The last unit I taught in my last week of Guided Practice was on poetry. I wrote this poem to share with my students.
To The Freshman Humanities Class Where I Did My Student Teaching, Winter/Spring 2011:
I did not have enough time to teach you everything I want to teach you.
And, to tell the truth, I really don’t know how — yet.
You see, this “teaching thing,” it’s harder than it looks,
And I’ve only been doing it for a short time
Mrs. Kelley makes it look easy,
But, it’s not
I wanted to teach you that reading and writing are the path to whatever future you can
imagine for yourself.
A pretty big assignment for a student teacher, I know — but,
I’m a lot older than most student teachers,
And I only have so many years left,
And, I still like to think I can change the world
At least a little bit
I wanted to teach you that words – written, read, spoken – are the most powerful things in
all of human history.
They can start or end wars — yes,
They can break and mend hearts (oh, they do that very well).
They can bring you places you’ve never been,
Until you ache so much to see those places
You up and do.
I wanted to teach you that it is OK to be smart, and you all are.
I’ve seen you make the connections – And
Write sentences that prove it is true.
You think you can fool teachers, but you can’t.
Even I have been a teacher long enough
To have learned that.
I wanted to teach you that there is so much more out in the world than you yet know:
Like what it’s like to stand with your feet in the Pacific Ocean.
Like what it’s like to fly an airplane.
Like what it’s like to see your words, in print and for sale on the newsstand.
Like what it’s like to say good-bye, forever, to your best friend.
Like what it’s like to be in Mexico on Cinco de Mayo.
Like what it’s like to eat Italian food – In Italy!
Like what it’s like to eat French food – In . . . London!
Like what it’s like to build your own boat, and sail it with nothing but the wind,
(Yes, what it’s like to control the wind).
Like what it’s like to hate your parents, and finally learn to love them again.
Like what it’s like the day you hold your first, newborn child.
I wanted to learn things from you, too, and I did:
Like how I’ll never get to teach you if I don’t first get to know you.
Like how giving you my respect comes before I can ask you for yours.
Like if I wait long enough, I’ll get your attention again.
Like what it feels like when I’m really teaching.
Like what it feels like when you can tell I’m not.
Like how you are so good at knowing which teachers care, and which ones should find
another profession (and how you let those teachers know that you know that).
Like even an old guy like me can remember what it’s like to be 15;
(Oh, to be 15 again).
Like that it’s OK to lighten up a little.
Like hanging around with young people makes me feel young, too.
I did not have enough time to teach you everything I wanted to teach you,
So I’ll have to be satisfied with what you taught me – And
Be ready to admit to my own class next fall
I know I look like an old guy, but I’m really just a new teacher
And this “teaching thing” is a lot harder than it looks,
But, so what.
Let’s fly!
©2011 DGC
