My father taught English to 7th and 8th graders for 35+ years. He passed away in January, and since then I have come here once or twice a week to listen to your poems about teachers. Through your words I can hear his voice again.
Taylor Mali is one of the few slam poets I find consistently impressive and delightful. Every word is written and delivered perfectly, and he speaks the truth. Brava, Mr. Mali. Brava!
I teach in baltimore city. I have had other jobs but this has been the first time in my life that I feel that it is more than a job. It truly is a calling and each day of summer as it passes I think about my kids. Thank you for rooting for us. Thank you for supporting us. Thank you for finding the words we all soon forget after all the pressure we face from parents, administrators, and government "officials." Your poem, "What Teachers Make" is my war cry and will be with me forever. Thanks
Man! Mr. Mali - I wish there were more teachers out there like you. I wish that more people out there understood that "teaching" is involves more than just "knowing". Teaching is ant art and a science with its own set of skills. You, sir, obviously have those skills in abundance. I have run into far too many "instructors" who may well "know" something - but who lacked the imagination, patience, and understanding of how to communicate that knowledge to their students. You, sir, rock.
god this guy is friekin amazing probably my favorite poet ever hoenstly if you haven't seen him reciting his "what teachers make" video, you HAVETA watch it. the first one that comes up when u search Taylor Mali
I had a teacher like him and it was the only thing that got me through high school...I took every class he taught, even if I didn't care about the content of the class. In fact, he's the reason i got into college.
I am currently in the middle of recieving my teaching credential. I have had some doubts whether or not this is the right profession for me, but watching you inspires me so much. THANK YOU!
The girl fighting part is the BEST part of this poem. I had one of those at school the other day. I took almost ALL of our security guards to break it up!
Bravo! Thanks for reminding me its more than paperwork and dealing with management politics. Shamefully, sometimes its easy to forget what actually matters. I applaude you sir.
i love this! makes me re-think this whole teaching thing. my mom has been pushing me to be a teacher for as long as i can remember and, of course, i'm been pushing against it for just as long. but i love kids. i want to work with them and see them change. maybe i'm going to be a teacher after all. i don't know how to feel.
I was a teacher for nine years, but not in a public school. I taught college freshmen, and then I taught middle school English, math, and history (at two private schools in the northeast). Of course, I'm still teaching these days; I teach a day here and a day there. Tomorrow I leave for a 10-day tour of the UAE where i will be teaching at three different schools. As for the moral high ground, I'm just naturally pompous.
Our little clan of former English majors at William Jewell College are addicted to you. We carry around laptops on the way to church or class and digest and soak in your poetry...I'm studying to be a teacher and you're an inspiration, dude...my favorites are "Like Lily Like Wilson" and this one, here. You're awesome! Come to Jewell some time!
Taylor Mali, you are definitely NOT "just" a worker. And it's all because of you I spelled "definitely" correct in that sentence up there. Your poetry brings miracles upon us.
For those of you without experience teaching, let me explain it to you: boys fight for show, girls fight for pain. Mr. Mali's way of expressing this is simple and effective. Boy fights usually last 2 punches and a bunch of wrestling on the ground. Girl fights don't end until blood is drawn. Part of it is protecting against possible incrimination, but part of it is just experience.
My science teacher read this at a poetry reading at my high school and he craked me up. he did all the expressions as you did! People like you are the reason i decided to become a writer and/or possible English teacher! I love your poetry! Where do you find your inspiration?
I am in 7th grade and we are studying Poems in Language Arts and my student teacher showed us and adio of this poem and Like Lilly Like Wilson my whole class was cracking up! You are so funny! My teacher is funny but your are way funner!
I really like these performance-poems. They ring sort of true, and yet you so consistently take to the moral high ground, that I have to wonder whether this is just a schtick, or are you working as a public school teacher?
No wonder it rings "sort of true." I've just come out of 10+yrs at a state university, have passed these to friends &/or poets still there. Prospect of the 'Emirati': exciting? Daunting? 'Pompous'? You? Nah. Combative, perhaps; defensive, surely; full of humor, spittle, a kind of passion, sure. If pompous (I doubt you believe that), then you are to be envied for making it work for you. Thanks for the reply.
I can picture my teacher doing this! "Mr Sapienza, could I borrow a pen" "Mwooooooohhhhhh! You already have everything you require to succeed. Including a pen."
If 2 boys are fighting, I break it up. But if two girls are fighting, I wait until that shit is over and then I drag what's left to the nurse's office.
This is why the ban on human cloning is so wrong. I've had teachers almost as great and passionate as Taylor Mali, and I've had teachers so dumb they'd serve the world better as doorstops and nothing else.
I'd love to see you get in between two girls fighting it out. If he broke that up, its a sexual harassment suit just waiting to happen, welcome to the USA!!!!
Taylor Mali is one of the few slam poets I find consistently impressive and delightful. Every word is written and delivered perfectly, and he speaks the truth. Brava, Mr. Mali. Brava!
My father taught English to 7th and 8th graders for 35+ years. He passed away in January, and since then I have come here once or twice a week to listen to your poems about teachers. Through your words I can hear his voice again.
I've been showing your poems to a lot of co-workers over here. You're building quite a fan base in Liverpool.
Thought provoking as ever!
dxx
Taylor Mali is one of the few slam poets I find consistently impressive and delightful. Every word is written and delivered perfectly, and he speaks the truth. Brava, Mr. Mali. Brava!
I teach in baltimore city. I have had other jobs but this has been the first time in my life that I feel that it is more than a job. It truly is a calling and each day of summer as it passes I think about my kids.
Thank you for rooting for us. Thank you for supporting us. Thank you for finding the words we all soon forget after all the pressure we face from parents, administrators, and government "officials."
Your poem, "What Teachers Make" is my war cry and will be with me forever. Thanks
Taylor Mali - you are what is helping me get through all the hoops you must jump through to obtain a teaching degree. Thank you.
I have been blessed with a teacher as awesome as you, and I thank my lucky stars every time I walk into her classroom. She is amazing, and so are you.
Man! Mr. Mali - I wish there were more teachers out there like you.
I wish that more people out there understood that "teaching" is involves more than just "knowing". Teaching is ant art and a science with its own set of skills. You, sir, obviously have those skills in abundance.
I have run into far too many "instructors" who may well "know" something - but who lacked the imagination, patience, and understanding of how to communicate that knowledge to their students.
You, sir, rock.
This guy is the best! He makes me want to be a better teacher, each and every day!!
BOWDOIN COLLEGE!!!!
Awesome! I was born and raised right there in Brunswick, Maine!
after teaching for 20 years, I discovered Mr. Mali and I can't wait to teach for another 20!
god this guy is friekin amazing
probably my favorite poet ever
hoenstly if you haven't seen him reciting his "what teachers make" video, you HAVETA watch it. the first one that comes up when u search Taylor Mali
Thank you for giving me confidence in future plans to teach. I've been feeling frustrated, but you've renewed my faith in people.
"Could I please just borrow a--OH MY GOD!"
Flawless.
When are you coming to Australia???? We need you here!!
I had a teacher like him and it was the only thing that got me through high school...I took every class he taught, even if I didn't care about the content of the class. In fact, he's the reason i got into college.
I am currently in the middle of recieving my teaching credential. I have had some doubts whether or not this is the right profession for me, but watching you inspires me so much. THANK YOU!
The girl fighting part is the BEST part of this poem. I had one of those at school the other day. I took almost ALL of our security guards to break it up!
i love your poems! We watched the proofreading one in my creative class and now i'm addicted to all of them!
One can only hope for one of two events in their lives: Either getting a teacher like this, or for their children to do so.
Bravo!
Thanks for reminding me its more than paperwork and dealing with management politics. Shamefully, sometimes its easy to forget what actually matters. I applaude you sir.
i had never like performance poetry until i heard this peom, and now performance poetry...is what i do.
Mr Mali you remimd me of my english teacher in 9th grade! XD
coolest guy ever!
That was amazing! Thanks!
i love this! makes me re-think this whole teaching thing. my mom has been pushing me to be a teacher for as long as i can remember and, of course, i'm been pushing against it for just as long. but i love kids. i want to work with them and see them change. maybe i'm going to be a teacher after all. i don't know how to feel.
I was a teacher for nine years, but not in a public school. I taught college freshmen, and then I taught middle school English, math, and history (at two private schools in the northeast). Of course, I'm still teaching these days; I teach a day here and a day there. Tomorrow I leave for a 10-day tour of the UAE where i will be teaching at three different schools. As for the moral high ground, I'm just naturally pompous.
Our little clan of former English majors at William Jewell College are addicted to you. We carry around laptops on the way to church or class and digest and soak in your poetry...I'm studying to be a teacher and you're an inspiration, dude...my favorites are "Like Lily Like Wilson" and this one, here. You're awesome! Come to Jewell some time!
To put it simply...Hell yes!
OH MY GOD! That's awesome!
Taylor Mali, you are definitely NOT "just" a worker.
And it's all because of you I spelled "definitely" correct in that sentence up there. Your poetry brings miracles upon us.
I would have loved to have a teacher like you at any level of my educational matriculation.
This poem? Definitely beautiful.
For those of you without experience teaching, let me explain it to you: boys fight for show, girls fight for pain. Mr. Mali's way of expressing this is simple and effective. Boy fights usually last 2 punches and a bunch of wrestling on the ground. Girl fights don't end until blood is drawn.
Part of it is protecting against possible incrimination, but part of it is just experience.
Wow, I wish I'd had a teacher like you in high school.
(Not that I would wish Cottonwood, Arizona, on ANY teacher.)
OMG, the last lines made me go "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHhhh" SO beast!! I'm teacher# 503 on his list! i want to become a teacher!!
Enorme cette vidéo !
Sa vaut le détour mais faut capter !
9 people never got that pen....your are an awesome poet....
i need a teacher like this!
This is absolutely hilarious, I'm cracking up in the library instead of writing a paper.
He's coming to my school next month!
I wish i had a teacher like him
My science teacher read this at a poetry reading at my high school and he craked me up. he did all the expressions as you did! People like you are the reason i decided to become a writer and/or possible English teacher! I love your poetry! Where do you find your inspiration?
I am in 7th grade and we are studying Poems in Language Arts and my student teacher showed us and adio of this poem and Like Lilly Like Wilson my whole class was cracking up! You are so funny! My teacher is funny but your are way funner!
i feel ya, im in sierra vista, but i have a cool teacher, she showed me this guy
you make me cry :)
Same! He would be the best.
Mr. Mali, what grade do you teach? God, I wish I could have had you as a teacher. I'm so jealous of all your students! I respect your words SO much.
I really like these performance-poems. They ring sort of true, and yet you so consistently take to the moral high ground, that I have to wonder whether this is just a schtick, or are you working as a public school teacher?
I LOVE DIS GUY
No wonder it rings "sort of true." I've just come out of 10+yrs at a state university, have passed these to friends &/or poets still there. Prospect of the 'Emirati': exciting? Daunting? 'Pompous'? You? Nah. Combative, perhaps; defensive, surely; full of humor, spittle, a kind of passion, sure. If pompous (I doubt you believe that), then you are to be envied for making it work for you. Thanks for the reply.
why couldn't my teachers be like you.
I want to "party" with this dude!!
"What did I just say? Please don't make me repeat myself."
@jazzbaby21 he used to teach at my high school, cape cod academy. now i'm unsure.
@jazzbaby21 I think you've found one of them. Enrollment is simply to show up.
I can picture my teacher doing this!
"Mr Sapienza, could I borrow a pen"
"Mwooooooohhhhhh! You already have everything you require to succeed. Including a pen."
"Mr Mali, you are the WEIRDEST teacher I've ever had"
xD
EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIVES.
@LittleBoiFen Hell yeah, we are! XP
@Mangafreak1035. I know! That would be AWESOME!!
I want you for a teacher, so very badly.
Dude my teachers are like lilly like boring damn I wish you were my teacher for all my subjects!
@molinmusic
Wow, I never thought like that :)
OH MY GOD!
@ojibajo Girls are surprisingly fierce.
hahaha what a brilliant anecdote. I hope that really happened.
education is ithe miracle...i'm just the worker- *WORD*
If 2 boys are fighting, I break it up. But if two girls are fighting, I wait until that shit is over and then I drag what's left to the nurse's office.
he works at my friends school in NYC...but i dont know if I can say the school but you have to be a boy I know
I so wish he was my teacher! XD!
I want him to be my teacher!!!!!!
lmao at 1:10 to 1:23......i do that at home when sumone asks me summat iv already aswered in sum way or the other...btw inspirational...
thank you. i was having a hard day (i'm teaching) and this made me decide not to call a sub for tomorrow!
How could it be a boys only school if it was a girl who needed the pen?
she was right you are weird. but i love you and all that you do all the more for it.
@FartsOFire yeah hes coming to my school in november but the sad thing is almost no one knows who he is except for the intelectual few
@TheDonnaEl So what's the problem?
my english teacher makes typos all the time
hes worked at many schools...
his current 1 just happens to b all boys...
doesnt mean its the only place he has ever worked b4
This is more of a monologue than a poem, really.
he came to my school today and i thought i saw jesus
This is why the ban on human cloning is so wrong. I've had teachers almost as great and passionate as Taylor Mali, and I've had teachers so dumb they'd serve the world better as doorstops and nothing else.
for real.. tough crowd? teacher haters?
take a sabbatical... youll end up missing it...
I'd love to see you get in between two girls fighting it out. If he broke that up, its a sexual harassment suit just waiting to happen, welcome to the USA!!!!
Well done.
We need more real teachers, not folks babysitting for 12 grades.
stop it
Taylor Mali is one of the few slam poets I find consistently impressive and delightful. Every word is written and delivered perfectly, and he speaks the truth. Brava, Mr. Mali. Brava!