A Peek Into Our ECC Classrooms 

In the Adva Class (RJW), our toddlers have explored enveloping — wrapping up their baby dolls, filling and emptying containers, and climbing into tunnels or creating hideaways for each other. Enveloping is one of many schemas — repetitive behaviors young children explore as their brains are developing neural pathways. As the children open and shut containers, wrap small and large objects, and play hide-and-seek, they develop their understanding of the world, practice their motor skills, and build connections with their peers. 

In the Aviv Class (RJW), our two-year-olds have been welcoming in their families, eager to act out or share family stories. After welcoming a classmate’s family for Shabbat, we often find the children in the dramatic play area, setting the tables and preparing for the next visitor! When a parent comes to volunteer with the class, baking cookies or making bird feeders, the children eagerly participate, especially if they get to show off “MY mommy.” During snack, we often hear the children comparing “I am a big brother” — “I have a big brother!” — “My sister is littler than me” — demonstrating their growing vocabulary as they discuss the thing that is most important to them. 

In the Ruach Class (RJW), our three-, four-, and five-year-olds returned from winter break eager to share stories about their travels. Our educators invited them to share their experiences through play. They set up an airplane, which the children quickly filled — taking on the roles of pilot, passenger, and flight attendant! The class then welcomed an “Expert Parent” who shared his experiences flying and showed the children how an airplane worked. The class began exploring maps and thinking about the different places in the world — “Where was Ms. Vanessa born?” “Ms. Kfirah’s mommy lives in Israel!” “I am going to France!” The children are constructing knowledge of the world around them through play, supported by new tools and ideas introduced to their environment. 

In the Shemesh Class (E-T) our two- and three-year-olds have been exploring open-ended materials as they create representations and share stories of their experiences. The children build connections and invite one another into their imaginative worlds as they design playgrounds out of loose parts, collaborate to create a bakery of clay cookies, and draw their own stories inspired by favorite characters like Elephant & Piggie. Our families have been sending in photos from the children’s vacations and weekends with Perry the Shabbat Dinosaur which provide inspiration for the children’s creations and support them in communicating their experiences with one another. As the children explore and create using these open-ended materials, they build critical thinking skills, make meaningful connections, and learn to communicate their ideas through creative expression.