Ian Cohen, Author at The Lookstein Center

Student-Centered Conferences: Creating a Culture of B’tzelem Elohim

Genesis 1:27: And God created humankind in God’s image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Betzelem Elohim. Every child is made in God’s image. This idea is fundamental to creating learning environments that honor the unique potential and worth of every child in a school. When truly embraced, this belief fosters a culture of deep respect, equity, and belonging, ensuring that every student feels valued and seen. It also serves as a guiding principle for meeting the diverse needs of all learners, ensuring that each child receives the support and challenge necessary to thrive. However, sustaining this perspective requires intentional effort, as the daily demands and stress of teaching—lesson planning, classroom management, assessments, and administrative responsibilities—can easily shift educator

Building Students’ Self-Awareness Skills: A Systems Thinking Approach to Trauma-Sensitive Education

Embracing the notion that everyone has experienced trauma during the pandemic leads to the acceptance that all schools require a trauma-informed education approach now and for the years to come. Jewish day schools must be equipped with the tools and resources to support the vast and pervasive emotional distress that has resulted from the range of trauma that our children and adolescents have experienced. Students need to be given a voice to express themselves, and to know that they will have someone who will deeply listen to and support them.