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Nurturing the spiritual development of young children and those who teach and love them.


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Stem, Steam, Streams

Published by BBarnett on March 15, 2015

I just returned from California, where I delivered a keynote address to several hundred Jewish early childhood educators at the BJE BEBE Feuerstein Simon Early Childhood Institute. The Institute was titled “Full JSTEAM Ahead.” The term JSTEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, art, and math through a Jewish lens. Before I even arrived to deliver my talk on “Spiritual Development: The Power Beneath the Steam,” I had an experience which, for me, morphed the concept of JSTEAM into STREAMS.

In the new rendering, the first S represents the system of spiritual development that exists at birth and requires nurturing in order for all learning to occur. This S comes out of my own research on spiritual development. While I was preparing my talk for the Institute, a family member suggested the R, to represent reading and literacy, as these are also important elements of learning that are not reflected in the STEAM acronym.

Then, as I was driving into Los Angeles, I also realized that STEAM is missing deeper parts of who we are and what we need in order to grow into healthy well functioning adults. Therefore, the R also became a symbol for respect and responsibility that build upon one’s own self awareness. Finally, I added another S for spiritual development and the words “for living and learning” from a book I love called “Designs for Living and Learning” (Curtis & Carter, 2003).

And so a new concept evolved: STREAMS for living and learning. Whereas spiritual development alone may be a force that is capable of pushing us all toward learning, together the system of spiritual development, technology, reading/literacy, respect, responsibility, engineering, art, math, and science become a river that flows throughout one’s lifetime. To me, this is what learning should look like – at this moment in time, until a new idea strikes.

Posted in Blog, Jewish | Tagged learning, speaking, spiritual development

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Clients say…

I want to thank you for sharing your very special wisdom and life experiences with our staff. Everyone enjoyed it tremendously. I look forward to more collaborations.
Lori L. BernsteinDirector of
Early Childhood & School Age Activities
Shaw JCC of Akron
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Deb is the first person I contact with any questions about how very young children learn concepts. Her in-depth knowledge and experience is always a source of guidance for me and my work in science education.
Marlene Hilkowitz, STEM Preservice Teacher Development
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We loved Deb Schein! Her sessions were well organized; she knows her subject deeply and facilitated a cross-cultural environment that encouraged everyone to learn and feel capable to implement their learning in the classroom.
Education director / workshop participant, 2014 Roots of Nature early childhood education conference
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I am 9 weeks away from finishing my music therapy internship. I still have the nature items I collected at that Shabbaton on my dresser – your workshop was so inspiring in helping me decide to go forward with this [career]. Music therapy is a good fit for me and I hope you are finding your work similarly rewarding.
Beth Friedman-Romell
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Thank you for your wonderful presentation at the BJE event. I enjoyed listening to you and felt incredibly inspired by you. I too believe that as teachers we are facilitators and the moment we understand that, we open an entire realm of possibilities for our children.
Farnaz Hazany, MS, MFTI
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Thank you Deb for your leadership and persistence in bringing our interest forums together and pioneering this nifty collaboration! It was your vision that made it happen. It is really a wonderfully colorful illustration of how folks and interest forums with varying perspectives can work together and share unifying moments, such as where science, play and spirituality flow together.
Walter, 2017 NAEYC conference participant
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I am so glad that you will be the Jewish support person for the JCC. Your passion and expertise will be so inspiring for the staff and children.
Jennifer SlatteryDirector of Early Childhood ProgramsBeth Shalom, Pittsburgh
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On my upcoming book, Inspiring Wonder, Awe, and Empathy – Spiritual Development for Young Children: Deb Schein has successfully unpacked the meaning of spirituality for young children in this incredibly compelling and well written treatise that will engage early childhood educators, parents, and leaders in the field. Through her personal narrative, which is skillfully woven throughout the text, this gifted educator takes the reader on a journey to explore the many facets of spiritual developmen… Read more
Dr. David Brody, Assistant Professor, Efrata College of Education, Jerusalem
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Very interesting and refreshing to learn about the developmental growth of children from a spiritual point of view. Thank you!
Attendee, 2015 BJE Early Childhood Institute
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I had been looking forward to your course since beginning my Master’s degree one year ago. Through thought-provoking questions, informative articles, and enlightening discussions, you’ve really challenged me to think about my position as an infant-toddler professional in new ways. And you’ve changed the way I see infant development and learning. Thank you so much for making this course such a valuable part of my education and of my ongoing work.  I will be reflecting on your guidance for a lon… Read more
Sandra, graduate student
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