180 Days: Reflections and Observations of a Teacher
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Author: Stan Kusunoki
Description: 180 Days: Reflections and Observations of a Teacher is a collection of poems from several different facets of being a teacher: first as a teacher and observer of the profession and students; as a continuing learner with students at the Young Authors Conference; as school documentarian and historian; and as a mentor, highlighting the work of his students. The book takes the reader from schools in the heart of the inner city to the suburbs—from the classroom to subbing for Special Ed.—reflecting the variety of challenges and joys that make up a teacher's day.
Review:
"This beautiful book of poems, 180 Days: Reflections and Observations of a Teacher, is a magnificent celebration of the educational process and the creative process in the practice of poetry. The poet, a born and talented teacher and a gifted and skilled poet, writes in a way that is strikingly humble, honest, courageous, and profoundly caring about the well-being of children, while never losing sight of his purpose in their lives: to help them discover the process of risk-taking, trust and dedicated work, that will carry them through their lives and let them fulfill their potential as human beings—in this case, human beings who learn and grow through poetry, including the development and joy of their own poetic voices. They learn from the adult poet, their beloved teacher 'Mr. K,' that they can trust themselves little by little, for as the solo poet begins to make thoughtful and moving connections with others through the musical language of poetry, the real magic is when a whole group of individual singers can actually form a chorus. Students in the classroom discover this as they listen to each other, and as their teacher-poet Stanley Kusunoki gives them a stage for the performance of their poems, or helps them put together a poetry collection as a class project. When the students see and hold their book for the first time, their teacher-editor says, 'Now you are a published poet.' The effect on a young student taking in those words is no less a feeling of astonishment than what the adult poet feels on receiving his or her first letter of acceptance or check for a poem, and seeing it in print for the first time.
"'Mr. K' works with the students as part disciplinarian, part magician, full-time friend—always non-judgmental, always demanding, and by these many means, he is part of the miracle that happens when poetry is drawn out of a person, old or young. The young person is surprised, amazed, proud, delighted in the discovery that she or he has this other voice inside, a voice that is aware, thinks and writes poetically, and speaks for one's truest self, perhaps waking up and opening up for the first time. When the students read aloud (sometimes with drums!), the reason for it all becomes clear: poetry exists so that human beings can learn to hear what is most important, most honest, most meaningful, most vulnerable, most tender and most strong within their own and each other's mysterious hearts. From the child poets as well as the adult poets among us, we glean joy, authentic sorrow, the gamut of emotions, artfully woven into words that tell a story or sing a song or simply reflect reality from an angle of vision and expression that reveal something unique about life and the human spirit, in a form shaped by the inspired and informed mind. From such experience, wisdom often enters the world. Thank you, Mr. K, and all of your students also!"
–Alla Renée Bozarth, Ph.D., author of Wisdom and Wonderment: 31 Feasts to Nourish Your Soul, and Accidental Wisdom.
About the Author: Stanley Kusunoki is a teacher, poet, writer, arts advocate, and musician. He has served on panels for the Minnesota State Arts Board and was on the board of directors for S.A.S.E., The Write Place. He has been a liaison between artists and school faculty through the Perpich Center for Arts in Education. He was the recipient of a Loft Asian Inroads mentorship, and a mentor for the Asian American Renaissance "Writers' Block" and Intermedia Arts "Exchanges" mentorship programs. He was the recipient of a Minnesota State Arts Board "Cultural Collaborations" Grant (with support from the Jerome Foundation) for The Beringia Project (with Jamison Mahto). He has taught poetry to children through summer camps and elementary school residencies sponsored by The Loft, S.A.S.E., The Write Place, and the Perpich Center for Arts in Education. Kusunoki is currently the High Potential Teacher/Coordinator at Red Oak Elementary School in Shakopee.
ISBN: 978-0-87839-790-7
Trim Size: 6 x 9
Page Count: 94
Publication Date: March 2015
Description: 180 Days: Reflections and Observations of a Teacher is a collection of poems from several different facets of being a teacher: first as a teacher and observer of the profession and students; as a continuing learner with students at the Young Authors Conference; as school documentarian and historian; and as a mentor, highlighting the work of his students. The book takes the reader from schools in the heart of the inner city to the suburbs—from the classroom to subbing for Special Ed.—reflecting the variety of challenges and joys that make up a teacher's day.
Review:
"This beautiful book of poems, 180 Days: Reflections and Observations of a Teacher, is a magnificent celebration of the educational process and the creative process in the practice of poetry. The poet, a born and talented teacher and a gifted and skilled poet, writes in a way that is strikingly humble, honest, courageous, and profoundly caring about the well-being of children, while never losing sight of his purpose in their lives: to help them discover the process of risk-taking, trust and dedicated work, that will carry them through their lives and let them fulfill their potential as human beings—in this case, human beings who learn and grow through poetry, including the development and joy of their own poetic voices. They learn from the adult poet, their beloved teacher 'Mr. K,' that they can trust themselves little by little, for as the solo poet begins to make thoughtful and moving connections with others through the musical language of poetry, the real magic is when a whole group of individual singers can actually form a chorus. Students in the classroom discover this as they listen to each other, and as their teacher-poet Stanley Kusunoki gives them a stage for the performance of their poems, or helps them put together a poetry collection as a class project. When the students see and hold their book for the first time, their teacher-editor says, 'Now you are a published poet.' The effect on a young student taking in those words is no less a feeling of astonishment than what the adult poet feels on receiving his or her first letter of acceptance or check for a poem, and seeing it in print for the first time.
"'Mr. K' works with the students as part disciplinarian, part magician, full-time friend—always non-judgmental, always demanding, and by these many means, he is part of the miracle that happens when poetry is drawn out of a person, old or young. The young person is surprised, amazed, proud, delighted in the discovery that she or he has this other voice inside, a voice that is aware, thinks and writes poetically, and speaks for one's truest self, perhaps waking up and opening up for the first time. When the students read aloud (sometimes with drums!), the reason for it all becomes clear: poetry exists so that human beings can learn to hear what is most important, most honest, most meaningful, most vulnerable, most tender and most strong within their own and each other's mysterious hearts. From the child poets as well as the adult poets among us, we glean joy, authentic sorrow, the gamut of emotions, artfully woven into words that tell a story or sing a song or simply reflect reality from an angle of vision and expression that reveal something unique about life and the human spirit, in a form shaped by the inspired and informed mind. From such experience, wisdom often enters the world. Thank you, Mr. K, and all of your students also!"
–Alla Renée Bozarth, Ph.D., author of Wisdom and Wonderment: 31 Feasts to Nourish Your Soul, and Accidental Wisdom.
About the Author: Stanley Kusunoki is a teacher, poet, writer, arts advocate, and musician. He has served on panels for the Minnesota State Arts Board and was on the board of directors for S.A.S.E., The Write Place. He has been a liaison between artists and school faculty through the Perpich Center for Arts in Education. He was the recipient of a Loft Asian Inroads mentorship, and a mentor for the Asian American Renaissance "Writers' Block" and Intermedia Arts "Exchanges" mentorship programs. He was the recipient of a Minnesota State Arts Board "Cultural Collaborations" Grant (with support from the Jerome Foundation) for The Beringia Project (with Jamison Mahto). He has taught poetry to children through summer camps and elementary school residencies sponsored by The Loft, S.A.S.E., The Write Place, and the Perpich Center for Arts in Education. Kusunoki is currently the High Potential Teacher/Coordinator at Red Oak Elementary School in Shakopee.
ISBN: 978-0-87839-790-7
Trim Size: 6 x 9
Page Count: 94
Publication Date: March 2015