180 that’s how many days we spend
together you and me
weathering through every storm cloud or
rainbow on the undulating ocean of
Education I’ll be your English teacher
accompanying you on this year’s journey
I’m mr. Turpin September curious eyes
fresh school supplies teachers
mesmerized October roll the dice
somebody’s got lice Halloween please
don’t scream November December January
customary semester ends lost your
pencils and pens on a social media
cleanse February March April painful May
state tests fatigue manifests braces
pimples on faces cellphones hormones
June you’re singing a new tune students
over the moon 180 days a maze full of
essays birthdays and cupcakes but 180
has a deeper mystery the cookie cutter
depiction is really just fiction for
what I actually see in the history of
our year September I see you had two
tests before my class and your brain is
on the verge of frying I see the thought
of losing that a is terrifying I see
that flawless image on Instagram you’re
trying to create I see her scared of
having the right clothes the right body
the right weight October
I see you’ve crammed all night preparing
for that exam I see you’re over worried
over anxious over planned November
December January I see your home from a
three-hour practice in your home work
has just begun
I see the pressure your parents put on
you to be ahead of everyone February
March April I see this town this
bubbling hub of social events and
activity but all you need is a friend I
see you excited to see your dad because
it’s finally the weekend may I see you
in class sitting all alone
I see you feel misunderstood disregarded
and disowned June I see you’re panicked
about being called something you are not
I see your mind fixed on grandma in
heaven because you miss her a lot
I see you caught between two fighting
friends both of whom you love praying
just get along
ready for class everyone you see what’s
wrong friends tests parents society
expectation social media competition we
come with baggage on this expedition
I know it’s unpleasant but if we ignore
the truth you’ll never be present how
can students engage if they’re locked in
that cage 180 chances to connect with
you if I don’t there won’t be any
Content I teach that will ever get
through but what if 180 really means
opportunity how about a community in my
English class where everyone gets a fast
pass to a fail-safe mindful space
someplace the pace and the race to fit
in and keep trace of social disgrace is
vacant adjacent to the scene of gossip
machines and discipline Dean’s a space
where ideas can be embraced commonplace
showcased a place where we can accept
that we all have baggage
and that’s the gold that’s our life’s
experiences to behold
forget the old-school reality suck it up
mentality it’s through our accepted
individuality that we can heal nurture
learn share if we use it for something
good maybe it will enrich the class our
work and our welfare because after all
we’re perfectly designed but not all
aligned perfectly cracked but lovely and
abstract perfectly broken but hearts
wide open somehow left in shapes that
all fit together perfectly but never
perfect so even with all the baggage and
my perception I see perfection so I’m
gonna listen to what you need and what
you say I’m not going to keep what I see
inside every day if we need to come in
and put our heads down and take that
mindful minute it won’t mean you’re
lacking the drive the determination or
the grit and if you come to class
bearing your life’s heavy weight why not
take the road less traveled take a
breath and meditate all the dirt you
were told not to drag in that door yes
it’s welcome here to maybe write a poem
about inspire a story not ignore let’s
customize prioritize and energize our
lessons to reflect our authentic lives
and create powerful learning sessions
but wait mr. Turpin we don’t have the
time well sometimes your agenda has to
supersede mine but our schedules our
lives our plans sometimes life throws us
curveballs that are out of our hands but
don’t worry I promise you’ll see we’ll
still get to where we need to be by day
180 I know it’s a mindset shift but we
all know education needs a little lift
once we come in that door we will
connect on the goodness knowledge brings
us and more there may be a risk but how
can we ignore the treasures that are out
there and the opportunities in store I’m
here
on this journey with you you’re not
alone your experiences ideas and
learning are yours to own on a throne
like a king or queen of potential
essential to craft and draft and chisel
into a sizzling fire that’s my desire
180 times let’s agree walk in my class
and concede that 180 really has a
beautiful simplicity the door is open
set sail here you are free thank you
together you and me
weathering through every storm cloud or
rainbow on the undulating ocean of
Education I’ll be your English teacher
accompanying you on this year’s journey
I’m mr. Turpin September curious eyes
fresh school supplies teachers
mesmerized October roll the dice
somebody’s got lice Halloween please
don’t scream November December January
customary semester ends lost your
pencils and pens on a social media
cleanse February March April painful May
state tests fatigue manifests braces
pimples on faces cellphones hormones
June you’re singing a new tune students
over the moon 180 days a maze full of
essays birthdays and cupcakes but 180
has a deeper mystery the cookie cutter
depiction is really just fiction for
what I actually see in the history of
our year September I see you had two
tests before my class and your brain is
on the verge of frying I see the thought
of losing that a is terrifying I see
that flawless image on Instagram you’re
trying to create I see her scared of
having the right clothes the right body
the right weight October
I see you’ve crammed all night preparing
for that exam I see you’re over worried
over anxious over planned November
December January I see your home from a
three-hour practice in your home work
has just begun
I see the pressure your parents put on
you to be ahead of everyone February
March April I see this town this
bubbling hub of social events and
activity but all you need is a friend I
see you excited to see your dad because
it’s finally the weekend may I see you
in class sitting all alone
I see you feel misunderstood disregarded
and disowned June I see you’re panicked
about being called something you are not
I see your mind fixed on grandma in
heaven because you miss her a lot
I see you caught between two fighting
friends both of whom you love praying
just get along
ready for class everyone you see what’s
wrong friends tests parents society
expectation social media competition we
come with baggage on this expedition
I know it’s unpleasant but if we ignore
the truth you’ll never be present how
can students engage if they’re locked in
that cage 180 chances to connect with
you if I don’t there won’t be any
Content I teach that will ever get
through but what if 180 really means
opportunity how about a community in my
English class where everyone gets a fast
pass to a fail-safe mindful space
someplace the pace and the race to fit
in and keep trace of social disgrace is
vacant adjacent to the scene of gossip
machines and discipline Dean’s a space
where ideas can be embraced commonplace
showcased a place where we can accept
that we all have baggage
and that’s the gold that’s our life’s
experiences to behold
forget the old-school reality suck it up
mentality it’s through our accepted
individuality that we can heal nurture
learn share if we use it for something
good maybe it will enrich the class our
work and our welfare because after all
we’re perfectly designed but not all
aligned perfectly cracked but lovely and
abstract perfectly broken but hearts
wide open somehow left in shapes that
all fit together perfectly but never
perfect so even with all the baggage and
my perception I see perfection so I’m
gonna listen to what you need and what
you say I’m not going to keep what I see
inside every day if we need to come in
and put our heads down and take that
mindful minute it won’t mean you’re
lacking the drive the determination or
the grit and if you come to class
bearing your life’s heavy weight why not
take the road less traveled take a
breath and meditate all the dirt you
were told not to drag in that door yes
it’s welcome here to maybe write a poem
about inspire a story not ignore let’s
customize prioritize and energize our
lessons to reflect our authentic lives
and create powerful learning sessions
but wait mr. Turpin we don’t have the
time well sometimes your agenda has to
supersede mine but our schedules our
lives our plans sometimes life throws us
curveballs that are out of our hands but
don’t worry I promise you’ll see we’ll
still get to where we need to be by day
180 I know it’s a mindset shift but we
all know education needs a little lift
once we come in that door we will
connect on the goodness knowledge brings
us and more there may be a risk but how
can we ignore the treasures that are out
there and the opportunities in store I’m
here
on this journey with you you’re not
alone your experiences ideas and
learning are yours to own on a throne
like a king or queen of potential
essential to craft and draft and chisel
into a sizzling fire that’s my desire
180 times let’s agree walk in my class
and concede that 180 really has a
beautiful simplicity the door is open
set sail here you are free thank you
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