In thinking about Pesach and the Seder, a very, very wise parent once brought something AMAZING to my attention: The Seder is, in fact, a model for educational excellence! It encompasses all of the best teaching practices and as the oldest ongoing religious ritual in the world, its design was way ahead of the times in the education world. The Seder actually teaches us to focus on the children and how they learn best.
The Seder is EXPERIENTIAL—meaning we are supposed to feel as if we ourselves actually left Egypt with our ancestors. Our children are dipping, tasting, breaking, singing, leaning, acting out and questioning (not to mention cleaning, searching and burning in preparation) and we know that children internalize what they experience way more than what they are just told.
The Seder is DIFFERENTIATED…meaning that we are taught to view each of our children as unique individuals that each need a different approach and way of teaching. The lessons of the four sons can so easily be translated into our own homes and classrooms. No two children are alike. They each have their own strengths and weaknesses, talents and abilities, challenges and triumphs. Our goal as parents and teachers is to figure out the best way to reach each of our children, and to value, appreciate and embrace each of their differences.
The Seder is INQUIRY BASED…meaning that we encourage our children to ask questions. When children are given the freedom to ask questions, they develop deeper levels of understanding about the world around them. We can tell how children think by the level of their questioning and get a wonderful window into their thought processes. Encouraging questioning not only encourages risk taking and discovery, but it inspires learning and growing in a way that is unparalleled.
The Seder is STRUCTURED… meaning that there is a specific order that we need to follow and a specific set of expectations of things that you need to accomplish before you are finished. Each individual family may choose to accomplish those goals in unique and creative ways, but the end goal of completing all of the parts of the Seder are the same for all Jews, all over the world. Children crave rules and structure to thrive. The Seder provides that structure but leaves room for limitless creativity, and celebration of all different customs, traditions and viewpoints in between.
While one family’s Seder may be extremely quick and straightforward, another’s may be filled with rich discussions, thoughtful conversations and varied divrei Torah. It’s all about the journey… This is the exact kind of teaching and learning that occurs in each of our brick and mortar schools, each and every day: experiential, differentiated, inquiry based and structured! So…when you sit at your Seder table with your children, think about all of these different elements and see the Seder as an incredible educational experience for not only your children, but for your whole family and the entire Jewish people. May we all continue to have much nachat from our children. Chag kasher v’Sameach!
Jessica Kohn is the early childhood director and founding educator of Ben Porat Yosef.
