Parenting Resource Center - Charles E Smith Jewish Day School

Raising children is an immensely rewarding experience for parents and guardians. It can also be a challenging and complex task, which may raise concerns and questions. The Parenting Resource Center is dedicated to providing education to parents and guardians, both individually and in groups. The Parenting Resource Center programs are designed to support parents and guardians, give them access to information, and help guide them in the work of raising their children. The programs and classes are also dedicated to incorporating the principles of education and psychology with Jewish philosophy. The Parenting Center works in partnership with the other support services at CESJDS in an effort to serve the needs of our parent body and the greater community in the best way possible.

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Upcoming Events

Past Events

Supporting Children's Social Skills

Social skills are an important component to student success both in and out of the classroom. While many of us learn these skills intuitively, it is becoming more and more common in this constantly changing world that social rules and expectations need to be taught explicitly. In this presentation you will learn the components of social skills and strategies to foster positive interactions and participation for your child in a variety of settings. In this lecture you will learn:

Components of social skills including perspective taking, flexibility, communication, regulation, and self-awareness.
How social thinking impacts student success both in and out of the classroom.
Strategies, language, and tools to foster positive social skills at home and school.
How to individualize social expectations and goals for your child with friends, at school, at home, and in the community.

Watch the Presentation and Review the Slides

Blip...Bump...Problem: Navigating the Unexpected with Elementary Age Children

Blip, Bump, Problem will address children’s behavioral challenges and share how parents can view these behaviors developmentally. The session will also cover the impact of these behaviors on daily functioning in and out of the school setting. Suggestions for how to approach minor and more interfering behaviors will be reviewed and examples will be provided.

About the Presenter: Sally Neuberger is a well-seasoned Licensed Clinical Social Worker well known in the metro DC community and beyond for her clinical work with elementary and middle age children and their families. Sally is a frequent coach, classroom consultant and workshop presenter to local schools. Sally has a successful history supporting both neurotypical and neurodiverse children and their families in schools and in the community. She is presently in private practice and has worked with many CESJDS families over the years. You can check out her website at www.sneubergertherapy.com .

The Dimensions of Attention with Dr. Roby Marcou

Attention and related executive function skills are cornerstones of successful self-regulation, learning and socializing. Attention expectations are often different in home and school, and expectations evolve as a child matures. This presentation focused on understanding normal developmental expectations, recognizing patterns that present concern, and clarifying how diagnoses such as ADHD are made. There was also information on what parents can do to facilitate the development of Executive Function/Attention skills in their children.

Click here to watch a recording of the event and here to review the slides

About the Presenter: Dr. Roby Marcou is a Board Certified Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrician. She was educated at MIT, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and Stanford University Hospitals. After working in Alaska and Texas she moved to Jakarta, Indonesia in 1993 and worked exclusively in Asia from 1993 to 2017, ultimately opening a private clinic in Singapore. Since that time, she has divided her work between Singapore and the Chesapeake Center in Bethesda. In addition to her medical practice, Dr. Marcou has also taught middle school students and has trained teachers and parents in the understanding of children with developmental and learning differences speaking at schools, regional educators’, and medical conferences. Dr. Marcou is the parent of 3 adults and the Bubbee of 2 grandchildren who have taught her everything important!

Resources

An important aspect of the Parenting Resource Center is the sharing of valuable resources throughout the year. Please check back as the year ensues for informative articles, books, and videos. You are welcome to email Gayle Elster to share feedback about these resources or set up a time to meet.

Back to School Experience

Parent - Child Communication

Videos:

Heidi Tacktill - At CESJDS, teachers explicitly teach and integrate executive function skills in their classrooms. Heidi Tacktill, the Lower School’s 2^nd grade Learning Specialist and Executive Functioning and Literacy Coach created this video so you can learn about some of these tools and how you can play a role in helping strengthen your child’s executive function skills at home.

Julie Lythcott-Haims - TED Talk Video - How to Raise Successful Kids Without Overparenting

Edutopia - Student Led Conferences: Empowerment and Ownership

Books:

Adele Farber and Elaine Mazlish - How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk

Articles:

Mary Beth Gahan - How to Practice “gentle parenting”-Without Losing Discipline
Published in The Washington Post

Yael Trusch - 7 Jewish Parenting Principles Inspired by Experience
Published on Jewishwoman.org

Dr. Erika Bocknek - The Importance of Routines for Kids
Published on Zero to Thrive

Cleveland Clinic - Is your Child Overscheduled? Kids Need "Downtime"
Published on Cleveland Clinic Health Essential

Family Education Staff - Talking to your Child about Report Cards
Published on familyeducation.com

Social Emotional Learning

There are many topics covered in school related to student’s social emotional development. Our Guidance Counselors, teaching staff, and Administration partner closely with families to support the development of ethical, kind, and respectful students. Please see the following articles that relate to social emotional development.

Articles:

Maurice J. Elias - How Students Typically Grow in SEL from Elementary to Middle School
Published in Edutopia

Audrey Krisbergh - Raising Resilient children
Published in The Center for Parenting Education

Video:

ELI Talks - Mastering the Pivot-The Art of Jewish Parenting

Schedule an Appointment with Director Gayle Elster

Mrs. Gayle Elster, Director of the Parenting Resource Center, is available for one to one conversations to support parents. If you would like to set up an appointment with Mrs. Gayle Elster, please email gelster@cesjds.org. Drop-in hours on Meetings are also available on Tuesdays from 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM and Fridays from 8:30 AM - 9:15 PM.

Schedule an Appointment

Meet Director Gayle Elster

My family has had the privilege to be members of the JDS community since 1982 when Dr. Shulamith Elster, my mother-in-law, was headmaster at JDS. In 2005 my daughters began their JDS journeys at the Lower School. While my daughters are now in college at University of Maryland School of Law and Emory University, I remain proud to continue the tradition of connection to CESJDS as the Lower School Guidance Support Specialist and the Guidance Counselor for the Gurim classes since 2017.

I have an undergraduate degree in Special Education and a master’s degree in Social Work. I have over 20 years of teaching experience along with working as a member of a diagnostic team.

My philosophy is student and family centered. I am motivated to inspire solutions and partner with others to reach their full social emotional potential.

The following quote by Jessie Doyle fuels my passion to advocate and support the children and families throughout the JDS community, "I think the hardest part of having a child with a challenge of any kind is the fight: The fight for services. The fight for people to understand who your child is and what they need. The fight for knowledge because knowledge is power." I look forward to further collaborative work with families to support the overall well-being of their children.