Seven Steps to Successful Tefilah

With the first day of the new school year just days away, we have loaded three teacher in-service days with faculty and department meetings, digital content and software training, and curriculum discussions. However, one topic that always squeezes in there is Tefilah. Considering the fact that we daven three times a day, one can imagine that the topic surfaces regularly due to the collective passion we all share for it.
Whenever Jewish Day School principals gather, we always seem to come to this essential element of student growth. And while there are many perspectives and opinions on how to achieve the elusive goal of fully engaging students in meaningful, heart-felt and fulfilling Tefilah, we nonetheless exchange ideas and initiatives we have all employed over the years. This year is certainly no different.
On Tuesday morning, the Judaic Studies staff will gather for our initial Tefilah Talk, a series of group discussions that will continue throughout the year. What new factors are left to be deliberated upon? What new angle will be taken?
Enter the Seven Steps to Successful Tefilah, a custom-tailored program for Middle School students. Over the course of several months, a strategy based on both current and former student feedback, years of observation, and experience with several schools of and leaders in human thought (such as CBT, REBT, Reality Therapy and notables such as Dr. Aaron Beck, Dr. David Burns, and Dr. William Glasser), a system was crafted to utilize various forms and sources of inspiration, text-based instruction and a student-centered focus on age-appropriate interests and positive relationships. While the program is complete in structure, scope and sequence, the details are still in a development stage, and will be implemented over the course of the year.
Step One: Inspiration includes three facets - positive role modeling, audio and visual materials, and peer presentations, each with specific components that will be highlighted over the next three months. We anticipate heightened student engagement and interest as we forge forward in this vital initiative that will undoubtedly encourage a positive atmosphere in Tefilah.