Remember

A writing group friend posted the poem Remember by Joy Harjo. She wrote her own version to model for her students with whom she used Harjo's as a mentor poem. She also shared some beautiful poetry written by her middle school students. Then, another writing group member wrote one of her own. Together they all inspired me to write my own Remember poem. Here it is.

Remember

Remember what the great ones told you,
experience and discovery are what they need.
Remember what it is like to wonder. We were young once too.

Remember teaching by inspiring, your enthusiasm was contagious.
Remember sunrise and the excitement of a new day.
Remember their faces, how they lit up
when you started a new story or introduced a new lesson.

Remember why you wanted to be a teacher. How much you love to learn
and wanted to share the love with others.
Remember when you knew why you were here. When you were trusted to
do what you do best.

Remember you know what kids need.

Remember Dewey, and Whitehead, Bruner and Freire,
and remember your beliefs about learning.
Remember poetry and prose, and the importance of the narrative.
Remember doing is learning.

Remember experience.

Remember who you are.
Remember what you know.
Remember what they need.

Remember transformation.