"Miracle Workers," by TAYLOR MALI

[LuxAeterna36]

"What did I just say? Please don't make me repeat myself."

[RainyOctober11]

"Mr. Mali, do you mind if I borrow a pen from you?"

"MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM­MMWOOOOOOHHHHHHHHH!!!"

xD At this point, I started crying of laughter.

[peacelotus]

That was amazing! Thanks!

[acountree]

When are you coming to Australia???? We need you here!!

[mamaschoon]

My new favorite site, actually my first favorite site that I will be returning to on a regular basis. I cannot wait to share your poetry with my students!!

[thaichicken0210]

Thank you for giving me confidence in future plans to teach. I've been feeling frustrated, but you've renewed my faith in people.

[ObiWanShinobi1]

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.

[inventedgears]

EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIVES.

[dementis93]

This poem? Definitely beautiful.

[arcturus0starwatcher]

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.

[TheDonnaEl]

There is no end to the self-love of public school teachers.

[lovedeliberate]

@TheDonnaEl You're an ass. When Taylor gets as much love as he does from people who aren't even his students, I think he deserves to pat himself on the back a little bit. Have you listened to his poetry? It's all fantastic and it all speaks of what an amazing person Taylor Mali is. Furthermore, when you are a teacher, sometimes patting yourself on the back is all you get because your students aren't gonna do it. I sure as hell didn't. He knows he's a good teacher. He gets through to kids.

[lovedeliberate]

@TheDonnaEl So what's the problem?

[Kosmachevskaia]

If I loved this guy any more, I'd be gay.

[ojibajo]

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!

[LittleBoiFen]

@ojibajo Girls are surprisingly fierce.

[Sweetnasizum]

@LittleBoiFen Hell yeah, we are! XP

[3dressedupasa9]

Taylor Mali - you are what is helping me get through all the hoops you must jump through to obtain a teaching degree. Thank you.

[bleedingxhearts2]

you make me cry :)

[TheOtherChanelle]

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!

[duran1992]

you are an awesome teacher Mr. Mali I wish I had you in high school

[amezification]

i had never like performance poetry until i heard this peom, and now performance poetry...is what i do.

[MsMademoselle]

I want him to be my teacher!!!!!!

[SUPAFLANDY]

9 people never got that pen....your are an awesome poet....

[Moiez101]

OMG, the last lines made me go "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHhhh" SO beast!! I'm teacher# 503 on his list! i want to become a teacher!!

[r33na1]

i love your poems! We watched the proofreading one in my creative class and now i'm addicted to all of them!

[molinmusic]

A teacher is somewhere in the world tonight preparing lessons to teach your children while you are watching TV. In the minute it takes you to read this, teachers all over the world are not only saving lives, but they are also sacrificing their own time for your child's literacy, ......prosperity,...... and future. Re-post... if you are a teacher, love a teacher, or appreciate our teachers.

[CleverDjembe]

@molinmusic

Wow, I never thought like that :)

[shermerwatcher]

after teaching for 20 years, I discovered Mr. Mali and I can't wait to teach for another 20!

[FartsOFire]

he came to my school today and i thought i saw jesus

[TheBrickolas]

@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

[asd123465jkl]

He's coming to my school next month!

[DoomTheYouth]

This reminds me, again and again, why I'm working so hard in college to get my degree. When the work seems overwhelming I listen to Taylor Mali and I know that I would go to the ends of the earth to obtain my bachelors and start teaching. It's the only job I can imagine having.

[stephesgmail]

thank you. i was having a hard day (i'm teaching) and this made me decide not to call a sub for tomorrow!

[mizdivaca]

This video is for all the teachers who teach to touch lives...

[mizdivaca]

For all the teachers who are trying to make a difference in the lives of their students....

[wacsq]

i need a teacher like this!

[303430]

I want to "party" with this dude!!

[tdog51501]

i wish i had you as a teacher!

[blade55440]

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.

[pussycat330]

education is ithe miracle...i'm just the worker- *WORD*

[gigglegirl226]

"I'm not your mother, or your father, or you jailer, or your torturer, or your biggest fan in the whole wide world, even though I act like all of these things....I'm a teacher and that's what we do."

I love his poems!!!

I also love the part where he says, "What did I just say?" I say that to my friends and they always say, "Sorry Ms. S!"

[KrazKate]

my english teacher makes typos all the time

[roninalchemist]

To put it simply...Hell yes!

[fishyface07]

I'm in college studying to be an English teacher, and every time I watch one of his videos, it makes me want to do it that much more. I especially love the lines

"Education is the miracle: I'm just the worker.

I'm a teacher, and that's what we do."

[mrbig128]

@fishyface07 I was just thinking the exact same thing. Those lines leave me mindblown.

[LittleMissLiit]

love it

[TheNobleMoor]

Well done.

We need more real teachers, not folks babysitting for 12 grades.

[NayaraAPinheiro]

This guy is the best! He makes me want to be a better teacher, each and every day!!

[Koribaby1]

I so wish he was my teacher! XD!

[Raneen25]

cooool

[neowired]

oh lol this guy kills me XD so awesome

[waterbitten]

she was right you are weird. but i love you and all that you do all the more for it.

[MSRAMIREZTATIANA]

lmfao omg i love this guy! he is amazing!

[verybusy247]

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...

[Gellwaine]

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.

[dreddpirateb]

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.

[harumomiji]

Mr Mali you remimd me of my english teacher in 9th grade! XD

coolest guy ever!

[TamzFunkadelic]

he came to our college oct 1. i didnt see him but my sister did..i wish i had though..our marketing class sold his tickets XD

[dakoellis]

I LOVE DIS GUY

[AddisonNicole7806]

haha i have some crazy teachers but not as crazy as this guy.

[faleeple]

How do you figure?

[cadetstarnoodle]

I humbly suggest that there's something essential you don't understand about him, and about effective teachers, and about effective performers.

[jazzbaby21]

Where does this wonderful man teach? And, how do I enroll into his class?

[BostonLuv1117]

@jazzbaby21 he used to teach at my high school, cape cod academy. now i'm unsure.

[squeekytoy123]

"Mr Mali, you are the WEIRDEST teacher I've ever had"

xD

[trillaprumanilla]

he makes my aspirations to become a teacher stronger with every poem i watch from him. i wanna be a miracle worker too

[thatoneguy101]

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

[jimkilla69]

i love this mother fucking poem lol he came to my fucking school u jealous bitch's!!!!!

[transboyforpride]

This is so TIGHT!

I'm obviously a high-schooler, can you tell?

I wish I had a teacher that was a hysterical, but also as real, as you are. You are great to watch! Keep it up.

[passionista411]

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?

[LordKrodius]

In about a week, I will graduate from high school. Afterwards, I plan on furthering my education to become an English teacher. I couldn't have a better role model. Thank you, Mr. Mali.

[Liface]

This is absolutely hilarious, I'm cracking up in the library instead of writing a paper.

[everidaygirl]

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.

[AoiInu4]

comment to mbenderevo: the guy's just making a stupid joke about girl fights so loosen up...and learn how to spell the contraction for "you are" - it's "you're" and not "your" which is possessive.

[mbenderevo]

great comment about girls fighting ...your a scumbag pussy

[blainethebassist]

you like name calling too? gets you far in life doesnt it? i mean besides losing the respect of random strangers for no appearant reason. Im proud that you know how to insult incredible poets whos intellect is incompareably higher than yours. I hope you have an awesome day.

[roninalchemist]

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!!!!

[MistressOfToast]

I had a teacher like you way back in the day and they are responsible for how I turned out. The world needs more good teachers.

[beantown28]

I would have loved to have a teacher like you at any level of my educational matriculation.

[iwillhaverevenge]

hahaha "OMG A PEN!!!!" that would totally be me.

[rubberduckz1]

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!

[skoragzi]

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.

[superboi]

why couldn't my teachers be like you.

[feimofor]

I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A TEACHER LIKE THIS

[RoderickUsher1849]

You should feature some of your performances from the SlamNation film; those were especially wonderful!

[danieldjr412]

OH MY GOD! That's awesome!

[comelovesleep]

Wow, I wish I'd had a teacher like you in high school.

(Not that I would wish Cottonwood, Arizona, on ANY teacher.)

[rtk14kwyjibo]

i feel ya, im in sierra vista, but i have a cool teacher, she showed me this guy

[XxFrancineJulietxX]

I wish i had a teacher like him

[HPAnimeFreak]

Same! He would be the best.

[eksintrik1]

What would you say to inspire a burned-out and cynical, high school math and science teacher?

[SoulBane]

stop it

[tradcat84]

take a sabbatical... youll end up missing it...

[UseBefore2007]

Amazing :)

I've had some great teachers and I definitely wish I would have had this one as well :)

[uznation]

Absolutely Fantastic!!!

[ssstealth]

BOWDOIN COLLEGE!!!!

Awesome! I was born and raised right there in Brunswick, Maine!

[zeKill3r]

Enorme cette vidéo !

Sa vaut le détour mais faut capter !

[harleybristowabc]

Amazing

[mclaugm27]

This message is awesome! What a great poet!

[Orgato]

shazam!

[djRaydiation]

Ahaha. The end was fantastic...

Anyways. That may be what he wanted to say, but what did he actually want to say?

[djRaydiation]

*That may be what he wanted to say, but what did he actually say?*

[mooxim]

hahaha what a brilliant anecdote. I hope that really happened.

[clyps0408]

ha! I love your work, Taylor. Some days after a day at school with my students, I listen to your poems and it reminds me why I absolutely love teaching.

[Pimblit]

I'm terrified to comment on Taylor Mali's videos. My eleventh grade english teacher made us watch some of these in class. She told me that all teachers share his various perspectives. I'm very scared commenting; I'm being so careful with my grammar and spelling. English teachers make me so nervous, they always tell me I'm beyond the intelligence of my class and it makes me do work of lesser quality. I like going to english class, but it's really intimidating. But whatever, this is funny.

[kohth3791]

Hey, don't worry about making mistakes. It's better to say something with grammar and spelling errors than to not say anything at all. (Besides, the only way to get better at something is to practice.)

[TheFunkyMuff1n]

yo fuk dat shit man you dont need no stinkin english wut the fuck is tha gonn do for you?

Just kidding, I am not degenerate, black, retarded, incompetent, or Barack Hussein Obama.

[ispyyous]

This is amazing. I love your stuff.

[palehman]

I'm just adding to the chorus of praise, but I genuinely wanted to thank you. I'm a student teacher and still in the beginning of my journey, but your words inspire me and remind me every day why I want to teach. It's more tiring than I thought it would be and more work than I ever thought, but it's also more fulfilling. Keep teaching, keep inspiring and keep cheering us on!

[clarinerd85]

Mr. Mali, I LOVE your stuff! I hope your students know how fortunate they are.

[shorrockh]

I think that this is my favorite video.

Nine months and counting and I will be teaching.

[goshenqueen]

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.

[amrcndrm]

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

[PhoenixFlute]

As a Sunday School teacher, I hope that I can be rewarded with just a fraction of what you get out of teaching.

Because sometimes people ask me what my college major is. I tell them, "English, with a concentration in Writing."

And they say, "So are you going to be a teacher?"

And I say, "No, I want to be a writer and a linguist."

"But you do so well with kids. You'd be a good teacher."

Yet I still say no. I want to write.

Your poetry makes me want to teach.

[snakesmyle]

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.

[nomisnobel1]

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.

[sprinkleshouse]

Nomisnobel: That is exactly why I come here too, to hear my mom again 11 years later. Blessings on you and yours.

[bseck]

Just retired, 38 years of eighth graders,saw this and you nailed it. Many people call themselves teachers and a few like you are.

[boogies888]

Respect and Admiration. Thank You for what you do!!

[Mr2718281828459045]

EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. OF. YOUR. LIVES.

[jenikyula]

That is really sweet. :)))))

[missalexandra21]

I saw this live this summer and I promise promise promise I have thought about regularly, and every time I need to borrow a pen I have this exact wish.

SO GREAT

[Markzilla777]

This is more of a monologue than a poem, really.

[leftysergeant]

I thought I could handle any job after being a fire fighter, but it took me three years of college to figure out that teaching was not as easy as it looks.

You got my respect as a teacher and a poet.

[sophiehottie]

Dude my teachers are like lilly like boring damn I wish you were my teacher for all my subjects!

[pmcrimson]

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!

[pmcrimson]

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!

[amyeileen]

My only problem is the girl fight thing. Girls need to be protected, too. Other than that, I love this poem.

[kellnerpb]

Think about it . . . A young male teacher . . . teenage girls grappling with each other, moving in unpredictable ways . . . the male teacher trying to grab them . . . somewhere . . . on their moving bodies . . . to pull them apart?

[amyeileen]

At least call for help. What do I know. I stepped between two middle school boys when I was 7 months pregnant.

[amyeileen]

Kelly: I do realize that was a stupid thing for me to do. Anyway, this is a great poem. This guy inspires me after a day of teaching.

[holyground180]

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.

[mebeblake]

so good ppl dont laugh cuz they dont understand school these days

[ThatsmyYokoOno]

With that energy he would have been a mass murderer if he wasn't funny, and cool.

[iakj]

Heh, I wouldn't have any students /left/ if I didn't break up girlfights....

[4Mengineering]

why did no one laugh at the spell check stuff... i almost peed myself

[rere998877]

for real.. tough crowd? teacher haters?

[bakoxnako]

Your poetry inspires me even more to become a teacher. You can add a number to your quest for a 1000 teachers. =]

[cattieloves]

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!

[dawntigga]

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

[TheKhana]

OH MY GOD!

[viabilityjane]

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?

[taylormali]

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.

[viabilityjane]

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.

[eviansvolvic]

I am so excited that you will be visiting Bahrain!!!

We are currently writing an assignment about you!

BRILLIANT BRILLIANT Poems

[DiamondRaider]

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.

[omnifarious001]

lol, i want you to teach me.

[omnifarious001]

Let me rephrase that. Haha, I would love for you to be my teacher.

[janisplennon]

You are a miracle worker, Mr. Mali.