i'll be your friend

One of the least glamorous parts of my job is having to do getting to do lunch duty.  I mean, what is more fun than watching 6 year olds eat cafeteria food??  In addition to opening up ketchup packets and cleaning up spilled water, I feel like I spend most of my time persuading them to eat their food ("Just take a few more bites!") and THAT.GETS.OLD.

Let me tell you a story...

When I mentioned persuading them to eat their food, there is one little boy in particular who comes to my mind.  This first grader is VERY picky and never seems to like any of the food he gets from the cafeteria. He recently has gotten a little better about trying new foods and he even started telling me when he has eaten some ("Miss Akins, I ate four bites!").  But for some reason, the hamburger today made him revert back to his old picky self.  He sat at the lunch table for about 15 minutes refusing to eat any of his burger.

We had about 10 minutes left of lunch when another first grader sitting across the table from Mr. Picky excitedly called me over to their table.  It was pretty obvious this kid had a big announcement for me.

"Miss Akins, he is eating the hamburger!"

"Oh, wow!  What do you think of it? Do you like it?"  (Picky nods)

"I got him to eat it!  I told him I would be his friend if he would try to eat some of his hamburger... and now he likes it!"

Aww... positive peer pressure works! :D

do you wanna be a teacher?

I am a member of our campus's SAP committee (Student Assistance Program).  Students are referred to the SAP committee when teachers and/or parents are concerned about a student's progress and are requesting possible testing.  Each committee member is periodically assigned to be the "case manager" for referred students.  Part of being case manager means collecting and gathering data/student scores, observing the student, and combining all this information into a case report to present to the SAP committee.

Let me tell you a story...

I was assigned to be case manager for a student last week and I was observing this student a couple of days ago (I am presenting his case report tomorrow at our SAP meeting).  I try to be as inconspicuous as possible when I do these classroom observations so as to not distract all the students in the class... but I am pretty much a celebrity and all the kids can't help notice my presence... Let's just be real.  It's hard to be discreet when you are famous. Ha! Just kidding... I know it's really just that I am the only music teacher at the school so they all know me.  Anyways, I guess the students thought I was there observing their classroom teacher, because at one point a little girl asked me, 

"Whatcha doin', Miss Akins? Do you wanna be a teacher?"

Wow. Wow. WOW.  I have been teaching four years. I hope I do!

And maybe I can even become a REAL teacher someday. :)

hugs

I LOVE HUGS!!!  Being a teacher is the best because I never have to go a day without getting at least one hug.  :D

Let me tell you a story...

A little girl gave me a hug today, but this one was different.  This was one of those REALLY good hugs.  She grabbed me all the way around and squeezed me tight, laying her head on my stomach.  She kept her arms around me there and then looked up and said,

"You feel just like my mom."

This is the same little girl who had told me (just prior to the hug),

"Miss Akins, I'm gonna bring you a chocolate chip muffin!"

I assumed she meant tomorrow morning, or next week, or the week after that... No, she ran to her backpack and pulled out this individually wrapped muffin.  It was a sweet gesture.

This is also the same girl who yesterday was singing the Kari Jobe song "We Are".  I was so impressed with how on pitch she was and so I commented, "I know that song! Do you like it?".  She replied,

"Oh yes.  It just takes my breath away every time I hear it."

Yep, it is a good song and I loved hearing a little girl sing it.  And also, this sweet kindergartener really is creeping her little ol' way into my heart!

lights out!

Normally, I want this blog to be full of funny quotes from kids so that I'll always have a way to remember them... but today, I feel the need (as a teacher and professional) to spend some time being a little reflective.  This blog entry today is mostly about my attitude.

Let me tell you a story...

There were BAD storms last night (I know, I know! Everyone in the central Texas area is already very aware of that fact!).  The teachers and other staff at my school all got a very funny, unexpected text this morning from our principal.

"No lights at school?? But I don't even have a good flashlight!!" I thought.  "Why do we have to go? Why do we have to be there??? Why does everything happen to ME?! Waaah!"

here she is... Dee Dee... spoiled brat!

I had a bad attitude. I hadn't slept very well at ALL the night before due to the fact that I am a scaredy-cat who was afraid of possible tornadoes... SO basically this meant I wanted to spend the night at my parents' house, which resulted in me sleeping on their couch and being able to see the storm through ALL of their huge windows.  Oh and also, my mom put her spoiled cat inside "to keep her safe" but Dee Dee (the kitty) spent the entire night meowing and throwing herself against the door to try to get out!  NO JOKE!!!  Okay, enough venting... my point is, I still got to work at my normal time of 7:30 am (ok, ok, I was a few minutes late today), but I wasn't in the best mood.  Now that I'm thinking about it, I don't even think I remembered to brush my hair this morning! ;)

But what a day it was!!! The employees at my school (and in the whole district) were all such troopers... and so were the kids!!!  In its own weird way, the day was sort of adventurous for us.  It was certainly not a day I will easily forget!

To sum up, we still hadn't gotten electricity back at the school after lunch, so the district decided to send the kids home. 

As I was leaving school early today, I started feeling a little convicted about the bad attitude I'd had all day long.  I mean, honestly... Did anyone choose for the school to NOT have electricity? No, of course this wasn't anyone's ideal plan!  Shouldn't I have been focused on and grateful for all of our safety???  Storms like that have the potential to do much more damage.  Shouldn't I also be grateful to work for a district that values education and is hoping, hoping, hoping for the electricity to get turned back on so our students can resume a "normal" school day?  That is what I should have been focusing on... not that it is annoying to be in the dark all day or that I'd rather be at home!

I'm not proud of the attitude I had today at work.  I should have remembered this quote... it's one of my favorites:  People are just about as happy as they make up their minds to be. ~Abraham Lincoln

We can't always predict what kind of "curve balls" might get thrown our direction, especially in this profession!  I'd like to use this day as a learning experience, reminding myself to have a better outlook when unexpected situations occur.  Whoever thinks you do not have to be flexible to be a teacher obviously has not been in the education profession for very long.  What a good reminder... and WHAT A DAY!

But what was my bright spot of the day?  We still found a way to sing "You are My Sunshine"!!!  And the kids sang their little hearts out!! Seriously, who needs electricity!?! :)

"Those who wish to sing, always find a song."  ~Swedish Proverb

the creek today after school... almost up to the bridge!

haircut / hair cut?

In addition to teaching elementary music, I also get the privilege of working with the GT students on our campus.

Let me tell you a story...

Since it is two days before Spring Break, I decided that today in GT I would let the students take a little break from their research projects... Instead, I planned for us to do a fun, creative brain challenge activity.  We discussed inventions briefly and I basically let the students use their imagination to come up with inventions of their own.

the invention name in question

I wrote the title on each of their posters for them and allowed them to imagine and draw what their invention would look like.  One kindergarten boy's invention was a "Hair Cutting Machine".  This proved a tough title to write. I debated with myself (aloud) whether haircut was ONE word or TWO words.  I mean, I'm a teacher and supposed to be setting the example... I didn't want to spell it wrong!!!

As I was having this very vocal debate with myself, a first grade boy piped up with some advice for me.  With all sincerity he offered,

"You could probably ask Mrs. Howton.  She knows how to spell all the words!  Or really, you could ask any first grade teachers.  They all know how to spell every word because they have to make all the word walls."

So... all-knowing first grade teachers... what's the decision? 

Hair cut? Or haircut??? ;)

Um... this one seemed like a trick.  You sit down for a massage and it takes your hair and turns it into money???  I asked, "But then you wouldn't have any hair!"

I need this one!  "So it won't make you late"... HA!!

taylor swift

I love my students. They can make a good day better just by giving me a hug.   
 Let me tell you a story...

THE dress

Today, I woke up late and put my hair in a bun on top of my head.  A little kindergarten girl pointed out,

"Miss Akins, you and I both have our hair in buns today!"

Later in the day, the 2nd grade girls were going wild about my dress, commending me on my wardrobe choice.  They definitely approved and I felt my ego growing. :)  Then, one comment just put me over the edge...

"Miss Akins, that looks like a Taylor Swift dress!"

Best compliment I've ever received, hands down.