An Ethical Start

Preschool is all about making friends, learning to share, and beginning to
make sense of our role within our family, our school, our community and ourworld. Judaism has a wonderful context for learning these important skills.

“Greet everyone with a cheerful face.”
“Do not look at the jug, but at what’s inside.”
"Who is strong? One who controls oneself."

These are just a few examples of the teachings from a Jewish early childhoodcurriculum that focuses on values. An Ethical Start® was developed by JCC Association of North America, funded in part by the Steven Spielberg Righteous Persons Foundation, to enrich the Jewish environment of Early Childhood Programs through the teaching of Jewish values.

These lessons are from a collection of ethical teachings called Pirke Avot or The Ethics of our Fathers (and Mothers!), found in the Mishna, an ancient rabbinic commentary on the Torah. Through music, stories and teachable moments throughout the day, teachers weave these core Jewish values into the life of their classroom with the help of their guides Peer K. Explorer and Dafna. By focusing on values, the program goes beyond holidays and ritual to bring home the message that Jewish tradition is relevant every day.

An Ethical Start is an ambitious and comprehensive program that has three components: professional development for teachers, an enriched hands-on curriculum for children, and family participation. The JCC Association provides materials, an interactive website, training, teacher support and ongoing consultation to implement the program. For more information, please visit www.anethicalstart.org

The Ganon Preschool aims to incorporate An Ethical Start in each of our
classrooms. Not only does this curriculum help our children turn ethical
values into ethical behaviour, it also supports families in bringing these
values into their homes. Throughout the year teachers and parents learn that
Jewish tradition can be a guide to the most challenging issues of
child-rearing, addressing topics such as friendship, self-esteem, community
and caring for others.