Postcard Exchange!

I'm linking up with other middle level classrooms (grades 4-8) for an international postcard exchange!  Michelle Lundy at Making It As A Middle School Teacher has organized this classroom exchange, which will begin this week.  I'm excited for my students to participate in this connection with classes around the world!

To all you teachers out there... Michelle is still looking for teachers from these states, so visit her blog if you're interested!  Feel free to pass this along to your friends, too.

Alaska
Arkansas
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Idaho
Iowa
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Minnesota
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
North Dakota
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Dakota
Tennessee
Utah
Vermont
Washington
West Virginia
Wyoming
Washington, D.C.

Australia
Canada
Israel
Mexico
South Africa

D.I.Y. [Do It Yourself]

This quarter I have enjoyed teaching the middle school D.I.Y. elective, a brand new elective class that I'm creating as I go!  Yes, the idea originated from my love of Pinterest, but it has been really neat to see the students develop important life skills - resourcefulness, creativity, generosity - through our fun projects.

DIY Envelopes

(Idea from: http://www.neverhomemaker.com/2009/12/craftastic-envelope-diy.html)

DIY Collage Covers

I laminated their final result and taped it to their homework planner cover.

DIY Origami Frogs and Boxes

I used the opaque projector to demonstrate paper folding.

(Idea from: http://www.origami-instructions.com/origami-box-with-cover.html)

DIY Trail Mix

Our class made the bags of mix for the middle school overnight.

DIY Decorative Letters

We wrapped cardboard letters with colored yarn - and had some fun adventures with the glue gun!

(Idea from: http://www.delicateconstruction.com)

DIY House Scent Jars

We packed small glass jars with fall-smelling things to give as appreciation gifts to the middle school teachers.  (One mix: orange, anise stars, allspice, and cinnamon sticks.  Other mix: orange, ginger, vanilla extract.)  When the contents of this jar are simmered over low heat on the stove, the house smells amazing! 

(Idea from: http://www.theyummylife.com/Natural_Room_Scents)

DIY Candle Holders

These jars are wrapped in rubber bands, ready for spraypainting.  After the paint dries, rubber bands are removed to allow light from the candle to shine through.

(Idea from: http://theforgestyle.blogspot.de/2011/11/diy-yarn-wrapped-painted-jars.html and http://www.thehyperhouse.com/2012/01/elegant-votive-candleholders/)

I am also absolutely thrilled for my D.I.Y. class to be heading up Operation Christmas Child this year!  Last year, I worked with my fourth graders to coordinate the project at the elementary school.  Each student had a job to get the rest of the elementary grades involved.  Together we packed 43 boxes!   This year the middle school DIY elective also has jobs and will head it up for all three campuses.  We have a goal of 100 boxes!  I'm excited to see how our community comes together to make an impact with shoeboxes -- and how God will use these shoeboxes to transform the lives of kids around the world.

A "Taste" of Home

For a few days this week, I had the treat of hosting Tim and Alison Gee, friends from my home church!  It was great to be able to show them the area and give them a taste of what BFA life is like.  They fit right in!

* On Tuesday, I was able to take part of the day off to show the Gees one of my favorite places in Europe -- Interlaken and the Lauterbrunnen Valley in the Swiss Alps.  We had beautiful weather with great views of the peaks.

* Tim and Alison got a tour of the high school on Wednesday morning, followed by a (much shorter!) tour of the middle school.  They heard about how BFA provides services for the whole student -- their academic, social, and emotional needs.

* Tim decided to use his skills and training as a chef to bless the middle school staff!  We were spoiled with ginger beef with leeks over rice and delicious pastries for dessert!

* Tim and Alison both helped out with Scripture memory during Bible class.  They talked the kids about the meanings of the verses and helped them prepare for the upcoming verse quiz.  Tim enjoyed attending the Ultimate Frisbee elective at the end of the day, while Alison conversed with 8th grade students in the cooking elective class.

* We also visited several dorms over the course of the two days.  Each dorm has a unique personality and feel to it, making it more like "home" for the students living away from their families.

* The Gees also stayed in the guest apartment of my mentor, so they got to know the Campbell family during their stay here as well.

* Tim was the speaker for the evening at Chrysalis, the middle school youth ministry.  While Tim was spending time with the middle schoolers, Alison joined my high school group.  We drove to Elemenz, my favorite cafe, for some yummy desserts and deep conversation about our goals for the year.

Thanks, Tim and Alison, for a great visit!  Anyone else coming to Kandern soon?  Let me know if you'd like to visit BFA!

Goosebumps and God's Plan

As you know, I lead a small group of high school girls and absolutely love it!  Our time together is fun and meaningful.  I feel a greater connection to this community and deepened intimacy with Christ because of the time I spend with my small group.  Needless to say, I'm very excited that small groups start meeting again this Wednesday!

Over the past two years, we've read two Francis Chan books - Crazy Love and Forgotten God.  These books have spurred great discussion and challenged us to live out our faith more boldly.  This summer, I prayerfully considered several book options for this school year.  One night, I just felt peace about going with a certain book called Radical (David Platt).  I had read it through last year, so I was familiar with the content and knew that the book ended with a one-year challenge (which coincides perfectly with the girls' senior year).

Upon my return to Germany, I ordered copies of Radical for each of the girls in the group.  Just a few days later, I received this Facebook message from one of the girls -- and sat in silent amazement at the way God works.

"heather! (:  

it's almost time to see you again!!! yessss!!!! 

so i was wondering if you had a chosen book to read for this year already. because if you havent yet, ive just started reading this book called "Radical" by David Platt and i couldnt help but think about how wonderful it will be to read it together next year!!

it's such a challenging book. but soo soo good. and i think it would be a really great book to read together. but if you have other plans, i totally understand, it's just a suggestion. (:

love you! and see you soon!"

Yes, that is how God works.  He leads and He confirms.  And I get goosebumps because I'm a part of His plan!

Welcome to Class!

Welcome to sixth grade at BFA Middle School!  Here's a little tour...

This is what the classroom looked like a few weeks ago.

(And this was even after the teacher desk was in place and the room had been cleaned!)

Here's another "in progress" shot...

Desks are in place and shelves installed above teacher desk.

Here's my "teacher's area" - teaching desk, shelves for curriculum (much more full now), and schrank for materials.

Now the classroom is alive!

Our first writing assignment of the year - a "Spotlight on Summer" story - is on display on this bulletin board, with our four essential questions framed and hung above.  Reading groups are posted (in this picture, you can see one rock star poster with names underneath it).  Students also imagined their lives as a CD and created their hit single song title and band name.  These CDs are hanging from the ceiling.

Below the back bulletin board, you'll find our writing table, where I can have conferences with students.  Some students also choose to work here during free work time or partner assignments.  In the frame, you can see the photo of our school with the caption, "Sixth Grade Rocks!"  The blue bin houses files for the "My Classroom Economy" program that I'm using in Advisory classes.  The classroom money ("Star Bucks") is in the little blue box!

On the inside of our classroom door, we have a little game... "Guess That Star!"  Each student wrote 10 descriptions of themselves, and their "star" picture (posed with a microphone or guitar) and autograph are inside!

 On the outside of our door, we have a sign to tell others which class is currently "in concert" or if I'm just working in the classroom.

We're off to a great start in sixth grade!  Thank you for your continued prayers for the middle school.

Back to School!

Today was the first day of school at BFA, one of my favorite days of the school year!  It is so exciting and invigorating to hear the squeals of reunited friends, the applause of respect and love for the staff, and the cheers for the nations represented by the students at our school - 52 in all.  One staff member commented that she was somewhat intimidated by the high caliber of our students, and I added that it really challenges us as teachers to pursue excellence and to provide a truly quality education.  What a great motivator to have students who desire to learn!

Today was also my first day as a "middle school teacher"... which was exciting, overwhelming, and wonderful!  I am thrilled to be working with some of the same students that I had in fourth grade two years ago and teaching subjects that I enjoy.

Homeroom: Grade 6 (devotion and prayer time, announcements)
Period 1: English 6 (reading, writing, vocabulary, and grammar)
Periods 2-5: Free!  (lesson planning, grading, materials preparation... and possibly opportunities to connect with small group girls during lunchtime or serve in other ways)
Period 6: Bible 6 (the Gospels and Acts) or Spelling 6
Period 7: Advisory 6 (study skills, organization, transition to middle school)
Period 8: Electives (chapel band or DIY)

My roommate, Brittany, and I are excited to be co-leading the Chapel Band elective this year.  We have about 10 students who will play instruments and sing to lead the rest of the school in worship at the weekly chapel time.  The students will select music and rehearse on Mondays and Wednesdays in preparation for chapel on Friday afternoons.

I also just added another elective to my Tuesday/Thursday schedule called "DIY: Do It Yourself."  (And yes, this idea was born out of my love for Pinterest...)  I have some idea as to what direction this elective will take, but it is intentionally nebulous so that the students have some ownership in the projects we tackle.  Through the creation of purposeful and useful items, we will learn life skills like resourcefulness (not having to always buy something!), generosity, collaboration, creativity, innovation, and perseverance.

Introducing myself to the middle schoolers

Practicing locker combinations - over and over!

This is only the beginning of the adventure of this school year!  In some ways, I feel like a new teacher all over again as I plan and learn the middle school culture - but I am so excited for the opportunity to learn and grow in new ways in this new role.  Thank you for praying for the 2012-2013 school year!

Community

When describing BFA to others, I almost always mention how much I love the community here.  I am so blessed to have many adults pouring into, encouraging, and investing in me... while at the same time having the opportunity to do the same for peers and students.  I love seeing people using their unique gifts (teaching, living life with dorm kids, working with their hands in maintenance, managing the library, recruiting new staff, and more!) to serve the staff and students at BFA, as well as the larger missions community.

Over the past two days, all of the new BFA staff members have shared very condensed (3-5 minutes!) stories of how God has worked in their lives and brought them to this place at this time.  Some have been praying about missions opportunities and support raising for years, while others just heard about BFA in the past few months.  They have different family backgrounds and interests and personalities, but they are all passionate about serving Christ here in southwestern Germany!

One new staff member aptly described our community as "a room of miracles."  Every person at BFA has witnessed God's miraculous provision as He has put the pieces together according to His timing.  Thank YOU for being a part of the miracle God has done in my life!  I am so blessed to be serving Christ in this community.

Class, Deutsch, and New Friends!

I've been back in Germany for just over two weeks, but it feels like a lot longer than that with all that has happened!  I'm so thankful for the opportunities that I've had to jump right back into life here in Germany.

Class.  During my first week back in Germany, I attended TeachBeyond Institute, a conference for members of my mission agency to learn about and discuss spiritual formation, cultural adaptation, and Biblical integration.  The days were long, but it was fun to spend time with people who serve with TeachBeyond at several different schools and think together about how we can serve our students better.

Deutsch.  The annual neighborhood "block party" was last weekend - the first that I've been able to attend since moving here two years ago.  It was really interesting to be able to sit and chat at picnic tables with the German neighbors I've never really met beyond a "hello" every once in a while.  Their English was far better than I anticipated, but they wanted me to try German!  "You speak German, we'll speak English."  This made for a humorous conversation, but I was quite surprised at how fluently the German came.  Of course, it wasn't perfect, but it definitely felt different than my timid German of my first year living overseas.  One man suggested we visit his art gallery in town, while another invited my piano teacher roommate, Karen, to play duets with him.  He lives just behind our house and is a very famous concert pianist from Berlin!  Great connections and fun speaking German!

New Friends.  Over the past week, many new staff have arrived here in Kandern.  What fun it has been to match faces with their names, hear their stories, and experience life here together.  One not-so-new friend that I've welcomed to Germany is Rachel, a fellow Grove City grad and friend of mine from my college days.  In addition, Karen has joined the apartment (with Brittany and me), and we've enjoyed meals, travels, shopping together with other new friends this past week.  We anxiously await our fourth roommate Justina's arrival when the Lord provides the finances she needs!

In the next two weeks:
-- Shopping trips with new staff for furniture and classroom supplies
-- Local traveling to introduce new staff to the area
-- Various staff meetings in preparation for the school year
-- Classroom cleaning and decorating
-- Lesson planning and preparing materials

These days are full - and my heart is full as well!  I'm anxious to see how God works through new friendships, connections with the Germany community, and my new role as a middle school teacher this year!

The Marathon

My eyes were glued to the screen this afternoon as I watched the marathon racers cross the finish line one by one.  Some collapsed in utter exhaustion, while others enthusiastically waved to cheering fans.  I was intrigued by this race of longevity and perseverance.

Perhaps my recent experience with running has given me a greater appreciation for the Olympic races.  You may know that I participated in a 5K race in Philly this summer with several of my good college friends. I'm not really a "runner," but The Color Run isn't your normal race!  Anyone can participate, even non-runners like me.  (I think you'll understand from the picture below!)

But I was drawn to more than just the excitement of the marathon race itself.  I considered how I could relate to these competitors - not as an athlete, but as a teacher.

Looking ahead to the coming school year, I see not a sprint, but a marathon.  There's no option to quit at the 5K mark, but rather a commitment to finish the race.  This isn't a week of having fun at summer camp, but nine months of investing in lives.

While navigating the streets of London this afternoon, marathon runners endured rainy conditions, cramps, thirst... But they pressed on.  I could sense the discouragement and frustration in their faces, but they kept their eyes ahead, yearning for the finish line.  What pride in the sense of accomplishment when they crossed it!  Whether an Olympic record or a personal worst, they had finished the race.  My "finish line" seems far away, but my deepest desire is that I can say along with the apostle Paul, "I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me a crown of righteousness..." (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

There is one significant difference between that marathon race and my job at BFA: teamwork.  Although some athletes in this race trained together and even kept the same pace during most the race, there was inevitably one gold medal winner.  I'm so thankful that I'm not alone in the BFA marathon, with Christ as the ultimate Sustainer, colleagues as co-collaborators, and supporters as our greatest fans.  When someone's pace slows, we'll link arms and keep running toward the finish line together.  And we'll strain our ears to hear your voices in the crowd, cheering us on!

In First Corinthians 9, Paul writes, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?  Run in such a way as to get the prize."  I'm itching at the starting line, greatly anticipating all that God will do at BFA this school year!  Let's go for the gold.  Together and for His glory.

Less Than 24 Hours...

... and I'll be on a plane back to Germany!  It's hard to believe that it's time to pack the suitcases and say the goodbyes to friends and family here in the States.  What a wonderful summer of reconnecting it has been.

Although I am returning tomorrow, I am still not fully supported financially.  I am still in need of about $300/month.  Would you prayerfully consider joining me on the journey by making a monthly pledge or giving a special gift?  If you are interested, please comment on this blog entry, email me, or click on the link on the right to download a donation form.

Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and generosity!  You are a blessing to me.  Please keep in touch, and I hope to see you when I'm back in Newtown at Christmastime!