Need positive ideas for kid down on yeshiva, and s/o to ask

amother

Wed, Nov 28 2012, 7:27 pm

I teach English in a yeshiva with a mixed crowd. My last period includes two boys who seem to be feeling very bitter about the yeshiva experience. They are in the first year of junior high and have a very long day with an intense schedule that is often a hard adjustment for many kids, but in the past most of my students were more the type to kvetch while accepting it as part of growing up in a yeshiva. But these kids are from a non-yeshivish background and they seem to be taking it much harder. Also, they're the less academic kids so I'm sure being in this yeshiva is hard for them on many levels, and I've seen a lot of less-academic kids also get disenchanted in general around this age - until then they just slide along or try to keep up but when they get to junior high it's harder and they've had enough. One of these kids in particular has a younger and an older sibling in public school getting home a good two hours earlier than he does (maybe more if their schools are closer to home?) Anyway, I'm hearing a lot of (either just under their breath or sometimes outright) "I don't want to be in yeshiva anymore." Especially since I teach that last period when everyone's tired and these kids especially wish they were out playing.

I would really like to change my next teaching unit to be something that could raise their morale, something that could help make them feel good and proud to be in yeshiva or to be frum. Something that could help them answer that question they're muttering of "Why do I hafta be here." Not too direct, I think, not mussary, maybe more story-ish that might have a subtle impression? Maybe stories of mesirus nefesh for Torah, but it would have to be something that includes the "why" and not just the "what." And nothing too headstrong either, something sweet and palatable.

The level would have to be somewhere around 4th-5th grade because these boys are poor academically and also not the most mature. I wouldn't call them immature, but I wouldn't expect them to pick up on very sophisticated themes either.

Looking for ideas, book/story suggestions, and does anyone know of a good mechanech I could call for advice and ideas on this issue?