I would tend to disagree with this approach. I think it depends on the professional experience of the teacher and the objectives of the course.
In the current issue of Educational Leadership, there is an article about how new teachers are overwhelmed with new responsibilities in the classroom. They welcome lesson plans because it frees their time so they can concentrate on those skills that are not yet automatic like classroom management. As teachers mature, they appreciate increased autonomy to be creative in the class. So giving teachers resources helps make good new teachers better.
But even more importantly, what is the goal of a chumash shiur? Is it to be a mechadesh?
I have specific goals for teaching chumash post- Junior High. First, I need to evaluate if there are any commentaries that are particularly important to know for a unit. There are "famous rambans"or a particular machlokes which are important to know as literate Jewish adults.
Some of the famous commentaries are too difficult for the students to learn without a lot of frustration. The frustration level for literacy begins when students understand less than 90% of the text. So I need to provide scaffolding so students can learn these commentaries joyfully. Aside from these must-teach, I choose commentaries that are age appropriate that can be understood without a lot of scaffolding.
I also must think about what skills my students need to develop such as how to 1. read with the appropriate punctuation, 2. translate a grade appropriate commentary 3. be able to articulate what is the thesis of the commentary, what proofs are cited, and how that analysis compares to other commentaries. 4. be able to state whether that thesis is reflected in other passages from that commentary. 5. Reflect on how the commentary relates to the passuk.
For each unit of study, I also chose what were the main themes. (Essential Questions).
With these goals in mind, I then had to decide on what content to teach. I could only choose important OR age appropriate commentaries that had specific themes and emphasized a particular skill. Most of the time I could not go to Nehama Leibowitz and lift a shiur from her, or go to VBM and take a class from there. But if all my other conditions work out, why shouldn't I?
Shira Hochheimer
Rochester, NY
