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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...
Read & DiscussMind 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...
Read & DiscussMind 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...
Read & DiscussMind 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...
Read & DiscussMind 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...
Read & DiscussMind 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,...
Read & DiscussMind 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...
Read & DiscussMind 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...
Read & DiscussMind 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...
Read & DiscussMind 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...
Read & DiscussMind 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...
Read & DiscussMind 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...
Read & DiscussMind the Gap
An inner-city schoolteacher laments a lack of understanding between our two Americas. About a month ago, I polled my students about what topics...
Read & DiscussMind the Gap
An inner-city schoolteacher rejoices in the triumph of his student-mother. One of the great joys of this job is the inspiration I sometimes...
Read & DiscussMind the Gap
An inner-city schoolteacher examines the lack of parental involvement. We're in the midst of parent-teacher conferences here in New York City...
Read & DiscussMind the Gap
An inner-city schoolteacher revels in the goodwill around ed reform. In about three weeks, I will be in New Orleans with 12 of my students and...
Read & DiscussWhat We Talk About When We Talk About Reading
On Friday, I wrote about my choice to teach Animal Farm. One of my students, whom we'll call Michael R., tried repeatedly to engage with...
Read & DiscussMind the Gap
This week, an inner-city school teacher wrestles down the literacy beast. Recently, I chose to walk straight into a pedagogical hornet's nest by...
Read & DiscussMind the Gap
The inspiration and exasperation of an inner-city schoolteacher. This is a new column by a teacher in the South Bronx. It will appear every...
Read & Discuss