About this item
In praise of the greatest job in the world... The right book at the right time: an impassioned defense of teachers and why we need them now more than ever. Teacher turned teachers advocate Taylor Mali inspired millions with his original poem "What Teachers Make," a passionate and unforgettable response to a rich man at a dinner party who sneeringly asked him what teachers make. Malis sharp, funny, perceptive look at life in the classroom pays tribute to the joys of teaching ... and explains why teachers are so vital to our society. What Teachers Make is a book that will be treasured and shared by every teacher in America - and everybody whos ever loved or learned from one. Read more Continue reading Read less REVIEW "An inspirational tribute to teaching and learning." - BOOKLIST "A valentine to teachers everywhere. Big, bright life lessons in a pocket-sized package." - Kirkus Reviews "Straightforward, fast-paced, and trenchant. An evocative, small book bulging with a big idea - to remind teachers that they are dearly loved." - Publishers Weekly "I think every teacher will appreciate Malis passion for teaching and his insightful wisdom. However, it is a book for all of us - not just teachers." - Norwood Transcript & Bulletin (Massachusetts) ABOUT THE AUTHOR Taylor Mali spent nine years in the classroom teaching everything from English and history to math and SAT test preparation. A vocal advocate for teachers and the nobility of teaching, he speaks around the world about teaching. He has a goal of creating new teachers for his Quest for One Thousand Teachers Project through the power of "poetry, persuasion, and perseverance." Visit him online at taylormali.com, facebook.com/TaylorMaliPoet, and twitter.com/TaylorMali. Read more Continue reading Read less
About the Author
Taylor Mali is one of the most well-known poets to have emerged from the poetry slam movement. He is one of the few people in the world to have no job other than that of "poet." Articulate, accessible, passionate, and downright funny, Mali studied drama in Oxford with members of The Royal Shakespeare Company and puts those skills of presentation to work in all his performances. He was one of the original poets to appear on the HBO series Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry and was the "Armani-clad villain" of Paul Devlin's 1997 documentary film SlamNation.Born in New York City into a family some of whose members have lived there since the early 1600s, Taylor Mali is an unapologetic WASP, making him a rare entity in spoken word, which is often considered to be an art form influenced by the inner city and dominated either by poets of color or otherwise imbued with the spirit of hip-hop.Mali is vocal advocate of teachers and the nobility of teaching, having spent nine years in the classroom teaching everything from English and history to math and S.A.T. test preparation. He has performed and lectured for teachers all over the world and has a goal of creating 1,000 new teachers through "poetry, persuasion, and perseverance."He is the author of two books of poetry, The Last Time As We Are (Write Bloody Books 2009) and What Learning Leaves (Hanover 2002), and four CDs of spoken word. He received a New York Foundation for the Arts Grant in 2001 to develop "Teacher! Teacher!" a one-man show about poetry, teaching, and math which won the jury prize for best solo performance at the 2001 U. S. Comedy Arts Festival.Formerly president of Poetry Slam Incorporated, the non-profit organization that oversees all poetry slams in North America, Taylor Mali makes his living entirely as a spoken-word and voiceover artist these days, traveling around the country performing and teaching workshops as well as doing occasional commercial voiceover work. He has narrated several books on tape, including "The Great Fire" (for which he won the Golden Earphones Award for children's narration).
