Spiders, Frogs, Oh, My: Author Sylvia Rouss Tries to Engage, Comfort Children Published: April 11, 2011 Children’s books by Sylvia Rouss lately have fascinated my toddler and me. As Passover approaches, we are reading Sammy Spider’s First Passover. And Sammy Spider’s First Haggadah will take center stage at our first…
Read MoreBank Street College of Education Chooses Sammy Spider
The Children’s Book Committee of the Bank Street College of Education was founded almost 100 years ago to help parents, teachers, and librarians choose the books that children will find captivating and transforming. One of the most comprehensive annotated book lists for children, aged infant-16. The Committee reviews over 6000…
Read MoreA CIRCLE OF SMILES
A Circle of Smiles, by Sylvia Rouss, is a new children’s book about a four year old girl who visits her cousin at Beit Issie Shapiro. She learns to communicate with her non-verbal cousin and develops a deep bond with him. She learns about Beit Issie Shapiro and brings money her school raised from…
Read MoreGetting that Shabbat feeling … all over again
From an article by Donald Harrison, Editor of the San Diego Jewish World: Grandchildren have a way of drawing you back into synagogue circles. In my case, it was the desire that a soon-to-turn-4-years-old grandson begin to partake in the joy of Jewish life… For much of the service, a…
Read More“Children are sure to start wondering what their pets are thinking”
“Mitzvah the Mutt” does something that I have long been wishing for as a librarian at a Jewish day school. It tells a story that has Jewish content, without being excessively didactic. In the process, it tells a wonderful story about a family and their delightful dog. The author, Sylvia…
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Thank You Bernice
My educational philosophy has developed over time. I have taught for over 20 years. I began my career as an assistant nursery school teacher when I graduated from college. My head teacher, Bernice Lieberman, was my mentor. She knew how to engage children with her story telling. She also managed…
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