Taylor Mali

"Spoken Word Poet = poetry written to be heard before it is read."
--Taylor Mali

Slam Poet Talyor Mail visited ASD this week and it was so neat and fascinating to be able to listen to him speak!

"Mali is a vocal advocate of teachers and the nobility of teaching, having himself 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 his New Teacher Project has a goal of creating 1,000 new teachers through 'poetry, persuasion, and perseverance.'  Mali has also won the National Poetry Slam championship four times.  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."  (All this taken from http://www.taylormali.com/)

I actually purchased both of his books of poetry and they are both now signed by the poet himself!  His new book, What Teachers Make comes out on March 29, 2012.

It is really neat to be able to work at a school that is able to bring such people for our teachers, students, and parents to see.

Taylor Mali speaking with the first and second graders.

Mali reciting "Falling in love is like owning a dog" with the first and second graders.

Reciting a few bits and pieces of Dr. Seuss.

Having some fun with first and second graders.

Mali speaking with the third, fourth, and fifth graders.

Mali reciting "Falling in love is like owning a dog" with the third, fourth, and fifth graders.

Reciting "On girls lending pens" to the third, fourth, and fifth graders.

Reciting "When Does the Heart Rest" with the third, fourth, and fifth graders.  What fun!

Taylor Mali did a special hour of poetry just with the teachers at ASD.  This is him reciting his famous poem "What teachers make, or You can always go to law school if things don't work out."

"For every teacher who has ever made a difference."