Robbins Hebrew Academy

Stefanie Rakowski loves little thinkers. As a teacher and a mom to three boys, Stefanie knows how to create activities that are fun and rich in thinking for all the two-year olds who attend the Little Thinkers Program at RHA. What is a typical morning? The Little Thinkers begin their mornings in the classroom. We have arts and crafts, a literacy component (focusing on letters, numbers and colours), sensory and fine motor activities, and lots of toys to stimulate imagination. We also have a circle time where we sing songs in Hebrew and English and read stories. Then we have a yummy and healthy snack. Class always ends with a few more games and a goodbye song. How are the Jewish holidays and Shabbat celebrated? The Little Thinkers learn all of the Jewish holidays because they are integrated into our arts and crafts, our songs and stories. We celebrate every week with a special circle time about Shabbat. We also light the Shabbat candles and make Kiddish and hamotze on the challah. Children take home dough to bake challah. It's a magical time each week. What are the opportunities for physical activity? We go to the gym every day where the children warm up their muscles, play exciting running games and have the opportunity to play a variety of sports like basketball, tennis and hockey. How many days each week should I register my child? You decide your Little Thinker's schedule. Some children come four times a week and some come once a week. No matter how often they come, they will have a wonderful time! " T h e L i t t l e T h i n k e r s P r o g r a m w a s a w o n d e r f u l i n t r o d u c t i o n t o a c l a s s r o o m e n v i r o n m e n t . T h e a c t i v i t i e s w e r e t h o u g h t f u l , a g e a p p r o p r i a t e a n d f u n a n d t h e t e a c h e r w a s e n e r g e t i c a n d e n g a g i n g . W e a r e s e n d i n g o u r s o n t o t h e p r o g r a m a s s o o n a s h e 's r e a d y ! " - M e g h a n ( m o m o f C l a u d i a a n d F i o n a ) " M y s o n l o v e d t h e L i t t l e T h i n k e r 's P r o g r a m . F r o m t h e c r e a t i v e a r t s & c r a f t s p r o j e c t s , t o t h e m u l t i - s e n s o r y g a m e s a n d g y m a c t i v i t i e s , t o l e a r n i n g a b o u t S h a b b a t , m y s o n w a s c o n s t a n t l y e n g a g e d a n d e n t e r t a i n e d . " - N a t a l i e R a p p s ( m o m o f H e n r y ) Little Thinkers

• Cover