Brendan Lowe

Mind the Gap: What's Next?

Mind the Gap: What's Next?

An inner-city schoolteacher wrestles with what to do after his two-year teaching commitment is up. For many second-year Teach For America corps...

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83 responsesBrendan Lowe
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Mind the Gap: Saying Farewell

Mind the Gap: Saying Farewell

An inner-city schoolteacher says farewell to his first graduating class. Dear Class of 2010: We had an inauspicious start two years ago—one of...

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Brendan Lowe thinks Mind the Gap: Fathers Who Show Up is good.

2 years ago

Mind the Gap: Fathers Who Show Up

Mind the Gap: Fathers Who Show Up

  An inner-city schoolteacher celebrates Mr. Burgos. “Eighty percent of success is showing up.” It may be ironic to begin a post about Father’s...

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Mind the Gap: Teachers Grading Their Own Exams

Mind the Gap: Teachers Grading Their Own Exams

An inner-city schoolteacher attempts to dampen enthusiasm for standardized testing. As I discussed a few weeks ago, it’s testing time here in...

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Mind the Gap: My Door Is Open

Mind the Gap: My Door Is Open

An inner-city schoolteacher on the isolated nature of his profession. In positions past, I spent a lot of time working in a cubicle, but I never...

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Mind the Gap: An Insider's Critique of Teach for America

Mind the Gap: An Insider's Critique of Teach for America

An inner-city schoolteacher offers a critique of Teach for America. This is the second in a two-part series on the education reform organization,...

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Mind the Gap: In Defense of Teach for America

Mind the Gap: In Defense of Teach for America

An inner-city schoolteacher defends Teach for America. This is the first in a two-part series on the education reform organization, in which...

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104 responsesBrendan Lowe
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Mind the Gap: Taking Attendance

Mind the Gap: Taking Attendance

An inner-city schoolteacher on the challenges of getting his kids to come to school. I start each class with a hearty call-and-response of...

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64 responsesBrendan Lowe
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Mind the Gap: Test Prep Mayhem

Mind the Gap: Test Prep Mayhem

An inner-city schoolteacher bemoans the beginning of Test Prep Season. Here in New York, it’s that time of year again. Central Park is abloom...

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83 responsesBrendan Lowe
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Mind the Gap: Different Kinds of Toughness

Mind the Gap: Different Kinds of Toughness

An inner-city schoolteacher questions the fortitude of his supposedly toughest students. Last week, my students entered our classroom and began...

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Mind the Gap: Visitor Beware

Mind the Gap: Visitor Beware

An inner-city schoolteacher explores the difference between voluntourism and poorism. At the height of the pre-recession boom a few years ago, a...

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Mind the Gap: Big Easy Ramblings

Mind the Gap: Big Easy Ramblings

An inner-city schoolteacher visits post-Katrina New Orleans with his students. Greetings from New Orleans, where I’ve come with two of my...

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