Unearthing Creativity

As I prepare my lessons for my classes, I usually think back on projects that I have already done whether in high school or college. If that doesn't stimulate ideas, I will create a new one of my own. If I end up planning a new lesson, I will make the project myself as a trial run and for a demonstration. So, in any case, whatever lesson I teach, I myself have done the project. It is always amazing to me how different the project turns out when my students do it. Usually, my ideas get thrown out of the park, and their creativity sparks something even better than I could have imagined.

In Art 1, we just finished a still-life oil painting. Each student contributed 2 items to a still-life that we set up in the room. The students then painted the still-life in a specific color scheme of only 2 or 3 colors. It was very exciting to see the still-life of an old book, a lamp, and other random objects come to life in new colors. I loved the greens and reds and blues. Besides the colors, I loved watching the kids paint. I showed them how I paint, with loose, textured brush strokes. Usually, I show them a very short demo and expect them to experiment with their own style...and that they did! One girl decided her fingers were the best method. Yes, it was messy, but the painting was so well blended that I couldn't stop her!

Art 2 just finished self-portraits. Each student studied a different artist and created them self in that artist's style. Some students' work was abstract, some wasn't even of their face! I give this class a lot of freedom, as they are older and more skilled, and it is always interesting to me to see what ideas they have. They develop their idea and take such ownership of it!

In 8th grade, we tried to make an optical illusion. I closely followed the directions of a project I had found, but somehow the illusion did not work :-( Fortunately, the students loved the graphic design nature of the project. The idea was to have different circles with curved lines in them. The background used straight lines. Then, the students colored the circles either warm or cool colors. The background was colored the opposite combination. In the end, the circles were supposed to look like they were bouncing all around...forward and backward. Even though the illusion failed, I think that they enjoyed designing the project because it didn't have to look like a person or an object. They could just create. The ending projects are very vivid!

The latest 7th grade project has been one of my favorites of the entire year. They created fantasy creature sculptures. They combined parts of three different animals into one new creature. Then, they built the creatures out of cardboard and tape. We covered the forms with messy paper mache. Finally, they painted the creatures. They are so cute and unique to each student. They looked so wonderful in the library on display!

We are having a great time in art! I don't know who is having more fun...my students, or me! Enjoy the photos!

Valentine's Weekend

At ICSB, Valentine's Day turned into Valentine's Weekend! We began celebrating this day of love of Friday, and it lasted all the way through the weekend.

During school on Friday, many singing telegrams were sent to students and teachers. I received one from my fellow teacher, the counselor. A group of seniors sang "You Are My Sunshine," and I was surprised with roses. It sure made class more interesting!

After school, the middle school students gathered for a night of games, food, contests, and karaoke. The best game was called "Honey, I love you, but I just can't smile." The goal of this game is to NOT smile. One student says it to another student. Neither one is supposed to smile...only a few Scrooges could actually pull this off! The game provided many smiles and laughs. Throughout the night, students could buy various goodies. All of the money raised was donated to a local missionary family. The father of this family has been going through radiation for cancer in his throat. The money was to help his expenses. There was a poetry and drawing contest of which I got the privilege of helping judge. Students could also write Valentines to each other and deliver them. Each kid had an envelope with their name on it for receiving Valentines. Another highlight was karaoke. Many students showcased their talent...or lack their of!

Saturday night was the high schoolers time for celebration. They had a Valentine's Banquet at the Merriot Hotel in Budapest. This formal event is one of the most treasured events at ICSB. Imagine the banquet as equal to prom in an American school. It is a BIG deal. Kristin and I attended and had fun getting all fancied up! We looked great, and the students cleaned up quite nicely as well. At the banquet, we enjoyed a buffet of tasty food. The facilities manager and geography teacher provided romantic background music. Finally, the students competed in an upperclassmen versus underclassmen round of Family Feud. The night was fun, topped off by a beautiful view from the hotel windows to the Danube River.

I thought it was just a reason for fun and games until I went to church Sunday morning. The preacher said something that really got me thinking... I got a new perspective on the day when the preacher said, "Romance is a reminder of heaven." By knowing the Lord we really do know what true love is.

Spiritual Emphasis Week

Once during the school year, ICSB has a special event. This event is called "Spiritual Emphasis Week." During this week, each grade level (elementary, middle, high) have special chapel services each day that focus on growing with the Lord. Schedules are rearranged so that all the students go to chapel each day, and guest speakers come in. Each grade level's week looks different, but all have the same goal: To consciously focus on the Lord.

At the elementary level, sports was the theme. The topic was "Get in the Game!" Each day, the speaker (the PE teacher!!) used a different sports analogy. For example, one day was "Keep your eye on the ball". The ball symbolized God. Another day's topic was focused on teams. Jesus had a team of 12 disciples. Now, after Jesus' resurrection, are you on his team? The sport theme was further emphasized by the visiting Crazy Coach Carl. He sported a puffy afro, silly glasses, and gross, buck teeth. As crazy as he was, he sure knew how to explain things like trust and faith. Each day, the students had a journal to write in about what they learned. One 5th grade, Asian student came to fully trust in Christ. Still others were starting to ask hard questions...like, "How can Jesus be our coach if we can't see him?" These kinds enjoyed the week and will hopefully never think about basketball the same!

In the middle school, the theme was 180°: This changes everything! The speaker, a local youth pastor, was brought in to discuss the topic. He talked about everything from how to take our thoughts captive, how to have pure bodies, and how to be in the body of Christ. During one of his most convicting talks, he challenged the middle schoolers to combat cliques within the school. We also spent a lot of time in prayer. The students had small groups which they prayed in each day. A worship band was brought in to help us praise God, and the worship sets always ended in a wonderful time of silent prayer.

The high school's Spiritual Emphasis Week was planned by the students themselves. What the planners wanted was to focus on how to become closer in their daily walks with God. This lead the way for a father and missionary in Budapest to speak about spiritual disciplines. The beginning of the week began with self-analysis. The students took an assessment to find out how they best connect with God...through nature...public worship...outreach...and still other ways. Many thought this was insightful; "Of course I fall asleep during my quiet time when how I REALLY connect with God is out on a walk in nature!" Throughout the week, the speaker introduced different spiritual disciplines like Lectio Divina (reading the Bible for relationship). Other ideas were outreach, spiritual retreats, worship music, and more. Each student was challenged to make a daily/monthly/yearly plan. I must admit, it was so important for me to hear as well, and I am trying to use Lectio Divina daily.

The challenge now is to make Spiritual Emphasis Week more than that...into a Month, and Year, a Life. How can we take what God revealed to us during this one week and apply it in a normal schedule? Would you pray for me, the students, and the other teachers here to really live this out? Also, would you pray for the non-believing students? That they would have felt God as well?

The week ended with a time of worship on Friday evening. Many students broke down during this time and confessed sins to God and to others. Our hope is that the students would desire those meetings with God everyday of their lives.

Here is an 8th grade girl's testimony from the week:

"During SEW, John Punch was talking about a 180 degree turnaround in our lives that we should be aiming for that week. During the first chapel with our 180 groups, I realized that I had something of an idol in my life. I realized that I actually had been worshiping someone other than God. I wasn't bowing down and praying to them, but I was thinking about them way more than I was thinking about Jesus or Godly things. That first day of SEW I prayed that that week I would be able to give it up.

All week, I prayed constantly that God would become the #1 priority in my life, but I didn’t feel any different. On Friday night when I was getting ready to go to the Upper Floor, I expected that it would be a great time of worship, but not really anything more. However during the songs, I felt the Lord’s presence so strongly that it completely took me off guard. Reality finally came crashing down on me. I recognized that I hadn’t been trying very hard to give up my idol, because I hadn’t really wanted to. During the prayer time, I prayed with my two closest friends and I literally begged God to take away my selfish desires. Throughout this time, I felt God working in me—and that was the night that I gave my life back to Jesus. I finally realized that God can satisfy me so much more than anything or anyone on this earth. God completely wiped away my aspiration that I had been idolizing. After that night, and after I heard God speaking to me so clearly, I feel like I can finally begin living my life for Jesus with all of my heart."

*I would love to share materials from the High School's week with you. Email me at meredith.karlin@gmail.com, or comment to me if you would like the assessment, Lectio Devina, or anything else :-)