PJ Goes to School (PJGtS) is a program dedicated to enhancing the Jewish content of the classroom. Program participants enjoy a variety of benefits. In order to get the most out of this program, communities must first:
- Establish and/or operate a PJ Library community.
- Work with directors and/or teachers of Jewish education in managing early childhood or complementary education programs.
- Organize and manage educator support efforts.
- Maintain and deepen focus on Jewish values, teacher development, and family engagement.
What You Get from Us
Jewish early education programs will receive:
- Orientation conference plus 2 professional development workshops (year 1).
- Ongoing teacher development (years 2 and beyond).
- Monthly books for each of your 3- and 4-year-old classrooms.
- PJGtS book display rack and books.
- Resource guides for each book.
- Ongoing consultations from a PJGtS professional.
- Support for family engagement.
Jewish complementary school programs will receive:
- Orientation conference plus 2 professional development workshops (year 1).
- Ongoing teacher development (years 2 and beyond).
- Yearly books and additional resources for each of your kindergarten - second grade classrooms.
- Resource guides for each book.
- Ongoing consultations from a PJGtS professional.
- Support for family engagement.
Coordinator Expectations
Your PJ Goes to School community coordinator will:
- Liaise with PJGtS Directors.
- Complete and return all components of the PJGtS application.
- Coordinate arrangements for professional development sessions.
- Communicate with teachers and directors, facilitating sharing of ideas, and collecting regular feedback from schools.
- Create a funding plan for professional development sessions
Director & Teacher Expectations
Your Jewish early education and complementary school directors and teachers will:
- Encourage exploration of Jewish values in the classroom and school through the use of PJ Library books.
- Participate enthusiastically in professional development workshops.
- Build bridges between home and school.
- Offer at least one PJGtS family program each school year.
- Help connect school families to each other.
- Promote enrollment in PJ Library.
- Document feedback and anecdotal evidence of PJGtS successes.
- Complete yearly PJGtS surveys