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. :)

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.

"happy president's day, miss akins!"

I love teaching elementary music! In addition to instilling in children a love for music and building the foundation of their musical knowledge, I also get to teach songs about lots of different subjects... especially different holidays. :)

Let me tell you a story...

For President's Day this year, we learned a song about honoring our Presidents and, being the student-centered teacher that I am (and such a humble one, also), I wanted to use this subject as an opportunity to encourage students to dream big. 

I said to my second graders, "You never know, our future President might be in this very room!  Our first woman President might be attending our school right now!  I believe you are all capable of achieving that someday.  Everyone is capable of achieving that dream!"

...I totally wrote that down in my lesson plans and everything.  Okay, okay, not really. But still, it was one of those spur-of-the-moment thoughts that seemed like a good thing to throw in there.  I honestly had forgotten I had said anything about it until the very next day (yesterday) when this sweet second grade girl brought me a little note.

"Happy President's Day, Miss Akins!"

I can't describe it.  Words just won't do it justice.  The pictures speak for themselves. :)



I DID tell them that anyone can be President and to dream big...



YESSS!

Who says I'm not getting through to them? :)