Friday, August 28, 2015

Student voice and cultural responsivesness

This powerful post was shared by Manu Faaea-Semeatu, where she looks at a poem called "Voice" that she wrote last month and featured on her blog. Would be awesome to read your thoughts and reactions.
Manu writes" The principal of Holy Family School in Porirua - Chris Theobald (@The0bald) reached out to me on Twitter to ask if he could film two students reciting the poem. Enjoy!"
Voice
a poem inspired by expectations and and hesitations. . . 
I am expected to speak
Eyes bore into mine as I make eye contact
I wait patiently, waiting for an opportunity
None is given
Should I interrupt and make a case for myself?
I struggle internally, this is not how I'm raised
I must sit quietly and wait for a chance to speak
I need to find my voice
You expect me to speak
But do you want to listen?
Can you really hear what I'm saying?
You are impatient
Should I interrupt and make you listen?
You struggle internally, this is now how you're raised
You stand tall, and take up every chance to speak
You need to find my voice

Introducing Joziah and Ethan - with two different approaches to the poem :-)

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