reflection

Rest Elbows on Table, Insert Chin Into Hands (Pick Your Head Up Afterwards)

by Jose 08.04.2010

This is the reason I don’t like reading the papers in NYC. They’re either filled with information I’ve already read, information that’s misinformation, or information I just shake my head at. This time around, it was the third. And I didn’t even have my usual sources of news to inform me immediately of Sunday’s NY [...]

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An Excerpt From A Book I Should Be Writing: End of the School Year 2010

by Jose 07.02.2010

Usually, my iPod tells me everything I need to know. When I first started teaching, my iPod would serenade me with Duran Duran’s “Ordinary World” while I napped from Dyckman St. to West 4th St., a 30-minute train ride on the A. If I spent the whole night stewing over some ridiculous comments by an [...]

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With Your Hearts Wide Open

by Jose 06.28.2010

Last night, and over the last few weekends, I’d been working on a piece (of poetry) for my students, one that I hope they’d remember, that would capture the memories we had for so long. I couldn’t come up with anything appropriate until last night. I couldn’t have it be too sad or too corny, [...]

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Paint No Illusion, Try To Click With Whatcha Got

by Jose 06.21.2010

First, if I haven’t thanked each and every one of you for your feedback to the blog, let me thank you once more. It’s been a tough couple of weeks personally, and even when the New Yorker in me tells me otherwise, I appreciate the random kindness and words of encouragement from semi-complete strangers. As [...]

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Under Construction

by Jose 04.06.2010

Spring set in across the city in a major way today. The sunrays bounced off windows, sunflowers, and cobblestone alike. Ladies and gents hold their folded jackets over their arms all across 14th Street, and the air right in my line of vision looks wavier than usual. That can mean only one thing: heavy construction. [...]

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A Thought on the Narrative Versus the Statistics

by Jose 03.28.2010

Over the last week, I’ve released general control over the content of my blog to 5 awesome people within my circle of friends, some of whom I talk on a regular basis. I gained inspiration for said release from the TEDxNYED event, a series of idea-exchanges that keep inspiring me to change my way about [...]

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No More Heroes

by Jose 03.08.2010

Last week, the whole world found out that Guru a.k.a. Keith Elam of the world-renown hip-hop duo Gang Starr had (ostensibly) died of a recent heart attack he suffered the day before. Entertainment bloggers reported it. Wikipedia reported it. Celebrities who are usually in the know said it. Then, I typed up a dedication to [...]

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To Speak In Lieu of Talking

by Jose 01.26.2010

Today, I got the wonderful opportunity to see the portfolio-based assessment presentations / defenses at an alternative high school. While it’s certainly a time-consuming process for all parties involved, the results justify the means. The students spoke with such clarity, even when struggling with the language, I only wished my students could speak with such [...]

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Short Notes: You Gotta Be Real

by Jose 01.10.2010

A few links: Anthony Mullen eats non-educators with only a paragraph and change. A must read for any and everyone. Another great Chris Lehmann forward. [Teacher Magazine] Immigration reform becomes more necessary as incidents like this keep happening. Immigration jails, no matter what you feel about them, need not be torture centers. It’s downright criminal. [...]

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Short Notes: Should Auld Acquaintance Really Be Forgot?

by Jose 01.03.2010

A few links: Lots of things have changed since we ended a decade. Here’s a couple. [Source via Twitter] The often plucky and quixotic former New York Knicks and Houston Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy imparts wisdom about leadership. [Steve's HR Technology] The rumors of Jay-Z’s membership in the Illuminati continue with this ebullient and [...]

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