I had an unexpectedly tough week.
After doing my regular Yom Rishon lesson prep – photocopying, printing, and assembling – I ended up falling sick on Sheni and was out for two days, so we didn’t do a considerable chunk of what I had planned for the week. On top of that, the mental exhaustion and anguish from the recent police murders took a serious toll on me. As I lay awake Revi’i night, all I could think about was how we really are living in the shadow of death, and I keep telling myself not to fear the evil that surrounds us, that surrounds me, in Charlotte, in North Carolina, in the US of A.
I put all my trust in Elohim, where I know my help comes from, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t feel the pain of my people, or the trauma of living through countless police murders without seemingly no end in sight. Social media bombards us with constant reminders of the suffering of black people in America, and as much as we have to #staywoke, it’s even more important that we TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES.
Watch something funny. Get a massage. Unplug and go for a walk. Read a book. Participate in sports (or watch someone else play). Go shopping. Hang out with family or friends. Whatever it is that you do that helps you relax and unwind, do that. It’s okay – no, it’s very necessary to take a Mental Health Day – take a break from harsh reality and retreat to something that puts a smile on your face and lifts your spirit, even if it’s just for a little while. Sometimes that’s all you need.
Anyway….that’s my two cents/explanation for why this week’s activities included baking cinnamon buns and double chocolate brownie cookies 🙂 . I used my MHD to bake, something I love but usually don’t have the time to do anymore. Not only did I enjoy the results, but I was able to share with friends and family and spread the happiness.
(I use this cinnamon bun recipe from The Kitchn, adjusting the filling to just cinnamon, sugar, and butter. The double chocolate brownie cookie recipe is from Go Bold With Butter, and can be found here. Both of these are tried and true favorites!!)
But on to the stuff you came to read about…the big boys learned about Barbary macaques, native to Morocco’s Atlas mountains, and also did a fantastic job interpreting graphs on their own while discussing average yearly temperatures in the country’s capital.
(You can find the Hebrew Pattern Block Templates in The Kefar Shop.)
We’re on to our next book, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, and I found some fantastic activities on www.1plus1plus1equals1.com. Our focus letters are Dalet and Cheit, and this week we acted out the story, put together animal puzzles, worked on fine motor/pre-writing skills, and did a graphing/counting activity to reinforce vocabulary.
I’m definitely looking forward to this Shabbat. Thankfully my Mental Health Day has already lifted my spirit, but there’s nothing like a day of prayer, praise, and meditation to rejuvenate my spirit and get me ready for next week.
Be sure to follow me on Instagram (@thekefar) to see other great photos of learning taking place. If you have any questions or comments about our week or the week to come, let me know in the comments below!
Shabbat shalom!
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I am with you, achoti! It hit me as well and I had to restructure my week to get by. Yes, place all your trust in Elohim. Mental health days are surely a necessity in this season. I am glad to hear you are okay. Keep teaching those babies. Hope you had a great Shabbat!
Blessings,
Alizah!