Rituals. Recipes, and Freedom

The Footsteps of Abraham Joshua Heschel at The Toronto Heschel School.

This issue of THINK explores the marvel of method – how we do what we do.

This theme of this issue is “The Ordinary and Extraordinary of Every Day.“ As we try to re-establish some routines and normalcy in our lives this fall, we take time to think about what every day brings.

This issue of THINK explores the moon — what is lit up and what is behind.

This issue of Think explores the way we tell stories and teach history to children.

One in a Minyan

How We Talk

This issue of Think explores complexity and how we develop complex thinking in children.

This issue of Think explores educational approaches to nurturing wonder and developing scientific thinkers.

Covenant and CommitmentThis issue of THINK explores commitment and the educational training that supports children to become strong deep thinkers.

Integrative EducationThis issue of Think explores how integration helps children make sense of the world around them.

Cultivate JusticeThis issue of Think honours and highlights the work that teachers are doing to develop social responsibility in their students through the teaching of the students’ heritage, culture, or religion.

Imagination lives hereThis issue of Think considers imagination and sees children and teachers contemplating possibilities, envisioning their potential, and discovering themselves.

The Art of FocusThis issue of Think looks at the art and science of focus. Our writers consider how children can learn focus, and how Jewish tradition, classroom teaching, and family life contribute to children’s sense of self and ability to learn and focus.

Learning as BelongingIn this issue of Think our writers reflect on learning and belonging, and aspire to an educational environment that cultivates confidence, insightfulness, and initiative.

Towards Your Best SelfIn this issue of Think our writers consider what is personal and internal – the mind and not the brain, individual identity and not social definition, the management of perspectives and not information.

This issue of Think contemplates several themes that run through “Weapons of the Spirit”. The writer, producer, and director Paul Sauvage uses the story of “Le Chambon” to cogently demonstrate what good values, good training, and good work look like.

The best educational strategy will deliver academic skills and build character at the same time. In this issue, we explore these layers.

In school settings, the word “integration” perhaps calls to mind the desegregation of American schools during the civil rights movement or departments of interdisciplinary studies at universities.

Each of us hopes that the work we do and the life we live is of value: not only for the present but also for the future. We hope that the efforts we put forth to help our families, our communities, and our broader society will in some way endure, and will not simply dissolve in the shifting sands of time.

We live in an age of distracted living. Superficial descriptions and buzzwords send us sailing in crazy directions. Eat this. Don’t eat that. Exercise for half an hour. Never sit down.