initiative.