This Week @KYLS
Kohelet Yeshiva Lab School 2016-2017
26 Tishrei 5777
Dear Parents,
Teaching our children to take responsibility for their actions is one of the most critical skills that we can help them cultivate as active members of their family, community, and ultimately of the world around them.
In Parshat Bereishit (3:11-13) the Torah recounts the following exchange between God, Adam, and Chava:
And He said, “Who told you that you are naked? Have you eaten of the tree from which I commanded you not to eat?”
The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me- she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”
And Hashem God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done!”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
Adam shifts the blame to Chava, who shifts the blame to the serpent. The concept of assigning blame to someone else is one that is familiar to us as parents. It is often challenging for our children to take ownership over their actions and it is typical for them to possess a level of fear of “getting into trouble.” As a result, “blame shifting” occurs all the time. The common phrases associated with this phenomenon that many of us hear from children include: “She started it,” “I wasn’t the only one,” and “I can’t help it.”
Dr. John Townsend, in this podcast about his book The Entitlement Cure, defines entitlement as two discrete attitudes: A sense that I am not responsible for my impact on you and a belief that I deserve special treatment. He notes that selfishness, human nature, how we were parented, and the instantaneous availability of information all contribute to entitlement. What cures the “disease” of entitlement? Doing what is best versus what is comfortable to achieve an optimal outcome.
Aside from the typical ways that we teach our children to take responsibility, such as having them apologize, clean up their mess, try to see another’s perspective, etc., these are some of the ideas submitted by Dr. Townsend that we can all help our children work on:
See failure as an opportunity. For young children, express that mistakes and failures are part of learning. If it’s a natural part of the process, there is no need to blame someone else. Talking about Failure
Encourage children to participate in experiences where they have to work as a team and / or collaborate with others (support, listen, argue the right way with others). For young children, this can happen through play in thoughtfully constructed environments. Don’t underestimate the importance of social play (as opposed to solitary play on video games and the like) in your child’s learning and his/her day.
Instead of allowing your child to say, “I deserve,” work with your child to say, “I am responsible.” For young children, help them see that they are in charge of creating change in their own lives by assisting them as they work on goals they have to meet to be able to achieve or get what they want. This ongoing conversation helps your child grow from victim to empowered change makers.
At Kohelet Yeshiva Lab School, one of the hallmarks of our learning process is nurturing our children’s sense of responsibility and empowering them to play an active role in their environment. By engaging our children in this way and allowing them to play a central role in their academic, social and religious growth, we will hopefully enable them to feel comfortable taking responsibility for their actions in a positive and productive way.
Shabbat Shalom,
Mrs. Becky Troodler
Save the Date: Learning @ The Lab Rescheduled!
Save the Dates!
Kohelet Yeshiva Middle School Informational Meeting- Sunday, October 30 (for prospective parents only)
Where: Kohelet Yeshiva High School
When: 8:00pm-9:30pm
Kohelet Yeshiva Middle School Open House- Sunday, December 11, 2016 (for prospective parents and students)
Where: Kohelet Yeshiva High School
When: 1:00pm-3:00pm
Kohelet Yeshiva Lab School Morning or Afternoon of Creation and Innovation- Sunday, November 20, 2016 (for prospective parents and students)
Where: Kohelet Yeshiva Lab School
When: 10:00am- 11:30am OR 12:30pm-2:00pm
Kohelet Yeshiva Lab School Informational Meeting- Sunday, December 4th (for prospective parents only)
Where: The home of Shani and Jake Finkle
When: 8:00pm- 9:30pm
RSVP/ Questions: info@yeshivalabschool.org
Applications
Our applications for the 2017-2018 school year for grades K,1,2, and 6 are open on our website.
Kohelet Yeshiva Lab School Application
Important Calendar Dates
Friday, October 28- 1:30pm Dismissal, No LM Afternoon Busing
Tuesday, November 1- Learning at the Lab School Parent Evening, 8:00-9:30pm
Friday, November 4- 1:30pm Dismissal, No LM Afternoon Busing
Wednesday, November 9- Teacher Growth and Collaboration, No School
Friday, November 11- 1:00pm Dismissal, LM Afternoon Busing
Friday, November 18- 1:00pm Dismissal, LM Afternoon Busing
Sunday, November 20- Kohelet Yeshiva Lab School Open House- Session 1: 10-11:30am, Session 2: 12:30-2pm
Tuesday, November 22- Learning at the Lab School Parent Evening 8:00 - 9:30pm
Wednesday, November 23- 12:30 pm Dismissal - No LM Afternoon Busing
Thursday-Friday, November 24-25-Thanksgiving - No School
Kohelet Yeshiva Lab School
Website: yeshivalabschool.org
Location: 612 Montgomery Avenue, Narberth, PA, United States
Phone: 610-206-3926