teaching

Tearing the House Down pt. 1: No (Limiting) Math Gimmicks!

January 11, 2010 Jose

I could have easily declared the following as a math teacher, but I’m being more demonstrative now: No. More. FOIL. Anyone who’s followed these posting in the last couple of years knows that I’m all for finding efficient ways of remembering how one works through different elements of math. I’m also for remembering processes so [...]

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The Doldrums

November 23, 2009 Jose

She sits there, black marker in her left hand, pencil in her right, switching from one to the other like a pendulum, clocked to the rhythm of her observant teacher’s sustained looks in her general direction. Days after an extended conversation with her teacher about the merits of putting in her effort, weeks after a [...]

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G-d Takes Care of All [The Letters Series]

November 17, 2009 Jose

This week, I’m writing a few more letters to different people, whose names shall be removed from the post, but who nonetheless are amalgamations of real characters. I won’t be mincing words this week, and in these letters, I hope to address some issues I find in education as a whole through these letters. If [...]

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Si, Vale La Pena (Yes, It’s Worth The While)

October 6, 2009 Jose

Last week, at least officially, a great man and teacher retired from the NYC public school systems. I think about him, and the others who’ve retired from my school (at least the ones who we’ve celebrated), and even the one who died early last academic year, a year removed from retirement, too. They leave a [...]

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The Material That Makes You

October 4, 2009 Jose

Here’s my best attempt at putting a positive spin on a topic that’s probably irked anyone who’s had to help facilitate the growth of fellow colleagues or teachers who see the odds and punch a hole through that proverbial glass ceiling. While I’m trying to figure out the nuances of being the math coach of [...]

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Teachers Need Podiatrists, Too

September 10, 2009 Jose

Out of the many needs teachers really have, podiatry is probably the most underrated out of any need teachers really have. Yes, we need professional development, we need to talk deeply about the profession in a cohesive and comprehensive dialogue, and introduce new buzzwords every few years just so we sound up-to-date with the sorts [...]

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5 Reasons Why School Opening Day Sucks / Rocks

September 8, 2009 Jose

Technically, most of America had their first real day of school, so in Internet years, I missed the first fleet of boats. NYC will have students in tomorrow morning, many rested from an extended break, others restless and yearning to see their friends who they may not have seen all summer. For teachers and administrators [...]

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On The Reason Why You May Only Get One Black Male Teacher Ever In Your Life (If At All)

July 7, 2009 Jose

Here’s a real and researched statistic for you. Before college, I only had 1 Black male teacher. I also believe I had 1-2 male Latino (sorry for redundancy, it’s necessary) teachers in my lifetime before college as well. His name was Mr. Wingate and he taught me Computer Applications. In 12th grade. Nothing profound, but [...]

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Recourse To Love [The Love Below Series]

February 9, 2009 Jose

This is my second “The Love Below” post. Ever wondered how kids are interacting romantically in public school right now? Read here. Two weeks ago (or was it last week? All of it is getting rather blurry to me), I broke up a fight between a really strong 16-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl who [...]

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The Holiest Redeemers

October 7, 2008 Jose

She looks at her paper, rubs her head a little bit, and looks up at me, and says, “6?” “Yes,” I nod in a bit of a proud moment for one of my holiest redeemers. This year, in all of my classes, I have students who have a chip on their shoulder and have come [...]

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