A core part of JWA's educational mission is training educators how to teach a more inclusive narrative of Jewish history and helping educators integrate voices of Jewish women into their teaching. JWA offers several different professional development opportunities and resources for educators. Our education staff is always available to provide one-on-one consultation and answer your questions, so please be in touch!

Full image
Educators Sharon Freed and Lottie Nilsen collaborate on lesson plans at JWA's Institute for Educators. Photograph by Gus Freedman.

The Natalia Twersky Educator Award

Each year, the Twersky Award is presented to the educator working in a formal or informal Jewish setting who most creatively uses primary sources on jwa.org in an original lesson plan. Applications for the 2013 award require a short video and are due by May 13, 2013.

Sharing Stories/Inspiring Change Webinar Series

Discover little-known stories from Jewish history, explore new methods for teaching Jewish values through historical sources, and expand your toolkit with modeled activities from JWA's various education projects. Registration info, recordings and presentation notes are available. The series is funded by the Dorot Foundation and the Crown Family Philanthropies.

2013 Workshops for Jewish Educators

JWA is taking professional development “on the road” in 2013 with two two-day workshops. In June, Jewish educators in the New York City area will gather to study Jewish involvement in the Civil Rights and Labor Movement. In August, Jewish day school educators will meet in San Francisco to explore using historical sources across the school curriculum.

Working with Primary Sources

Using primary sources to engage with and explore Jewish history is the core of JWA's education programs. While we have many activities and lessons on our site, we encourage educators to build their own lessons using serious primary source study to help students investigate Jewish values and Jewish history. This page is a quick guide to finding resources for primary source-based learning including worksheets, lesson planning guides, and tips for selecting the right sources for your students.

Full image
Map created by Etta King. Map graphic from Interactive Country Flash Maps and Animations.

The Power of Our Stories: Jewish Women's Archive Institutes for Educators

Between 2006 and 2012, JWA hosted five intensive summer professional development programs focusing on American Jewish women's history and primary source-based learning. 118 teachers from 30 states and Canada came together for study and collaboration. To view pictures and read specifics about the Institutes, visit the webpages for each program year: 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012. All four programs were generously funded by the Dorot Foundation.

Community-Based Professional Development

JWA's community-based professional development programs offer a half-day intensive, collaborative learning experience for formal and informal educators. JWA education staff can also lead shorter, web-based professional development for your community.

Workshop participants are introduced to central themes in Jewish women's history, trained in using primary historical sources in the classroom, and familiarized with JWA educational resources, such as:

• Living the Legacy: A Jewish Social Justice Education Project explores Jewish involvement in the Civil Rights and Labor Movements.
• Our Go & Learn series features primary source-based activities with lesson plans for three different ages: youth, family, and adults.
• The Women of Valor exhibit and accompanying poster series chronicle the lives of trailblazing Jewish women through primary and secondary sources.

To organize a JWA educator workshop in your community, please email us or contact Etta King, Education Program Manager, at 617-383-6763.