The Good Type of Overwhelmed
Remember you will never be whelmed,
Even if it is or isn’t a word
During your student teaching.
You will be tired and can’t get out of bed some days
And others you’ll be eager to teach out this beautiful planned lesson
That the kids don’t respond to what-so-ever.
Your life will be a beautiful mess,
or so your dad will tell you
And your college loans will only go so far.
You’ll realize quickly the students who need too much attention
And the ones who actually need it.
Are always the exact opposite in personalities.
You’ll miss your fiancé, you’ll need surgery,
And your mom will forget your birthday
Even though it’s on the same day as hers.
Some things are tiny
Some things are small
But some things just need more attention than the daily reflection.
Keep your head strong
But your heart stronger
And remember, God loves you and so does your CT
On the good days.
And remember, if you’re overwhelmed, you’re doing it right.
Miss Vaughn,
ReplyDeleteThank you for this thoughtful, revamped poem. I loved your use of the word "whelmed" in the beginning, and how it opposes the use of the word, "Overwhelmed" in the title. I feel like I am at the foot of a roller coaster beginning to climb to the top. It starts low, flat, and slowly grows till you go over the peak with your last line, "And remember, if you're overwhelmed, you're doing it right". At this point, the feeling of being overwhelmed by the sensation of going over the peak of the roller coaster to an unavoidable drop mirrors the feeling of being overwhelmed in student teaching. In similar fashion to a roller coaster, you are equally afraid, overwhelmed, and taken over by the rush of the fall, but you love it too, and look forward to it.
In terms of the content of the experiences you've described, I feel like you've gone through quite a lot in the beginning of student teaching, while also seeing the continuation of the experience. I also get the sense of teacher-realization in your language--meaning--you are beginning to feel out how your classes respond to you, as well as understanding the differences in student needs, such as when you state, "You’ll realize quickly the students who need too much attention And the ones who actually need it. Are always the exact opposite in personalities." I felt this was a useful realization for your teaching benefit.
Again, thank you for you this visual experience into your student teaching so far.
Sincerely,
Mr. Wike
Jake, thank you for your kind response, thoughtful as ever! Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteMiss Vaughn,
ReplyDeleteI truly enjoyed reading your poem. It embraces how we all feel on most days during our student teaching. Strike that, make it most days during teaching period. There are days that we do not want to get out of bed, and then there are the days that we can't wait to get to teach the well thought out lesson that we planned. I enjoyed the last lines of your poem, "And remember, if you're overwhelmed, you're doing it right." That makes me smile more than you can realize. There are many days that I feel so overwhelmed, but I believe that you are right. Teaching isn't supposed to be easy. We are helping shape the youth of America, and no matter how we look at that it will not be easy.
I find it very apparent that you have had overwhelming days, just like the rest of us. It is also apparent that you love doing what you are doing. "Keep your head strong, but your heart stronger." If, as a future teacher/teacher, we do not love what we are doing, I feel we may be wasting our time.
I'm glad that you are starting to see where your students need you the most. That may be one of the most gratifying experiences in teaching. All students need us, but some of them obviously need us more than others do.
Keep up the good work. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on your teaching experience.
Mary Roseberry
Ms Vaughn,
ReplyDeleteI first want to start by letting you know how much this poem represents the Ms Vaughn who was present in my classroom last semester. Your title alone shows your positive and real attitude, which remains with you always. The "Good" Type of Overwhelmed, along with this positive attitude, is a realness which is written with sincere honesty and from the heart.
Like Mr. Wike, I love your use of the imaginary word "whelmed." Clever.
Just remember that the non-response of students to your beautiful lesson plans is a façade they put on to pretend they do not care. In about 2 or 3 years, they will come to you to remind you that the lessons did matter.
The personal touch of your mom forgetting your birthday made me laugh out loud. It is the absurdness of the days and the little things that make this life worth living. This poem is full of realism and shows your battles and successes of daily life.
Thank you for the authenticity in your writing. Carry on.
Mrs. Quincy