Mr. Mali, I was on my way to becoming a teacher when I was introduced to you by my teacher. But, your words are what encouraged me day after day while finishing my program and student teaching. I am sure that I can count for one of your 1,000!
Taylor, old friend, my foray into teaching has actually taught me ... that teachers are very special creatures, the true warriors of our culture. As a teacher, I suffered great defeat but have ultimately known many victories. The defeat was my stubbornness and inability to collaborate with stodgy administration. The victories are the countless former students who still connect with me on Facebook for guidance. To those who teach, I bow down to you -- I am not worthy! Mad props, Taylor!
I had decided a long time ago that I wanted to be a teacher. I came across your poem "What Teachers Make" during a course that is required for the B.S. in Education at the college I attend. It made me cry, and reinforced my passion for education.
I knew I wanted to be a teacher before I saw your work, but it has reinforced my passion. Whenever I get the question as to why I want to be a teacher I always refer to your work.
It makes this most exhausting part of my B.Ed rewarding to know that I will make a difference.
Can I say that you have helped me decide to STAY being a teacher? Your conviction and passion has inspired me to continue and reminded me why I really do what I do and helped me sift through all of the negativity and politics.
I discovered your work after I was part way through with my licensure courses. I am currently student teaching in a Title 1, high poverty, high immigrant population, inner city school and return to "What Teachers Make" when I am feeling beat down by what I see students struggle with on a daily basis. Thank you for your poems!
"What Teachers Make" struck a chord within me and was the final push i needed to go from a dentistry major to one in education. I questioned whether money was more important to me than the future of the children I can directly influence. I'm still currently in college studying Elementary Education and Teaching English/Foreign Language. I want to eventually move to China as an English (as a second language) teacher. I will be eternally grateful toward you for enlightening me.
I am a college student majoring in education. I simply chose it because it was the only available classes left. Yesterday was the last day to add or drop classes. Yesterday was also the day my teacher showed me "what teachers make"after watching that video, I crumpled up my add and drop form. I look forward to hearing more feedback from you about other reasons I should choose this profession. Thank you for inspiring me to stick with teaching
When I first discovered your work, I was a student, and The The Impotence of Proofreading was funny from that perspective. I also really loved What Teachers Make. I am now a teacher, though I am not certain that this is a permanent career path. Your work was not the only thing that made me a teacher, but I certainly use it for inspiration now that I am one, and have shared some of it with my colleagues. I teach English in China.
I can't say that you inspired me to become a teacher as I first saw "What Teacher's Make" as a junior in college and I had already started my quest to become a teacher. What I can say is that your poems about the miracles of teaching and the breakthrough moments we have as teachers help me to continue what I do in what some would say is the toughest time in history for teachers. Thank you for being you. Thank you for reminding me why I do this.
I was already a teacher when I found your work, but share What Teachers Make each semester to those aspiring to teach. I am sure that are dozens of teachers out there who were inspired by you over the years as they sat in my classroom watching what you do for what we do. I wish there was a way to know how many. ~Kelly
I chose to be a teacher a year ago, but recently I saw your "What teachers make" and it has absolutely moved me and reassured me that I'm in the right field and doing what I love (I'm still in college). Nearly moved me to tears, but I always get chills. Thank you for being an awesome teacher :)
I was already going to be teacher before I knew Mr. Mali's poem, but I wasn't very confident about my choice. Now I know the reason why I made this choice. Thank you Taylor Mali!
You might get more if you wrote more poems about teaching and put them on here. The "what teachers make" video that got over 3 million views was posted in Oct '06, almost 5 years ago. Just saying.
@mooxim Look for a piece he wrote called "Like Lilly Like Wilson" That's about teaching. So is "The The Impotence of Proofreading". There are a few others but I can't recall them off of the top of my head. My point is that he has more than one poem about teaching/learning, and even a lot of his other poems are inspiring in other ways.
@thecatalystpoet Yeah I think I've seen all of them. But none of them capture the heart and inspire like "What Teachers Make did". They're more like amusing anecdotes... for people who are already teachers. For example, "The The Impotence of Proofreading" is brilliantly entertaining but there's nothing in it particularly that would make me want to be a teacher. Undivided Attention and Miracle Workers are good but I guess they lack the passion that got WTM 3 million views.
hello! I'm not one of those cases you are searching but I'm sure I'm one of those that you make proud of the career choice we made. I'm a portuguese mathematics teacher, 31 years old, I decided long before I knew your work what I would be in the future, but even so, I want to thank you for - from time to time - inspiring me when I'm feeling a bit disapointed about the teaching career.
Mr. Mali, I was on my way to becoming a teacher when I was introduced to you by my teacher. But, your words are what encouraged me day after day while finishing my program and student teaching. I am sure that I can count for one of your 1,000!
autumnrose23 1 month ago
Taylor, old friend, my foray into teaching has actually taught me ... that teachers are very special creatures, the true warriors of our culture. As a teacher, I suffered great defeat but have ultimately known many victories. The defeat was my stubbornness and inability to collaborate with stodgy administration. The victories are the countless former students who still connect with me on Facebook for guidance. To those who teach, I bow down to you -- I am not worthy! Mad props, Taylor!
MovieMattness 2 months ago in playlist Uploaded videos
I had decided a long time ago that I wanted to be a teacher. I came across your poem "What Teachers Make" during a course that is required for the B.S. in Education at the college I attend. It made me cry, and reinforced my passion for education.
nesserzmarie22 3 months ago
I knew I wanted to be a teacher before I saw your work, but it has reinforced my passion. Whenever I get the question as to why I want to be a teacher I always refer to your work.
It makes this most exhausting part of my B.Ed rewarding to know that I will make a difference.
Thank you :)
kashkey 4 months ago
Can I say that you have helped me decide to STAY being a teacher? Your conviction and passion has inspired me to continue and reminded me why I really do what I do and helped me sift through all of the negativity and politics.
amburnikole1 5 months ago
I discovered your work after I was part way through with my licensure courses. I am currently student teaching in a Title 1, high poverty, high immigrant population, inner city school and return to "What Teachers Make" when I am feeling beat down by what I see students struggle with on a daily basis. Thank you for your poems!
mlkittleson 6 months ago
"What Teachers Make" struck a chord within me and was the final push i needed to go from a dentistry major to one in education. I questioned whether money was more important to me than the future of the children I can directly influence. I'm still currently in college studying Elementary Education and Teaching English/Foreign Language. I want to eventually move to China as an English (as a second language) teacher. I will be eternally grateful toward you for enlightening me.
RubyAnabele 6 months ago
I am a college student majoring in education. I simply chose it because it was the only available classes left. Yesterday was the last day to add or drop classes. Yesterday was also the day my teacher showed me "what teachers make"after watching that video, I crumpled up my add and drop form. I look forward to hearing more feedback from you about other reasons I should choose this profession. Thank you for inspiring me to stick with teaching
-julian michael
juujuutwizzler 6 months ago
When I first discovered your work, I was a student, and The The Impotence of Proofreading was funny from that perspective. I also really loved What Teachers Make. I am now a teacher, though I am not certain that this is a permanent career path. Your work was not the only thing that made me a teacher, but I certainly use it for inspiration now that I am one, and have shared some of it with my colleagues. I teach English in China.
konatess 6 months ago
add me ...prek reacher yay!
mayaree 6 months ago
I can't say that you inspired me to become a teacher as I first saw "What Teacher's Make" as a junior in college and I had already started my quest to become a teacher. What I can say is that your poems about the miracles of teaching and the breakthrough moments we have as teachers help me to continue what I do in what some would say is the toughest time in history for teachers. Thank you for being you. Thank you for reminding me why I do this.
MrLAntrim 6 months ago
I was already a teacher when I found your work, but share What Teachers Make each semester to those aspiring to teach. I am sure that are dozens of teachers out there who were inspired by you over the years as they sat in my classroom watching what you do for what we do. I wish there was a way to know how many. ~Kelly
thewriteteach 6 months ago
I chose to be a teacher a year ago, but recently I saw your "What teachers make" and it has absolutely moved me and reassured me that I'm in the right field and doing what I love (I'm still in college). Nearly moved me to tears, but I always get chills. Thank you for being an awesome teacher :)
CompletelyOlivia 6 months ago
Add me to the list. I had never really thought about teaching before I was shown your "what teachers make" speech.
SuperAlexFarns 6 months ago
I'm one of them.
TaekeS 6 months ago 7
I'd also love to see you teach and makes some comments on the lesson.
mooxim 6 months ago
Good luck with this Taylor!
Josiemcosie 6 months ago
I'm #538, on my journey Mr. Mali!
ddrz09 6 months ago
I was already going to be teacher before I knew Mr. Mali's poem, but I wasn't very confident about my choice. Now I know the reason why I made this choice. Thank you Taylor Mali!
GrasiCarter15 6 months ago 10
I'm on my way! I will be studying to be a teacher soon.
Thank you for all your inspiration.
carlicat13666 6 months ago
You might get more if you wrote more poems about teaching and put them on here. The "what teachers make" video that got over 3 million views was posted in Oct '06, almost 5 years ago. Just saying.
mooxim 6 months ago 2
@mooxim Look for a piece he wrote called "Like Lilly Like Wilson" That's about teaching. So is "The The Impotence of Proofreading". There are a few others but I can't recall them off of the top of my head. My point is that he has more than one poem about teaching/learning, and even a lot of his other poems are inspiring in other ways.
thecatalystpoet 6 months ago
@thecatalystpoet Yeah I think I've seen all of them. But none of them capture the heart and inspire like "What Teachers Make did". They're more like amusing anecdotes... for people who are already teachers. For example, "The The Impotence of Proofreading" is brilliantly entertaining but there's nothing in it particularly that would make me want to be a teacher. Undivided Attention and Miracle Workers are good but I guess they lack the passion that got WTM 3 million views.
mooxim 6 months ago
good luck<3
cobainbride 6 months ago
hello! I'm not one of those cases you are searching but I'm sure I'm one of those that you make proud of the career choice we made. I'm a portuguese mathematics teacher, 31 years old, I decided long before I knew your work what I would be in the future, but even so, I want to thank you for - from time to time - inspiring me when I'm feeling a bit disapointed about the teaching career.
anteroneves 6 months ago
good luck Taylor!
paulramones9 6 months ago
i hope you reach your goal :)
SeetherChild82 6 months ago