Friday, February 20, 2009

All Kids Have Special Needs--A Poem

I've always loved this teacher poem. Sometimes I recite it when presenting professional development workshops. Whenever I do, several teachers in the audience ask me to email it to them afterwards. The poem's a great reminder that in reality, ALL students have special needs of one kind or another! One child's strength may be another child's weakness.


I Am Your Student

I am your student.
Today I come to school as every day, with no breakfast.
I will go home to an empty house.
My parents are too busy for me.
I am your student,
Care about me.
I am your student.
I live with my mother.
I don't know my dad.
I have been in four schools in two years.
I am your student,
Have patience with me.
I am your student.
My mother and father can't speak English.
They can't help me.
I want to do well,
I am your student,
Help me to fit in.
I am your student.
I don't like school
I want to learn about life,
I want to do things with my hands
I shake and get nervous when I have to write an exam
I am your student,
Help me to stay in school.
I am your student.
My family has a lot of money
I have everything I could want
I wear the latest clothes and I put others down who are not like me
I am your student,
Help me to be tolerant of others.
I am your student.
I am very quiet and shy
I cannot work in a noisy classroom
I find it hard to make friends
I am your student,
Help me to cope with daily life.
I am your student.
I am hearing impaired,
Please don't ignore me because I can't communicate well
I need you to accept me and believe in me
I am your student,
I need you to reach my potential.
I am your student,
Adults in my life are very abusive
I get into trouble
I fight with others
I am your student,
Help me learn to be peaceful.
I am your student.
I have a learning disability
Do not look upon me as a burden
I am your student,
Teach me the skills I need.
I am your student,
I miss a lot of school
I use drugs and alcohol
My marks are poor
I am your student,
Help me to accept myself.
I am your student,
Care for me,
Teach me
Help me to be a good person.
I will remember you forever.

- Pat Krushen

3 comments:

  1. Wendy,
    Thanks so much for sharing this poem. Though I know intellectually that students come from their own unique backgrounds and experiences, sometimes it's easy to forget or overlook that information during a frustrating moment in the classroom. Compassion goes a long way in the classroom.

    ReplyDelete
  2. You're welcome and very right, Joan! It definitely takes very compassionate souls to help kids learn and become good people.

    ReplyDelete
  3. After read this blog i stay impressive with the whole information because is absolutely interesting and wonderful .I like the new ideas raised in this blog. I must to say that I liked a lot the design and the way it was written. Simply wonderful.
    In other way i found a site when they suggested to buy viagra , when my boyfriend proved i was fascinated.

    ReplyDelete