The Importance of General Knowledge

Mrs. Rachel Belzberg Science and Mathematics Teacher   In previous years of teaching at Bnei Akiva Schools, I ran a lunchtime Trivia Club. On a weekly basis, no less than a dozen students joined me to test their general knowledge, learn something new, and have fun. I was always pleased

The Art of Public Speaking

Mrs. Nicky Kagan Assistant Principal Yeshivat Or Chaim What do most adults in North America fear more than anything? Interestingly the answer is always public speaking. The idea of getting up in front of an audience and communicating your thoughts sparks terror in many people. Statistic Brain says 75% of

A Better Education for Half the Price

Mr. Hillel Rapp Director of Education   The Morning Star Tomato Company, founded in the early 1990s, has grown into the largest tomato processor in the world, processing over 40% of California’s tomato crop each year. It has shown rapid increase in profits, low employee turnover, and consistent innovation. And

The Quiet Power of Intergenerational Learning

by Mrs. Sharon Fixler Recently, I noticed a video clip circulating on social media that really tugged at the heartstrings. The clip showed the remarkable connections being made between senior citizens in a nursing home, and young children in a preschool, who were sharing a facility. Amazingly, this is a

The Joys of Going Paperless

by Mr. Gerald Lazar The other day, I asked a colleague to pass me my school bag. He lifted it and asked, “What are you carrying in this? It feels empty.” I replied, “At this point, really, it’s just a glorified lunch bag.” Perhaps not the most dramatic anecdote, but

Teaching in the Age of Information

by Dr. Sean Clapham While studying at OISE I was told that most people have a tendency to teach the way they were taught. As a result, I reflect on my experiences as a student in an effort to compare to students’ experiences today. This helps to avoid falling into

Reflections from Israel

by Rav Aviad Pituchey-Chotam   A song of ascents. When the Lord returns the returnees to Zion, we shall be like dreamers (Tehillim 126)   “You know Rabbi, I feel like I’m in a dream, one I do not wish to wake up from” So I was told by one

Grade 10 Israel Trip

Living the life of Israeli students by Gabe and Hannah Aaron   Over the last four weeks, we have spent our time learning at Yeshivat Bnei Akiva and Ulpanat Orot in Modi’in. This experience had a tremendously positive effect on the whole group. We got to experience life as an

Learning is a Marathon, Not A Sprint

by Mr. Eric Saltsman When I was younger, I was a very talented runner. Perhaps my greatest claim to fame to date is my 4×100 metre sprinting team finishing 1st place in the TDSB City Final back in… well, I’d rather not date myself on that one. I continued running