BT PreSchool Faculty Featured Presenters at Early Childhood Education Conference

Mrs. Lebowitz and Mrs. Levey described how the partnership began in the fall of 2016, when Everybody Grows Executive Director Jake Ifshin contacted Mrs. Lebowitz to propose an intergenerational gardening program with residents at Atrium Village. The program melded perfectly with BT PreSchool’s Reggio Emilia-inspired emergent curriculum, offering a series of hands-on, multi-sensory experiences and activities and meaningful interactions shared by the BT PreSchool children and Atrium Village residents.

Their presentation drew upon the conference’s theme, Achrayut, Hebrew for “responsibility.” Mrs. Lebowitz and Mrs. Levey described how the children learned about the connection between achrayut and the mitzvah of caring for and showing respect to the Atrium Village residents. Mrs. Levey challenged the conference participants to identify groups in their own organizations that would benefit the most from intergenerational relationships in the community, and the activities that would best nurture those relationships.

“The children are learning to slow down and be in the moment,” shared Mrs. Levey with her fellow early childhood educators. “The elders were raised without the technology that is present in children’s lives today — they take their time to explore and enjoy the experience. They became more animated, engaged and alert when connecting with the children.”

“It was an honor to be asked to speak at the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington’s Jewish Early Childhood Education Conference,” adds Mrs. Levey. “It was a positive and invaluable experience engaging with the openness and enthusiasm of these professionals.”