Pedagogy of Partnership, Powered by The Hadar Institute – To pilot a Jewish text study program for parents of students in Jewish day schools to empower them with skills and tools for difficult conversations.

What kinds of texts will parents be studying as part of this grant program? 

We will study classical Jewish texts that explore ideas related to Pedagogy of Partnership’s research-based practices like listening, curiosity and empathy- all of which we need for productive conversations. Some texts will explore aspects of listening and speaking from Jewish perspectives. Some contemporary texts will tie these themes into issues that parents and kids deal with today.

How can text study help parents help their kids with difficult conversations? 

By studying these texts in hevruta, parents will strengthen their own learning community, and gain wisdom and tools to use with their kids. Hevruta study can teach parents to become better communicators and better listeners, and the hope is that they can then apply these skills in everyday interactions with their children. 

At which age is this work most effective (age of kids)? 

The younger we start teaching these skills, the better, because we form habits of communication early on. But anyone, of any age, can and should learn these skills– and keep learning them! We don’t just build muscles and have them for life – we need regular workouts to keep them strong. Just as we need to change our exercise routine at different ages to address different needs, we need to teach kids (and adults!) about different, developmentally appropriate aspects of communication, so that they are applicable to the realities of their changing lives.