Nicole Pun English and Language Arts Educator
Friends, family, and fellow Educators…
I need to tell you all about the magic that is Wakefield Brewster.
I don’t even know how to put this incredible experience into words, but I’m going to try.
Over the past 5 days, Wakefield has worked with my three English classes (20-2, 30-1, & 30-1) on our poetry unit.
Before I get into it, let me start by saying that if you haven’t been lucky enough to see/hear him perform, check out his website, social media, and I guarantee, you will be a fan.
The first time I heard Wakefield perform, I had goosebumps, my eyes welled with tears, and I couldn’t look away. Rich (Theroux of Rumble House) was kind enough to introduce me, and after 15 seconds of talking to Wakefield, I knew he could do incredible things in my classroom.
I wasn’t wrong. I just didn’t realize how incredible it would be.
During these 5 days, I have witnessed my quietest, most disengaged class become spoken word poets. Students who have needed to be heard for so long, found their voices. Students who didn’t know they needed poetry, found their homes.
Wakefield has this way of making every person he speaks to feel seen. It’s so beautiful and inspiring to experience and to witness. I felt so safe knowing my kiddies were in his hands when they worked with him. They all returned beaming.
My goal for this year is to increase my students’ confidence and this week has accelerated this process immensely.
Here’s the part I wasn’t expecting: I didn’t realize how life-changing this experience would be for me.
I didn’t think I’d be crying tears of joy almost daily. I didn’t know that Wakefield’s discussions would make me dig deep into myself and even face some of my biggest fears. I didn’t realize I’d make a friend for life.
This experience has brought me closer to each one of my students, it’s brought them closer to each other, and it’s brought all of us closer to ourselves.
Educators, if you can, consider this experience. I tell you, it’s absolutely life changing.
Everyone else, check him out.
Of course, if you want to hear more, reach out.
Thank you, Wakefield.
Thank you thank you thank you thank you.
I am so grateful you exist.
Nicole Pun
English and Language Arts Educator,
Coordinating Teacher for Language Arts
St. Gabriel, The Archangel School
Chestermere, Alberta
St. Gabriel The Archangel