July 28–August 8, 2008
Courses
Faculty
Making Jewish classrooms inclusive for students with special needs is a high priority for many Jewish day and supplementary schools. To ensure that all our students succeed in their Jewish education, teachers must be equipped to address individuals with a variety of learning issues, including learning disabilities, AD/HD, mood disorders and Autism Spectrum Disorders. There is a critical need for experts in Jewish special education program design and implementation, as well as for generalists with a broad repertoire of inclusive classroom teaching approaches.
To meet that need, the Shoolman Graduate School of Jewish Education offers intensive course instruction toward a
Certificate in Jewish Special Education. Combining two focused, two-week institutes in consecutive summers with supervised field placements during the school year, the curriculum is designed for busy professionals who want to broaden their reach within the Jewish classroom. This 18-credit certificate program provides educational leaders, teachers, curriculum designers and graduate students with the knowledge and training to meet the needs of diverse learners in the Jewish community. Students can enroll in this program to complete the certificate or can take any of these courses individually, on a stand-alone basis, to enhance their skills.
These courses may also be taken to fulfill an area of specialization within the
Master of Jewish Education.
Courses
UC=undergraduate credit; GC=graduate credit; NC=noncredit
Special Education for Jewish Settings
Miller-Jacobs
Monday–Thursday, 9:00–11:30 a.m.
Friday, 8:45–11:15 a.m.
3 GC, $2,685; NC, $550
EDUC 551
Note: Additional 2 hours of online work.
An introduction to the field of Jewish special education, drawing on a variety of sources. The course will provide students with a foundation in the field of special education, including history, laws, “best practices” for students with special needs and the impact of disabilities on the individual and family members. Traditional and contemporary responses to special education within the Jewish community will also be discussed.
Development of Spoken and Written Language: Implications for Jewish Special Education
Sokol
Monday–Thursday, 3:15–5:45 p.m.
Friday, 2:30–5:00 p.m.
3 GC, $2,685; NC, $550
EDUC 552
Note: Additional 2 hours of online work.
Acquiring spoken and written language is often extremely difficult for children with special needs and is made more difficult by the addition of a second language (i.e., Hebrew) to the mix. In this course, students will consider models of first- and second-language acquisition as well as models of reading and writing. Students will attempt to understand the normal processes involved and how these might go awry as a result of developmental disability (e.g., dyslexia). Students will then consider methods for remediation of spoken language, reading and writing. Special attention will be placed on Hebrew literacy skills and methods for their improvement.
Curriculum Modification in Jewish Special Education: Diverse Teaching for Diverse Learners
Elion and Green
Monday–Thursday, 12:30–3:00 p.m.
Friday, 11:45 a.m.–2:15 p.m.
3 GC, $2,685; NC, $550
EDUC 547
Note: Additional 2 hours of online work.
This course will guide teachers through the process of creating classrooms that meet the needs of diverse learners. Topics will include the analysis of models of learning, differentiated instruction and multisensory teaching. Students will examine different curricula (Jewish studies, Torah, Hebrew reading and prayer) and will then develop adaptive strategies to create effective learning environments for all students.
FORUM—Living with Special Needs: Families, Children and Schools
Miller-Jacobs
Sunday, August 3, 2:00–5:00 p.m.
1 GC, $895; NC, $420
EDUC 830
Note: Additional 7 hours online.
Using a variety of media ([auto]biography, fiction, poetry and film), this course will examine images of disability and its impact on people’s lives—their own and those around them. Through discussion and reflection, students will explore themes related to the disability experience.
back to top
Faculty
Leandra Elion is a consultant on special education issues for day schools and the Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Boston. She has taught self-contained and inclusive classes in both congregational and public schools. She holds a BA in dramatic art from the University of the Witwatersrand, an MS in special education from Long Island University and an MEd in reading from Salem State College.
Marion Green teaches self-contained classes, supervises the Hebrew reading program in congregational schools and has consulted for day schools regarding students with special needs. The Hebrew reading supervisor for the Hebrew College/Gateways B’nai Mitzvah class for students with moderate to severe special needs, she is a founding member of Etgar L’Noar, served on its executive board and chaired its education committee. She earned her BA in psychology and MA in special education from Boston University.
Sandy Miller-Jacobs is Professor and Director of Special Education Programs at Hebrew College. For the past six years at the Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Boston, she helped initiate and expand day, congregational and preschool programs for students with special needs. In addition to teaching undergraduate and graduate students, she has published and provided professional development programs on differentiated instruction and special education topics. Professor Emerita in Special Education at Fitchburg State College, she also served as department chair, interim Vice President of Academic Affairs and interim Dean of Academic Personnel. She earned her BA in elementary education from Queens College of the City University of New York, an MEd in special education from Boston University and a EdD in special education from Boston College.
Scott Sokol, a former Fulbright Scholar and Wexner Fellow, is a cantor, educator and neuropsychologist. Director of HC’s Cantor-Educator Program and Dean of the Jewish Music Institute, he also serves as Cantor at Temple Beth Sholom, Framingham, and is part of a developmental clinical practice in Lexington. He served for a dozen years on the academic and clinical faculties of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. He holds a BA in psychology from Brandeis University, an MA and PhD in cognitive neuropsychology from Johns Hopkins University, and an MSM and Cantorial Investiture from the Jewish Theological Seminary.
|
back to top
