Kehillah (aka Opening Circle, Morning Meeting): What is it?

At Temple Sinai we call it Kehillah – Community – time at the beginning of each class session.  Also known as Morning Meeting or Opening Circle.  Each Sunday morning, our classes spend about 20 minutes focused on getting to know each other better, focused towards becoming a community (kehillah) that respects and cares for each other.  We use the Responsive Classroom guidelines for Morning Meeting.  

Haven't tried implementing an Opening Meeting? Start with the Greeting and add new steps as your class is ready.  

Today I am sharing a bit about each component of Kehillah – then in my next blog posting I will share a few ideas geared specifically for the 4^th grade and older population.

Kehillah time begins with the students gathered in a circle, usually on the floor, though the older grades usually sit in chairs.  The teacher, madrich and any other guests in the room at the time, join the circle and are active participants.  Components of Kehillah are done in the same order each week, creating a routine.  

Greeting:  The purpose is for the students to learn and use each person’s name, to recognize each member of the community and to make each person feel welcomed.  We practice the mitzvah of hachnasat orchim, the welcoming of guests, a core Jewish value.  

Sharing: The purpose is for students to learn more about their classmates, finding commonalities and differences; also providing a chance for students to share bits about their own lives.  Sharing might take place in concentric circles with students sharing to the person in front of them in the circle, to a partner (might be quickly counted off by teacher, find matches with an activity, etc.), 

one person sharing at a time and each person listening, 

voting – thumbs up/down; move to corners 

or sides of the room, show of hands, standing or sitting, in small groups or as part of the larger group.  Sharing begins with a question from the teacher that  the students will respond to during the sharing.  Sharing might be combined with the Activity – for example the activity might involve finding someone else with the matching card, then sharing with the partner.

Group Activity: Now it’s time to be active in a short lively activity that helps build community and allows everyone to contribute.  FUN!  May include a content component that helps move on the lesson or reinforces previous learning, or may just be fun.  Ideas for including a content component will be in the next blog posting.

Kehillah Message:  Students read the message (already on the board or chart paper) silently when they entered, and responded to a simple question that was written at the end of the message.  The message is brief, and references the activities and/or focus of learning for the day.  The last part of Kehillah is to read this message aloud. 

A few tips for Successful Kehillah: 

·       Set clear behavioral expectations. This should include listen to and look at the person who is talking, keep your body under control and be respectful to all.

·       Teach and Model Appropriate Behaviors:

o   Describe the expected behavior.

o   Students might articulate the behaviors expected.

o   Teacher or student demonstrates the expected behaviors, as others watch.

o   Ask students to point out the positive behaviors demonstrated.

o   Practice again if needed.

o   Now do the activity, but be prepared to stop, and use redirecting or reminding language if needed.

·       Start with easy to ‘do’ greetings and activities.  Chose ones that do not require multiple directions or a lot of movement.  As you and the class feel more comfortable, branch out.

·       Be sure you know the directions. Walk it through in your mind. Be prepared!

Our goal at Temple Sinai?  A classroom that is a true community, that values its relationships and each other. A community that cares about each other, and has fun together.  A true Kehillah!  

What works for you in Kehillah (Morning Meeting, Opening Circle)?  Share some of your successes or concerns!