What I Learned from my Nonspeaking Students

For my Beyond-Verbal Students, August 2024–October 2025

What You Told Me
Yes
No
More
All done

Happy
Anxious
Excited
Sad
Sick

You said, “I miss Mom.”

You said, “Watch friends.”

You told me so many correct answers.

You pretended not to know one and
then laughed.

You told me you learn elsewhere, mostly
at night.

You said you know everything about all
animals.

You speak other languages.

You are a healer. You put hands on a
friend.

You told me about sounds you heard

that I could not. You wrote, “Eeeeeeee”
and “N-n-n-n-n-n.”

You told me ghosts were here.

You sat quietly next to me.

You said, “Listen.”

You told me you saw someone get hurt.

You felt trapped,

misunderstood.

You wanted to

GO.

You told me,

“I trust you.”

“I love you.”

“I will wait for you to understand.”

You said I was adjusting.

Blooming.


What You Showed Me

You were happy but unhappy—you
were so many

feelings.

You felt better when I listened.

You were uncomfortable in your body.

You needed to move.

You knew so much more than anyone
thought. You showed it when you felt

seen.

You showed me

There is something beyond

this 3-D world.

You showed me

My actions matter.

My thoughts

matter.

We are all connected.

You were ready for others to see what
you could do.

To see

you.

You had been disappointed too many
times.

You wanted to walk and keep walking. Past the office, the library, the double doors, the playground. Past the parking lot and the trees beyond. Past the time

we had together.

You showed me the effect of grounding
practices.

You showed me the outdoors made you
free.

You could move, you could breathe, you
could stay in your body.

You showed me you had rhythm, you
could play the drum.

You could solve complex math
problems in your head.

You knew how to spell.

You could read what your parents were
reading.

You could read my mind.

You showed me

Patience

Compassion

Love

Truth

You danced with me and showed me
your light.

You showed me it was time

for me

to go.

What You Taught Me

I am both big and small.

I can learn and unlearn.

You taught me

To listen

To look for meaning in new places

To be calm

To wait

To just be

in that sacred space with you.

I learned that words are not always the
best communicators.

I learned to trust myself, to believe in
myself, to stand

in my power.

What I Know

You are beautiful.

You are resilient.

You have gifts to share with this world.

You want love to envelop us all, to wrap
us up in its warmth, to show us we
are free.

You are here

to express your voice.

And sometimes

you express it

through me.

I am just one person.

And

I am not alone.

I cannot

do nothing

We cannot

do nothing

Once we have seen our light.

Stephanie Schlie

Poem