Ready or not, here it comes!
June 1: "Städtli Tag" (town celebration) and BFA Spring Concert
June 2: Last small group!
June 4: Staff Appreciation Dinner
June 5: Combined closing chapel for Middle School and High School
June 7: 8th Grade Dinner and Middle School Awards Ceremony
June 8: Annual Clothes Swap with friends
June 9: No School (German holiday)
June 10: Middle School final chapel
June 11: Finals
June 12: Finals and last day of school!
June 14: BFA Graduation
June 16-17: Staff work days
June 20: Fly to USA
June 22-28: TeachBeyond Orientation
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Friday, May 30, 2014
Beyond the Classroom Walls
Each year, the middle school designates one week "Experiential Learning Week," a time for learning beyond the walls of the classroom. The students enjoy the opportunity for hands-on experiences, which makes it worth all of the hard work of the teachers to plan the week! Some of this year's trips and activities were the same as last year, and some were new ones.
Monday: In the morning, students took a spiritual gifts inventory and had a chance to put their spiritual gifts in action as they planned activities for the elementary school. The "encouragement" group made scones and cards for the teachers. Mixed groups of students with "leadership," "mercy," and other gifts prepared lessons for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade classes. In the afternoon, we went over to the elementary school to do those activities with the students. The second graders had a lesson about nutrition, specifically focusing on sugar in favorite foods and beverages. The third and fourth graders had the opportunity to take a spiritual gifts inventory like the sixth graders had in the morning, and they broke into smaller discussion groups to talk about ways they could use these gifts to serve others.
Tuesday: We spent the day at Augusta Raurica, a site of Roman ruins just over the border in Switzerland. The highlights of the day for me were having an impromptu toga party in the replica of a Roman home and exploring the Roman baths near the Rhine River with two girls!
Wednesday: Our morning involved rotating through three stations: cooking, baking, and etiquette. Two moms led cooking and baking - salad, pasta, and chocolate cake - while I taught the etiquette lesson. During the etiquette time, students set their own places at a table and learned some essentials for table manners. Then, they put their etiquette into practice while eating the food they had prepared for lunch! In the afternoon, they ventured into the woods for some outdoor education activities.
Friday: Today we learned about the history of electricity at the Electropolis Museum in France! The students' favorite part of our morning was the static electricity demonstrations with sparks flying and hair standing on end! Of course, the playground out back was also a hit. This afternoon, the students relaxed at another teacher's house to watch some episodes of Man vs. Wild, which tied into our current English unit on survival literature. It was a great ending to a great week!
Monday: In the morning, students took a spiritual gifts inventory and had a chance to put their spiritual gifts in action as they planned activities for the elementary school. The "encouragement" group made scones and cards for the teachers. Mixed groups of students with "leadership," "mercy," and other gifts prepared lessons for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade classes. In the afternoon, we went over to the elementary school to do those activities with the students. The second graders had a lesson about nutrition, specifically focusing on sugar in favorite foods and beverages. The third and fourth graders had the opportunity to take a spiritual gifts inventory like the sixth graders had in the morning, and they broke into smaller discussion groups to talk about ways they could use these gifts to serve others.
We made the statue "BFA appropriate" so she could be in our picture...
Wednesday: Our morning involved rotating through three stations: cooking, baking, and etiquette. Two moms led cooking and baking - salad, pasta, and chocolate cake - while I taught the etiquette lesson. During the etiquette time, students set their own places at a table and learned some essentials for table manners. Then, they put their etiquette into practice while eating the food they had prepared for lunch! In the afternoon, they ventured into the woods for some outdoor education activities.
Collecting everything needed for a place setting
Completed place setting!
Waiting to be seated
Friday: Today we learned about the history of electricity at the Electropolis Museum in France! The students' favorite part of our morning was the static electricity demonstrations with sparks flying and hair standing on end! Of course, the playground out back was also a hit. This afternoon, the students relaxed at another teacher's house to watch some episodes of Man vs. Wild, which tied into our current English unit on survival literature. It was a great ending to a great week!
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Seek Truth
Throughout the year, the sixth graders have been full of questions about the Bible. I knew I couldn't just brush them aside - they were great questions worth answering! But, with only a 30-minute class meeting 3 times a week, I knew that we didn't have time to engage in off-topic discussion every class period. So, I decided to hang a poster in the classroom to record their questions. Whenever one of these big ideas would arise, I'd respond, "Why don't you write that on our class poster?" Soon, students weren't even asking their questions aloud! They just quietly snuck over to the poster and added to our growing list.
While this was an effective classroom management tool, it couldn't end there. Their questions were too important, too personal to let that happen. After all, a quiet, uninvolved class was never the point. I determined that this wouldn't be a poster where the questions would die, but rather one where new thoughts could be sparked and learning could continue! I wanted each student to be able to dig deeper and really wrestle with one of the topics that had arisen.
So began the idea for the Investigative Research project. Each student would come up with a question or select one from our poster to independently research. Their questions were thoughtful and challenging…
- Did God feel Jesus' pain on the cross?
- If God knows past, present, and future, why does He make bad people and let bad things happen?
- Why did God create the world if He knew He was going to end it?
- What will heaven be like?
- Is there evidence about God/Jesus besides the Bible?
I knew I couldn't manage this kind of project alone, so I recruited the help of others from the community. These six "coaches" brought their Bible commentaries, patient guidance, and genuine enthusiasm for knowing God's Word. What a delight it was to listen to the conversations between these adults and their small groups of students during the research process! (A big thank-you to Jonathan, Jordan, Emily, Jen, Mary Lou, and Barb!)
While their classmates presented, the students recorded further questions that came to their minds based on these topics... leaving us with even more questions than we had started with! I explained that this is a never-ending cycle. We will never know everything this side of heaven, but we are called to keep seeking truth and pursuing Christ our whole lives long! I was personally challenged by the words I heard coming out of my mouth. I want my life to be marked by a deep commitment to knowing and loving Jesus. And I pray the same will be true of each of these sixth graders as they leave my classroom in a few short weeks.
While this was an effective classroom management tool, it couldn't end there. Their questions were too important, too personal to let that happen. After all, a quiet, uninvolved class was never the point. I determined that this wouldn't be a poster where the questions would die, but rather one where new thoughts could be sparked and learning could continue! I wanted each student to be able to dig deeper and really wrestle with one of the topics that had arisen.
So began the idea for the Investigative Research project. Each student would come up with a question or select one from our poster to independently research. Their questions were thoughtful and challenging…
- Did God feel Jesus' pain on the cross?
- If God knows past, present, and future, why does He make bad people and let bad things happen?
- Why did God create the world if He knew He was going to end it?
- What will heaven be like?
- Is there evidence about God/Jesus besides the Bible?
I knew I couldn't manage this kind of project alone, so I recruited the help of others from the community. These six "coaches" brought their Bible commentaries, patient guidance, and genuine enthusiasm for knowing God's Word. What a delight it was to listen to the conversations between these adults and their small groups of students during the research process! (A big thank-you to Jonathan, Jordan, Emily, Jen, Mary Lou, and Barb!)
The sixth graders were given the opportunity to share their findings with the class after a week of gathering and processing information. The presentation was not a requirement since some of their research was more personal. I was impressed with the students' creativity in sharing their conclusions with paragraphs, posters, and PowerPoint!
While their classmates presented, the students recorded further questions that came to their minds based on these topics... leaving us with even more questions than we had started with! I explained that this is a never-ending cycle. We will never know everything this side of heaven, but we are called to keep seeking truth and pursuing Christ our whole lives long! I was personally challenged by the words I heard coming out of my mouth. I want my life to be marked by a deep commitment to knowing and loving Jesus. And I pray the same will be true of each of these sixth graders as they leave my classroom in a few short weeks.
Sunday, May 18, 2014
It's for the Kids!
When I arrived at the high school on Friday evening, I wasn't wearing my normal clothes with my work bag slung over my shoulder. A parent called out, "Wow, your costume looks awesome!" And my automatic response? "It's for the kids!"
There are some things that I do here that can only be explained with that simple response… and dressing like the White Witch from Narnia for about two hours on a Friday night is one of them.
At the Disney-themed Middle School Spring Party, we had a blast playing life-sized Memory (the kids were the cards), dancing to "Just Dance" (a middle school favorite), and snapping photos at the photo booth (see below!). It is always fun to see the kids in costume and hear their reactions to the teachers' costumes. Some of the students didn't recognize me at first, which I took as a compliment!
I'm grateful for a crazy staff team who would join me in saying, "It's for the kids!" Not just one day of the year, but every day. Not just dressing in costume for a party, but also spending endless hours preparing quality class activities, writing fair tests, learning more about our content areas, and praying for our students. Ultimately, we'd all say that it's not just for the kids, but really it's for HIM. All that we do is for the One who created our students and who gives us strength to serve every day!
There are some things that I do here that can only be explained with that simple response… and dressing like the White Witch from Narnia for about two hours on a Friday night is one of them.
At the Disney-themed Middle School Spring Party, we had a blast playing life-sized Memory (the kids were the cards), dancing to "Just Dance" (a middle school favorite), and snapping photos at the photo booth (see below!). It is always fun to see the kids in costume and hear their reactions to the teachers' costumes. Some of the students didn't recognize me at first, which I took as a compliment!
I'm grateful for a crazy staff team who would join me in saying, "It's for the kids!" Not just one day of the year, but every day. Not just dressing in costume for a party, but also spending endless hours preparing quality class activities, writing fair tests, learning more about our content areas, and praying for our students. Ultimately, we'd all say that it's not just for the kids, but really it's for HIM. All that we do is for the One who created our students and who gives us strength to serve every day!
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Happy Mother's Day!
On Friday, I hosted the 3rd Annual Mother's Day Poetry Cafe in my classroom! The first Mother's Day celebration was two years ago with this current class (when I taught 4th grade)! Last year, my 6th graders also shared poetry with their moms.
As always, it was a delight to honor the moms of my students with this poetry share. We enjoyed poppyseed bread and sipped tea, while listening to the silly, sentimental, and sincere poetic works of the 6th graders.
Happy Mother's Day, all you moms! (And a special shout-out to my own Mom! Love you!)
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
"When the Crazy Kicks In"
While getting ready for school the past few mornings, I've turned on Francesca Battistelli's new CD, If We're Honest, in the background. Each day I've been struck with the lyrics of this song.
I instantly connect with these references to "spinning plates" and "many hats to wear" - imagery that I, too, have used to describe my serving at BFA! And the main message of this song rings true as well: It is absolutely essential to focus on Christ despite distractions.
This time of year is notoriously "when the crazy kicks in" at BFA. With graduation imminent - and soccer tournament, Experiential Learning Week, and loads of lasts in between - the countdown is on. Yesterday my small group put together treat bags for the students taking AP tests at BFA this week and next. It was great to be able to tangibly serve these students by stuffing their mailboxes with goodies!
So, as this month of May whizzes past, I'll continue to listen to this catchy song in the morning. I hold onto the promises in the bridge of this song that are worded so perfectly!
Pushed and pulled by a thousand expectations
And all the roles that I'm supposed to play
To hit the ground running's a temptation
But I have learned this lesson the hard way
A little time with You, the only way to get me through the day
Oh, come meet me in this moment before it all gets going
And these plates start to spin, the crazy kicks in
A circus of distractions is just about to happen
But I'll be ready when the crazy kicks in
This time of year is notoriously "when the crazy kicks in" at BFA. With graduation imminent - and soccer tournament, Experiential Learning Week, and loads of lasts in between - the countdown is on. Yesterday my small group put together treat bags for the students taking AP tests at BFA this week and next. It was great to be able to tangibly serve these students by stuffing their mailboxes with goodies!
So, as this month of May whizzes past, I'll continue to listen to this catchy song in the morning. I hold onto the promises in the bridge of this song that are worded so perfectly!
You've got me where You want me
Even through the highs and lows
You know me, and You hold me
And You show me that You'll never let me go
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