Hidden Sparks, the leading nonprofit focused on providing Jewish day school teachers with the tools to support struggling students in mainstream classrooms, has opened enrollment for its highly acclaimed Learning Lenses Course. The four-day focused seminar, which will take place on Dec. 8, 9, 15 and 16 in Manhattan, will provide educators with a holistic framework for improving the learning experiences of students with a wide range of social and emotional needs.
This course, which will consist of in-person experiential sessions and group discussions, takes a deep dive into the core elements of learning, behavior and the most essential strategies for effectively engaging a broad spectrum of learners.
“There is much research that demonstrates that teachers who feel more equipped for teaching experience greater self efficacy and job satisfaction and both influence student outcomes,” said Hidden Sparks Executive Director Debbie Niderberg. “Over the years, thousands of Jewish day school educators have benefitted from our courses with top learning experts and we are grateful that once again this winter we will be able to offer the in-person program in New York.”
The program provides participants with a robust tool-kit of strategies for better understanding and advancing students with learning differences, and how to efficiently develop an educational experience that has been personalized for every single child. Topics covered in the seminar will encompass child neurodevelopment (including topics such as attention, memory, social skills, language, higher order thinking and sequencing), ecology (the ways in which the child’s home life, classroom culture and community impact their experience) and temperament (their innate personality traits). Through enhancing educators’ understanding of their student’s strengths and challenges, attendees will emerge with a new shared language, and the ability to address student issues through identification of their root cause rather than with a superficial label.
“I cannot express fully the impact that Hidden Sparks has had on me and on the work that I do,” said Aliza Scharf, a teacher and trainee from the Shulamith School in Cedarhurst. “It was the best thing that happened to my career! The learning has helped me grow as a teacher, and in such, has benefited my students and fellow teachers as well.”
Those looking to register for the Learning Lenses Course can follow the application instructions at https://www.hiddensparks.org/pd.
Close to 4,000 educators have participated in previously held Hidden Sparks programming in order to better identify and provide the appropriate support to students with learning differences, enabling their advancement in mainstream classrooms. Last year, due to the pandemic, the programming was held virtually.
