Magic

As my sixteenth year of teaching concludes, just doing a bit of reflecting on how lucky I am to work with amazing educators and teach the best kids.

A few weeks ago,  during our poetry unit, we made all the students write a few poems. While I usually write the pieces I ask kids to, I hadn't yet, so when a student asked me, "Well, where's your poem, Brezek?" I decided I had better get to work. This is what came about.

Magic
Once upon a time
I stepped into a kingdom
where I was queen
and students were my little monsters

In the beginning, many days I felt
     Confused
     Overwhelmed and sometimes
     Sad
because my apprenticeship
had not yet prepared me
for the spells I had to cast
over my students.

In time I earned my wand
that radiates stardust over the littles, like
     love, and
     belonging, and
     acceptance;
making them sparkle and shine
inside and out.

The monsters picked up all those ELA tricks:
     20 pages a day
     Journals and quickwrites
     Signposts and book clubs
     TIQA and poetry
     Acing assessments

But even more dazzling was our family.
Kids quickly
     became besssstfriends
     joked together
     said hi in the hallways
     let their true selves be seen as they
     had lunch together and
     loved one another

Sixteen empires have come and gone
and not one has quite been
the special realm
that is
BB3

Thank you
for making my teaching life
magical.

Next year I'll be at Heritage, a school that is such a special place. I will continue as Literacy Coach but not have a section of ELA anymore. Hoping to coteach with a few of our teachers in various units throughout the year and can't wait! (Well, first day of summer... so I can wait a bit!) ;-)

Hope all the teachers have THE BEST summer vacation!

Spoken Word Poetry Faves

It's National Poetry month, and in celebration of that, I bring you some of my favorite Spoken Word Poems!

All time fave - Poet Breathe Now by Adam Gottlieb. Part of Louder than a Bomb here in Chicago, here's a great reason to write, and share, poetry.

Touchscreen, by Marshall Davis Jones. While technology is wonderful in many regards, we mustn't forget those personal, face-to-face connections.

Knock Knock, by Daniel Beaty. Just heard this one for the first time today and it's powerful. Family connections and loss. Making the world a better place, and sometimes having to do that on your own.

What Teachers Make - a classic, a favorite since my first years of teaching. I'm sure students would love it too! Discusses what teachers make, and not necessarily money. And if you like Taylor Mali, check out this link for more of his work.

If I Should Have a Daughter, by Sarah Kay. Wishes from a mother, to her future daughter.

Three Ways to Speak English, by Jamila Lyiscott, a "trilingual orator." If you've ever been around someone who says with a negative connotation, "Oh, that's just how *they* speak..." this poem is for you. Code switching, and pride for all the ways we do that.

Complainers, by Rudy Francisco. You're having a bad day? Let's put that in perspective. Thanks Gorz for sharing this one :-)

Somewhere in America, by Brave New Voices. (Explicit language and mature content.) Three girls discuss the ironies of America.

I am not black, you are not white, by Prince Ea. Racism, or labels? Listen and you decide.

Lift Off, by Donovan Livingston. "Our stories are the ladders that make it easier for us to touch the stars." What are students meant to do? Donovan explores that in his address at Harvard's Graduation ceremony.

Trigger Warning, from four girls from Hinsdale Central High School. This poem is a dedication to the shooting in Parkland, Florida, performed in Chicago at the March for our Lives Rally. 

Just a few of my favorites, what about you? Leave me a comment with yours!