Genre Reflection
Over the spring semester of 2025, I have learned and gained valuable experiences from the students and teachers around me. To share some of my learning experiences, I decided to write a poem. Please read and enjoy. I hope this inspires others to reflect on their teaching experiences.
My Morning was calm
Sounds of my cats meow
Hearing the sounds of pitter-batter
Of tiny paws on a wooden floor
Squicky hinges of cabinets being open
Setting a bowl down for cereal
Finding relaxation in the sound of water from the shower
Like a beautiful storm.
The drive to school was loud.
I had my backpack in the front
So heavy that the car let off a sound as if,
somebody did not buckle up.
I swish my iced coffee around.
Listening to the sound of my ice clinking together.
The radio was loud, just as I liked it.
Taking away negative thoughts during my morning drive.
Chords of guitars and drums. Blasting around me.
I turn my head to the sound of honking,
Some are not going fast enough.
The hallways are chaotic.
It's filled with students chatting, running, and laughing
Good mornings are said in an upbeat tone
Spreading positivity through the sound of our voices
The bell has rung.
I step into the class, greeting them all over again.
Silence
No good mornings or hellos
Not even a cough
I continue to smile and ask how they are
I listen for sounds of whispers or mumbles
But nothing passes through my ears.
I continue with my schedule.
Partners and groups.
Brain breaks and class reading.
Students will slowly begin to open up their voices.
My mouth is dry, and I'm starting to feel insane.
Suddenly, in the middle of my inner monologue
A lone hand, a hesitant flag in the quiet, lifted from the back row.
The student and I made eye contact.
A subtle movement in their seat to straighten their spine.
"Yes?" I prompted my voice with a gentle invitation.
I'd like to know where I put my pen, in case I need to sign a pass.
A clear voice filled the room. "Can I share something?
Suddenly, it wasn't silent.
Thank you so much for this, Lacy! It is a lovely poem, and it encapsulates the daily teacher experience so well. Your inner dialogue throughout the piece is so relatable, especially the part about signing a pass! You did amazing on this!
ReplyDeleteHi Lacy! Thank you for sharing your piece with us. I really enjoyed how your poem gives great visuals on sound. How it shifts from quiet to loud and vice versa. I think it really captures the morning as I know my first hour is slow to start most of the time too.
ReplyDeleteHi Lacy, This was an excellent piece, and I like that you still had a great volta in it, even though it looks like you did this in free verse. You've sectioned this piece off beautifully; starting your day with peaceful imagery, capturing the utter chaos that occurs right before class begins and how you have to manage students afterwards, and ending it off with a tonal shift that returns to a similar feeling as the beginning of your piece.
ReplyDeleteLacy! This is awesome! I love the sound imagery throughout the entire piece. My morning classes all feel like this too! I like how you tell us what you were doing in class that prompted the student to raise their hand (partners and groups).
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your genre reflection. It really portrayed an everyday experience as a teacher. As I read your piece, it felt as if I was right there alongside you that is how powerful your words are. Thank you for sharing.
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