To combine a bunch of the thoughts from last night for a general outline for next semester... I propose:
1) Fun kick-off event, mandatory, gibush oriented. Shabbaton in the Heights? Very beginning of next semester?
2) At the shabbaton (or if we like another event idea better):
A. Use "peulah times" (Fri night oneg, shabbat morning after kiddush, shabbat afternoon) to have MA meet with community lay leaders who will energize them, with their own stories, to be thinking about ways they can bring Bnei Akiva to their peers/communities in new and exciting ways. This would make up for lack of "leadership training" that Shlomo (Wadler) suggested we should have implemented first semester.
B. Motzash: run a challenge for them "Apprentice"-style where we give them an educational goal, a certain amount of money and/or resources, a time limit, and split them into groups - they have to come up with a plan re: how they will achieve that educational goal with the resources they have. I think this kind of activity on the shabbaton is important because it shows them that if they put their heads together over the course of a few hours they can come up with something really amazing. Also, sometimes it's scary to start on a big project and you just have to jump into it and start working - this will show them it's not intimidating if you just do it. *The program which sounds the best - use as the model for their first real project.*
C. We need to come up with a specific, but not too specific (wow. Great conversation last night about this) list of what we expect from them - Shlomo's suggestion, I think, was great - i.e. tell them there will be a shabbaton on x date but they get to choose the place, the programming, etc. though we'll work with them on it, two chesed events on x dates, one in-school programming event in x month (which they will run for their peers), and one fundraising event (numbers are suggestions - we should come up with this together).
D. Have them decide TOGETHER on specific tafkidim each one will take on based on their individual skills and passions. Also (something I mentioned last night) - I think it's really important that we have them figure out what BA means to them and how they want to share that with their shevet, peers in school, community, whatever - the point is, capitalize on what makes them passionate about BA and that is what will keep them motivated to be working on these projects (i.e. Israel advocacy).
*Need to come up with framework for keeping them in touch and constantly involved in their projects - this is how they'll feel proud of what they've done by the end. Definitely take advantage of social media - fb, email, (blog, anyone? :)) but also need to come up with a normal expectation for how often they should meet...
Hey leora, So in regards to what you said, all amazing ideas! Just one comment: In terms of us telling them a date and they have to plan it. In the event they don't come up with something or if they dont want to come to events like this, or if we only get 3 kids or so for shabbas, what do we do? What if BA to them just means something to do? How do we respond? I think this problem was discussed at the meeting but nobody really had an answer. (If i'm wrong thats awesome then, just post it please!) In regards to the *, def true, email chains work best if they use them, but a lot of kids don't.
To combine a bunch of the thoughts from last night for a general outline for next semester... I propose:
ReplyDelete1) Fun kick-off event, mandatory, gibush oriented. Shabbaton in the Heights? Very beginning of next semester?
2) At the shabbaton (or if we like another event idea better):
A. Use "peulah times" (Fri night oneg, shabbat morning after kiddush, shabbat afternoon) to have MA meet with community lay leaders who will energize them, with their own stories, to be thinking about ways they can bring Bnei Akiva to their peers/communities in new and exciting ways. This would make up for lack of "leadership training" that Shlomo (Wadler) suggested we should have implemented first semester.
B. Motzash: run a challenge for them "Apprentice"-style where we give them an educational goal, a certain amount of money and/or resources, a time limit, and split them into groups - they have to come up with a plan re: how they will achieve that educational goal with the resources they have. I think this kind of activity on the shabbaton is important because it shows them that if they put their heads together over the course of a few hours they can come up with something really amazing. Also, sometimes it's scary to start on a big project and you just have to jump into it and start working - this will show them it's not intimidating if you just do it.
*The program which sounds the best - use as the model for their first real project.*
C. We need to come up with a specific, but not too specific (wow. Great conversation last night about this) list of what we expect from them - Shlomo's suggestion, I think, was great - i.e. tell them there will be a shabbaton on x date but they get to choose the place, the programming, etc. though we'll work with them on it, two chesed events on x dates, one in-school programming event in x month (which they will run for their peers), and one fundraising event (numbers are suggestions - we should come up with this together).
D. Have them decide TOGETHER on specific tafkidim each one will take on based on their individual skills and passions. Also (something I mentioned last night) - I think it's really important that we have them figure out what BA means to them and how they want to share that with their shevet, peers in school, community, whatever - the point is, capitalize on what makes them passionate about BA and that is what will keep them motivated to be working on these projects (i.e. Israel advocacy).
*Need to come up with framework for keeping them in touch and constantly involved in their projects - this is how they'll feel proud of what they've done by the end. Definitely take advantage of social media - fb, email, (blog, anyone? :)) but also need to come up with a normal expectation for how often they should meet...
Thoughts?
Hey leora,
ReplyDeleteSo in regards to what you said, all amazing ideas!
Just one comment: In terms of us telling them a date and they have to plan it. In the event they don't come up with something or if they dont want to come to events like this, or if we only get 3 kids or so for shabbas, what do we do? What if BA to them just means something to do? How do we respond? I think this problem was discussed at the meeting but nobody really had an answer. (If i'm wrong thats awesome then, just post it please!)
In regards to the *, def true, email chains work best if they use them, but a lot of kids don't.
I dont think anyone was really following this except for you Leora... hehe.
ReplyDelete