Visualising Ideas

                                                                                                              drawing by Alice Axelbank Some days are simply amazing – everything seems to fall into place. Friday was such a day. It isn’t quite something that can be explained – I strive to “push the right buttons” every day yet the outcome varies. I’ll take the fifth period as an example, though the highlight [...]

Tags: Notes from the classroom

I was delighted to discover a piece in the New Yorker about one of my all time favorite books “The Phantom Tollbooth” by Norman Juster. The article is in honor of the book’s 50th anniversary and officially call it a classic! Hurrah! This was one of the first books I posted about on this blog, [...]

This is a classic problem of language interference. Many Hebrew speakers, with perfect hearing, say such things as : “I want to help to the man.” “She gave to the man his money.” They say this because this is exactly the way it is said in Hebrew. If the hearing students have such trouble with [...]

I was completely in love with the book by page 2. I know I have said it before but this writer uses words in a different, magical way. Such a special book! The only thing I regret is that I’m reading the book in the English translation, instead of the Hebrew one. Not that the [...]

Vicky Loras posted a blog challenge called “What’s Your Story” . I was able to identify with her story of immigration as I moved to Israel from the United States when I was eleven years old. Back in mid 1970s there was no Internet and the world wasn’t quite as globalized as it is today. [...]

Vicky Loras, an amazing teacher who teaches in Switzerland,  has been kind enough to invite me to her wonderful blog. So, if you would like to join me there, here’s the link: If “Google” is Translating Then I’ll Start Revamping Isn’t that something we do on holidays – go visiting?

This is a “whodunit” mystery that takes place in 16 century Prague. At first I thought that it was a bit too “educational” and “preachy” but then I got into it and got totally hooked. The characters and the descriptions are rich with detail and there is humor and a good suspense story. Enjoyed it! [...]

This post is a continuation of the previous two posts about a 3 day course I’m teaching to deaf middle-school children whom I barely know. I made a lot of mistakes today. True, there were those elements I couldn’t control. Some different students came today, students who hadn’t participated in the lead-in activities to our [...]

Just me, 8 students and a whiteboard. And one imaginary millionaire (one student suggested “billionaire”) who is sending us on an all-expenses-paid trip to Disneyworld, Orlando. Overall I think the lessons went well. The main issue that needs improving is the pace. The ‘’problematic” 8th graders didn’t bother to show up. There was only one [...]

I read about this in The New Yorker magazine. This person had a crazy / fantastic idea, worked on it and IT WORKS! These creatures ACTUALLY WALK!   The story of turning fantasy into reality and the fact that it is so visual made me want to share this with you! Enjoy!   P.S. – [...]