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“where God was when I was being mopped by that cop.”

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“where God was when I was being mopped by that cop.”

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Fabio Puello

Sped 771

All American Boys

Informal Textual Response- Found Poem

#RashadIsAbsentAgainToday

Never talk back. Keep your hands up. Keep your mouth shut. Just do what they ask you to do, and you’ll be fine. Dad’s guide to surviving the police.

#RashadIsAbsentAgainToday

“Oh, you wanna resist?

A fist in the kidney. A knee in the back. A forearm to the back of the neck.

Please don’t kill me.

#RashadIsAbsentAgainToday

Would he be thought of as the  “All-American” boy?

#RashadIsAbsentAgainToday

They brought me into the hospital, handcuffs still on, blood still pouring from my nose like a faucet with rusty pipes.

I just wondered where God was when I was being mopped by that cop.

#RashadIsAbsentAgainToday

The march through town would begin at five thirty p.m., approximately the same time Rashad had been arrested for petty theft, resisting arrest, and public nuisance—whatever the hell that meant.

I thought about the fear, but I also thought about how I would feel if I didn’t go, if I didn’t, as she said, speak up.

#RashadIsAbsentAgainToday

“Don’t shoot!”

We’re not rioting. We’re protesting!

#RashadIsAbsentAgainToday

Had our hearts really become so numb that we needed dead bodies in order to feel the beat of compassion in our chests?

#RashadIsAbsentAgainToday

But Rashad lived.

Rashad Butler. Present.

Reynolds, Jason, and Brendan Kiely. All American Boys. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2015.

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All American Boys - Summary and Reflections

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All American Boys - Summary and Reflections

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Create a new document and edit with others at the same time -- from your computer, phone or tablet. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Docs to edit Word files. Free from Google.

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I feel like i'm stuck in a nightmare I can't wake up from. It's been five days since Khalil was senselessly gun down by 115. every time I close my eyes I see Khalil's eyes staring back at me as the life fades out of them. I can't stop crying and feeling helpless. I can't help feeling guilty for being a bad friend. I wish I was around more. I wish I had more time with him. Ever since I started attending private school by uncle Carlos house and met Chris, and my other friends I've had to be two different people. God I miss Chris. Most of all I miss not having to be two different Stars. I just want to be me, and I don't want to worry about what others think of me. Mom and dad want to keep it a secret that I was the witness that saw Khalil get shot by 115 and a part of me want to agree with them, but the other part of me wants to make sure 115 gets punished for what he did. The sad part is when my friends at school asked if I knew the boy who was shot I denied it. I feel terrible that I denied knowing one of my best friends because of the judgments. The same way I won't tell daddy that Chris is white. What is going on with me lately I don't know who I am anymore. I don't know how this is going to play out but I hope I can find the courage to just be Star.

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Padlet Entry - How I would use All American Boys in my classroom 

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Padlet Entry - How I would use All American Boys in my classroom 

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When I was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago Book Review

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When I was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago Book Review

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When I was a Puerto Rican is a stunning success. It captures the idea of identity creation in the context of ethnic, class and geographic tensions. She Brilliantly explains her coming of age by capturing her role as the eldest child, struggling with conflicted thoughts, and the anguish of family disintegration.  She eloquently walks us through her Puerto Rican heritage and her assimilation to life in the Big Apple.

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Deborah Katz - Diary Entry of Mrs. Erlich Dear Diary, Today is Wednesday and if it were a normal week, I should be on my couch, a glass of wine in hand, Planet Earth playing in the background as I caught on grading to make sure I could relax this weekend. Instead, I am trying to untangle the sick ball in my gut that has been building since third period on Tuesday when I found out about Rashad.  I guess you could say this has been building since Friday, when a student from my school was thrown to the ground, cuffed and beaten half to death.  There’s a video but I haven’t been able to watch it fully.  I’ve been torn between wanting to stand as witness and the feeling that if I do, I won’t be able to keep it together tomorrow.  I don’t teach Rashad but I’ve seen him around in the hallways, one of the ROTC kids.          The news coverage has been predictable, focused on what he might have done.  Victim blaming and disgustingly sly insinuations that have been cut with people who want to the world to know what a good man the cop who did it is. The cop who is a brother of another student in the school.  It's happening again but this time I know the faces and its left me that much more rattled.      How I am supposed to teach students math when I can’t even focus on it myself.  Numbers usually calm me, thinking about my students usually lifts my mood but all I can hear above my thudding heart is that new hashtag the students keep using.  Rashad is absent again today.  Because he was brutally beaten by a man, a local, who should have watching out today.     As a teacher, I feel morally obligated to address this in class but I’m not sure how.  I’m not an English teacher like Tracey or a history teacher like Fisher and I normally don’t address a full class on something so emotionally charged.  Rereading that sentence gives me an idea though because what I do normally discuss is how numbers and data have meaning.  There have been a few fights about what happened but this is not a one-off isolated incident.  This is something that’s been happening. Okay, it’s decided.  I’m going to spend some time looking for the numbers that can express what I wanted to say but haven't the ability to convey easily with words. I want my students to know that even if you are not the person shouting with conviction, you have a voice and that others can hear it. I’m sure I’ll be back here tomorrow, writing up how that goes because I can tell already, it will be hard.Sincerely, Me Bibliography:Reynolds, J., & Kiely, B. (2015). All American boys. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. 

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Deborah Katz - Diary Entry of Mrs. Erlich Dear Diary, Today is Wednesday and if it were a normal week, I should be on my couch, a glass of wine in hand, Planet Earth playing in the background as I caught on grading to make sure I could relax this weekend. Instead, I am trying to untangle the sick ball in my gut that has been building since third period on Tuesday when I found out about Rashad.  I guess you could say this has been building since Friday, when a student from my school was thrown to the ground, cuffed and beaten half to death.  There’s a video but I haven’t been able to watch it fully.  I’ve been torn between wanting to stand as witness and the feeling that if I do, I won’t be able to keep it together tomorrow.  I don’t teach Rashad but I’ve seen him around in the hallways, one of the ROTC kids.          The news coverage has been predictable, focused on what he might have done.  Victim blaming and disgustingly sly insinuations that have been cut with people who want to the world to know what a good man the cop who did it is. The cop who is a brother of another student in the school.  It's happening again but this time I know the faces and its left me that much more rattled.      How I am supposed to teach students math when I can’t even focus on it myself.  Numbers usually calm me, thinking about my students usually lifts my mood but all I can hear above my thudding heart is that new hashtag the students keep using.  Rashad is absent again today.  Because he was brutally beaten by a man, a local, who should have watching out today.     As a teacher, I feel morally obligated to address this in class but I’m not sure how.  I’m not an English teacher like Tracey or a history teacher like Fisher and I normally don’t address a full class on something so emotionally charged.  Rereading that sentence gives me an idea though because what I do normally discuss is how numbers and data have meaning.  There have been a few fights about what happened but this is not a one-off isolated incident.  This is something that’s been happening. Okay, it’s decided.  I’m going to spend some time looking for the numbers that can express what I wanted to say but haven't the ability to convey easily with words. I want my students to know that even if you are not the person shouting with conviction, you have a voice and that others can hear it. I’m sure I’ll be back here tomorrow, writing up how that goes because I can tell already, it will be hard.Sincerely, Me Bibliography:Reynolds, J., & Kiely, B. (2015). All American boys. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. 

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PATRICK Okyere My name is Patrick okyere. I currently work for the metropolitan museum of art and sometimes work as a substitute teacher on my off day. I am a Ghanaian. My area of specialization is adolescent special education generalist 7-12. I am perusing education because I want to contribute in bridging the gap of educational inequality in our educational system. I would also want to help my students to identify their God given potential and shaping those potential to become beneficial to society. My hobby is exploring different collections of art at the metropolitan museum and sometimes researching on new art collections around the world. My favorite book is " the gods are not to blame" by Chinnua Achibe, a nigerian writer and a former African study professor at Rhode Island University. I like this book because it explains the impact of foreign religion on the African culture. My favorite food is Vegetable fried rice.

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PATRICK Okyere My name is Patrick okyere. I currently work for the metropolitan museum of art and sometimes work as a substitute teacher on my off day. I am a Ghanaian. My area of specialization is adolescent special education generalist 7-12. I am perusing education because I want to contribute in bridging the gap of educational inequality in our educational system. I would also want to help my students to identify their God given potential and shaping those potential to become beneficial to society. My hobby is exploring different collections of art at the metropolitan museum and sometimes researching on new art collections around the world. My favorite book is " the gods are not to blame" by Chinnua Achibe, a nigerian writer and a former African study professor at Rhode Island University. I like this book because it explains the impact of foreign religion on the African culture. My favorite food is Vegetable fried rice.

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Hello. My name is Meagan Jade Washington. My content area is secondary education grades 7-12.  My favorite book is The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls because it tells the story of a girl who was able to be successful despite the many obstacles thrown her way. I am from the Bronx, New York. My favorite food is fish/shrimp tacos.

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Hey hey! I am Katie Shaub (though you might see Catherine in some places - legal name from my grandmother). As I have taught the theme of home, I have come to realize that I do not consider myself from anywhere. I have lived in Nebraska, Michigan, Alabama, and four cities in Texas before coming to New York City. Wherever I am with my family and here in NYC is where I am home. After college at The University of Texas at Austin where I received a degree in PK-6 generalist and ESL I moved to teach middle school reading and ESL in Houston, TX. Between that and coming to NY I worked as an event coordinator, but I ended up coming to teach at Success Academy Midtown West Middle School due to my passion for diverse education. This is my third year at SAMW, where I have taught 5th, 6th, and 7th ELA and History. I am passionate about reading and writing! Asking me my favorite book is like asking me my favorite student: it depends on the day! (just kidding) A book that helped me to realize I could read non-fiction and really immerse myself in it was Bryan Stevenson's Just Mercy. This book unites many things that I am passionate about (equity, the school to prison pipeline, bias, and prejudice to name a few) while delving into what truly is justice and mercy. Many other books that have been mentioned are high on my list, too! I am a huge food fan and love experiencing new things with people who matter to me. I especially love ice cream and dessert, so this summer I got a part time job at Ample Hills Creamery where I am still working so we can have a class meet-up for ice cream!

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Hello there! My name is Mary Goebel. I am a high school music teacher at Success Academy High School of the Liberal Arts. Originally I am from Sioux City, Iowa, and I moved to NYC for college. I earned my undergraduate degree in music education from NYU, with a concentration in voice, and am certified in K-12 Music in New York State. My favorite book constantly changes, depending on what I've read most recently. Right now, that would have to be "New York" by Edward Rutherford. It is my favorite book right now, because I never am inclined to pick up a book that is primarily historical (I like novels, stories, poetry, so nonfiction and history doesn't typically catch my eye), yet this one caught my eye and kept me engaged. It was so fascinating, A) Because it is history told through the eyes of characters with rich personalities (historical fiction), and B) I was so familiar with all of the finer details of the storytelling (street corners, buildings, subway stations, restaurants) because I've lived in New York long enough. My favorite food is too difficult to choose, so I have to choose a savory and a sweet: Sushi and ice cream.

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Hello!  My name is Laura Arnett.  I am from Minnesota originally, but have been in New York for 12 years now.  I am a generalist in special education.  I am in my second year teaching and am currently teaching Math Applications (11th grade), Science (8th grade), Environmental Science (12th grade) and Government and Economics (12th grade).

My favorite book is Pride and Prejudice.  I have read it so many times, my copy of the book has fallen apart.

My favorite food is watermelon.  It is so sweet, and I like the texture.

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Hello,

My name is Samapti Khanam and this is my first year in Grad School in Hunter College School of Education.  I am currently working at New Visions Charter High School for the Humanities teaching 9th grade Living Environment and 9th grade ELA.
My most favorite book of all times has to be The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. It is one of my favorite books because it emphasizes the importance of living in the present, letting go of the past and any stress one may be feeling, and facing one's emotional problems.
I am from Bangladesh, but I arrived to New York City with my family when I was 9 months old. I have not returned to Bangladesh since I started Kindergarten, so I have been in America my whole life! My favorite food that I really enjoy is my mother's curry chicken and white rice. If I could I would eat it everyday, but unfortunately, I know my mother would become very tired from cooking the same thing for me.
I look forward to learning lots of new things this semester from this class and the instructor.

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Hey! My name is Robbie Sellers, and I am originally from Dayton, Ohio. I studied neuroscience at Kenyon College. After that I participated in the Teach For America program, and taught High School math at a public school in rural North Carolina for two years before moving to NYC. This is my fifth year teaching overall and my third year teaching MS math at Success Academy Harlem East. In my first year there, I taught 7th grade math before looping up with the same group of students to teach them 8th grade Algebra I. I am continuing to teach 8th grade Algebra I again this year. I began the Hunter program last year, and I was blown away by the improvements that my students made as I implemented what I was learning into my practice. I taught them almost nothing when they were in 7th grade, but using the SPED strategies I taught them so much in 8th grade.

My favorite book right now is called We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson. It is a coming of age novel about a gay high school student dealing with teenage struggles. I love this book, because the protagonist's sexuality is not the main topic of the plot, instead it is just a part of understanding the protagonist. I also love the framing device that the author uses to discuss the protagonist's coming of age moment. He has been abducted by aliens from a young age, and overtime learned to communicate with the aliens. The aliens inform him of the date of the end of the world and present him with a button that can stop the end of the world. Amidst grappling with this decision, he must tackle typical high school drama and establishing his identity.

My favorite food has to be ice cream, but I'm lactose intolerant :(. So instead, I love to eat Cashew Milk ice cream, and try all the different attempts at successfully making a non-dairy ice cream equivalent.

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I'm Emmanuel Ourum, currently a Hunter College Grad Student and New Visions Resident Teacher(Teacher in training).  I'll be teaching Math specifically Algebra and Geometry.

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I'm Emmanuel Ourum, currently a Hunter College Grad Student and New Visions Resident Teacher(Teacher in training).  I'll be teaching Math specifically Algebra and Geometry.

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My fav book and movie is the matrix which has an interesting story and plot and the special effects changed the movie industry.

I was born and raised in Kampala, Uganda which I learned how to hunt, farm, cook and enjoy what the earth offers before deciding to explore the world even more and moved to New York which i've grow fond of since it has a little piece of the whole world in it.

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Hello Classmates!

My name is Karla Nieves and I grew up in Flushing, Queens. I’m a certified art educator and completed my bachelor’s at Queens College. I’m currently majoring in Generalist Special Education 7-12. I’ve been an art teacher in a special education setting for two years and I’ve worked with students ranging from K to 12th grade. I recently left my position so I can fully focus on my last year of grad school. Once I graduate I’d like to go back to teaching art in a special education setting.

My most recent favorite book is Stay with Me by Ayobami Adebayo. This book is about a marriage between a man and a woman from Nigeria. What blew me away was the expectations of their marriage due to their culture. They went through many life changing events that tested their marriage. Overall, I like fiction, non-fiction and educational books.

My favorite food is Peruvian and Puerto Rican food, but I’m always open to trying new food.

Looking forward to the fall and this semester!

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Hi everyone!

My name is Leah Poole, and I am teaching Living Environment, LE Prep, & Earth Science. I am new to teaching, and I am apart of the New VIsions Charter High School Special Education Teaching Residency.

I don't really like to have "favorite" of anything - I am overwhelmed by choices and find it a bit limiting. I do love the genre of mystery/thriller . I just finished reading Dark Matter which about a Physicist able to travel through dimensions. I couldn't put it down!

I am originally from Georgia, and I attended college in North Carolina at Wake Forest University. I lived in Europe and Africa for a bit, and ended up back in the US. I attended grad school in Miami at Florida International University and Miami Ad School where I received a MSc in Global Strategic Communications. I moved to NYC with my husband and worked in advertising. After leaving advertising, I decided to follow my dream of becoming a teacher!

I love all types of food, and I'm coming around to spicy food. I really love Indian food, as well as, Mexican. But, as vegetarian, I may be biased since both cuisines easily have lots of options for me!

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I am Justin Bates,  and I am teaching 9th Grade Living Environment and 12th Grade ELA.
My favorite book has to be the Alchemist. Beautifully written. A close second would be Between The World and Me, very different books, but also beautifully written and culturally important. I love both books because they stress the importance of self awareness, and our place in the world. As far as food, I love a good Alfredo anything or shrimp scampi. I grew up outside Chicago, Il and I graduated in Raleigh NC.

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Hello my name is Nafeeza Hussain. I am currently a substitute teacher for charter schools and enrolled  in the adolescent  Special Education masters program. I did my undergrad in Speech Pathology at Brooklyn College and decided to change programs and start with the New York City Teaching Fellow. I have experience with teaching English to tenth graders and hope to continue teaching English at a high school. I would say i have a long list of favorite books and so the book that is my current favorite is Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur. I really enjoyed some of the poems in this book. I found it very impactful because it discussed femininity, loss, and trauma and it was beautifully written. I was born in New York City and I currently live in Ozone Park, Queens. This is a Guyanese neighborhood and I am exposed to Caribbean music and food. My favorite dish is from a restaurant called footprints cafe and it is called rasta pasta. I usually get the jerk shrimp and pasta. It is delicious!

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Sorry... seems to have submitted unwittingly...
I was saying that it was my work with my son that inspired me to go back to school in a field where I could help and support other students like my son.

My favorite book is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. While a fan of most of her books, this was my favorite.  She wrote with such feeling and clarity and in a way that was quite revolutionary for her time.  She was a single woman who dared to speak the unspoken truths about society, class and love.  Still love it today!

I am originally from Northern Virginia, just outside of Washington, DC. I moved to NY about 22 years ago. My family lives in Brooklyn and both my high schooler and middle schooler attend schools nearby.

My favorite food is anything my husband makes.  He is a fabulous cook and I am so grateful!

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Hi!
My name is Kathleen Lewis. I am an older student and a career changer. I already have a Masters degree in architecture and practiced for over 12 years. I am in my second year at Hunter adolescent program and do not have any hands on experience in the classroom. I have 2 teenage children one of whom has Aspergers. It has been.

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Hello everyone!

My name is Kaitlyn Hernandez. I am a substitute teacher for Yonkers Public Schools and am working with the district to receive my masters degree in adolescent special education 7-12. For the coming school year I will be teaching a 9th Grade Math class for students on the Autism Spectrum.

My favorite book is Cider with Rosie for its beautiful imagery. It takes the reader on such an incredible visual journey through written word. I am always amazed when a writer can tap into our senses so vividly.

I was raised in Yonkers, New York and am so excited to be teaching in the school district I grew up in and graduated from.

My favorite food is arroz con gandules. It is one of my ultimate comfort foods, especially when my step grandmother makes it.

Wishing everybody the best of luck for the semester and coming school year!

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Hello everyone!

My name is Nicholas Dolce, and I am a substitute teacher for Yonkers Public Schools and am currently pursuing a degree in adolescent special education 7-12. My content area for this year is science (a subject I love very much!) My favorite book is Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift. The satirical techniques Swift uses brings to light a lot of societal problems that still exist today. I enjoyed it a lot because it made me rethink how I think of myself and relativity. I am from North Salem, New York. I went to North Salem High school, Manhattan College, and now Hunter! My favorite food is the "Smoke Shack" at Shake Shack! If you like hamburgers I fully endorse this particular variant. I love sports and I am excited to see how I can incorporate my passion for sports into my instruction!

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Hi! My name is Nicole Almanzar. I will be teaching 11th and 12th grade English to Special Education students. This will be my first year teaching Special Education.

My favorite book is How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accent by Julia Alvarez. I love this book because I can relate to the Garcia sisters. I also came to the United States from Dominican Republic when I was 14 years old. After learning English, I also struggled to “lose” my accent. Reading about their stories made me feel like I was not alone :)

I am from Yonkers, New York. My favorite food is chicken quesadillas.

Looking forward to this class and an amazing fall semester!

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My name is Salimat Ayinde and I grew up on Long Island. I currently work on Long Island at the Academy Charter School in Hempstead. This low-socioeconomic community is mostly comprised of African Americans and Hispanic students. I teach both Common Core Algebra and Geometry. Prior to this teaching job, I spent two years at an all-girls, private, catholic school called Notre Dame School of Manhattan teaching AP Calculus, Common Core Geometry, and Pre-calculus.

I received my initial certification from Iona College in adolescent mathematics and had the opportunity to play soccer while getting an education. My experience with students with disabilities is limited. I have had a few students with IEPs in my classes and spent a summer as a teacher aide at Nassau BOCES.

I am not a big reader, but I do love the author Tamora Pierce. She has a wonderful set of young adult books that take place in a fictional world know as Tortall. There is magic and swordplay. My favorite food is a burger with fries. I honestly could eat that at any time of the day.

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My name is Jonathan Segal and while I was born in Belgium, I grew up in NYC. I am a high school learning specialist at a small independent school in Manhattan where I work with all grades, mainly on reading, writing, math and I also provide organizational support.

I don't have a single favorite book, but for a long time Catch-22 by Joseph Heller was my absolute favorite. I loved the dark satirical humor, and for whatever reason I kind of identified with the main character, Yossarian, as he attempted to evade participating in the war. Favorite food: smoked salmon from Russ and Daughters.

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My name is Steven Mejia. I will be teaching 9th grade special ED this September. This will be my first year teaching special education, but definitely looking forward to it. I grew up in Yonkers along with 3 younger sisters.

My favorite book is the Mithermages series by Orson Scott Card. I love reading science fiction books, especially Marvel comics.

I love all foods. Anything from Japanese, to Italian, to Spanish foods. If i had to pick, I would pick the  congri that my grandma used to make, or the arroz con yucca my other grandma makes with breaded chicken cutlets.

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Hey everyone! My name is Laura Taishoff. I currently teach 9th grade English and Literacy in the Bronx. I am beginning my 6th year of teaching. I think if I had to pick (this is difficult), I would say my favorite book is You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train by Howard Zinn. It was a really influential read for me during my formative working years in New Orleans. It helped ground me and inspire me at a time when I really needed it. I am from Katonah, NY but I have lived in Wisconsin and New Orleans, as well. My favorite food is definitely french fries.

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Hello from the great beyond! My name is Myrna Gatica and I am a Guatemalan American, 1st generation born and raised in Woodside Queens. I have two older brother and lots of plants in my home. I love to cycle and inspire anyone to begin. I commute to work in Harlem from Queens as much as I can. I received my undergrad degree in Geology and a minor in adolescent education. I have been teaching Earth Science regents class for 6 years. I have been at Innovation High School for 4 years and Celia Cruz Bronx High School for Music. Recently
I have traveled with 8 students to Costa Rica and a bio teacher to do some pollinator field work and it was a teachers dream.

My favorite book at the moment is My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor. I can relate to her in so many levels and her struggles are mine.
My favorite food is my mom's traditional Guatemalan Tamales! Its a Christmas tradition to make tamales in our culture.

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My name is Stephanie David. I grew up around New York City, and am starting my first year as a Sp. Ed. Math teacher in the Bronx. My first license is in Adolescent Math 7-12, but I love teaching Sp. Ed. which led me to seek an additional certification.
My favorite book is Fahrenheit 451. The book is an amazing way to start discussions about freedom and censorship with students, and is consistently relevant to current events.
My favorite food is carbs.  If I had to pick a carb I would probably choose pasta or bagels.  I tend to eat at least one of those every day.

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Hello, everyone.  My name is Mansi Wu.  I am enrolled full time in the Master program for Adolescent Special Education Grades 7-12.  I am a career changer.  Right now I am working 32 hours per week as a Claims Adjuster for the new 2018 Paid Family Leave benefits to people who takes leaves of absences to care for their newborns or taking care of sick family members. This is a part time job and my actual long term goals is to become a high school special education teacher.  On top of school and work, I also juggle my life as mother of a two years old toddler name Liam, he is my pride and joy.

As for my favorite reads,  unfortunately nowadays I can’t find anytime for leisure reads,  but I really do enjoy Asian writers such as Amy Tan and Celeste Ng as I can identify certain elements in their writing due to my Chinese Heritage.  I was born and raised in China, however immigrated to New York City at the age of 12,  that was more than 26 years ago. I am a very mature student :)

I love all sorts of foods,.  We mostly eat Chinese in our house because I am fortunate enough to have my mother live with us during the weekdays to have with the baby and she does the cooking also.  Occasionally my mother-in-law would come over and we would have authentic Italian Meatball Marinara which I also very much enjoy.

I am excited and look forward to a wonderful semester with the rest of the class.

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I am a native New Yorker and a product of the New York City public school system. I hope for my daughter to grow up here as well. I love the diversity of New York City. My favorite food to eat at a restaurant is sushi, and oneof  my favorite restaurants is samurai mama in Williamsburg.

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This is abigail Wile. I am a student in the masters in special education for adolescents at Hunter. Currently, and for the last twelve years I have worked as a psychotherapist. I have learned to adore working with adolescents and their families. My patients have lead me to an interest in becoming a special ed teacher.  I try to always work closely with mr patients schools to help with behavioral problems. I find that the school and I often have such different perspectives and agendas that it is hard to communicate let alone truly collaborate. This limits the effectiveness of the education and mental health services.
I have always loved reading, but these days have very little time for my own reading as I am chasing around my 14 month daughter. My favorite activity right now is to play with her. I am excited that this class includes reading in YA novels, which I love but don’t know enough.my favorite novel is portrait of a ladyby  Henry James, ever since it was assigned to me in college. Over the last twenty something years I have reread it many times, always finding a new meaning. I love how the characters have conscious and unconscious motives, and suffer and succeed from working against their ownconscious  intentions. This seems very realistic about humans to me.

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My name is Alis Anasal. I am currently teaching remedial English at Kingsborough Community College. This is my third year in the education field. I have an undergraduate degree in Education and History but spend most of my time in Math or English classes.

My favorite books are Holes by Louis Sachar and The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. Both stories are similar in that there is a lot of adventure and connections that are made throughout the book. I enjoy books that have elements of fantasy or stretch my imagination in some way. I remember reading Holes in elementary school and a feeling of deep satisfaction when I finished the book and Zero's connection to the protagonist was revealed.

I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. I have attended NYC public schools my entire life, with the exception of a couple years in middle school when my family moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina, where my father's family is from.
My favorite food is my grandmother’s empanadas. Because my family is Armenian/Argentinian, the empanadas my grandmother makes have a delicious middle eastern-y spiced beef and onions in a delicious Argentinian style empanada. But I love so many foods! I look forward to getting to know everyone better and reading some young adult literature this semester!

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Hello! My name is Emily Arfuso. I am currently starting my second year at Hunter in the Adolescent Special Education Generalist program. I am also going into my fourth year of teaching. I work at Sunset Park High School in Brooklyn. I have an undergraduate degree from NYU in Secondary Math Education and currently teach 12th grade Pre-Calculus.

My favorite book series is the Harry Potter series. If I had to pick just one, I would probably choose the Half-Blood Prince, but I do love them all. I grew up reading all of the books, always looking forward to when the next one would be released. My first grade teacher used to read the Sorcerer's Stone to us, which sparked my interest in the series. With each book I felt like I was escaping into a whole new world. Even when I re-read them, I feel like I discover new things. The series ignited my love for reading and discovering new worlds in books.

I grew up in a small town in South Jersey. When I was applying to colleges, I looked for schools in areas that were completely different from where I lived. This led me to NYU. After undergrad I moved to Brooklyn. While I still love my hometown in NJ and visiting my family there, after living here for 3 years, Brooklyn feels like a second home.

My favorite food is lasagna, specifically my grandmother's lasagna.

Looking forward to this semester!

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Hello there! My name is Merritt Marcus. I am currently in my second year of the adolescent special education generalist program, two semesters to go, YAY!  I am currently certified to teach adolescent math education, I earned my Bachelors degree at the College of Saint Rose in Albany, NY.  I student taught at Albany at an all boys rehabilitation/juvenile reporting/day education school and it's really what inspired me to go into the special education field.

I would have to say that my favorite book series is Harry Potter, I can't limit it to a singular book but out of the series of books I've read, this is my favorite.  It was the first book that brought me to a new place and made me imagine the possibilities of a new hidden world.  These books really brought me to reading; I read and re-read them a dozen times at least.  They also made me seek out other books to see where else I could explore.

I live in a small town called Mohegan Lake, it's in upper Westchester but when I tell people that they still have no idea where I am.  So let's say I live close enough to Peekskill to call it Peekskill.  I've lived here my entire life and my family has lived here for almost 85 years.

My favorite food is grilled cheese.  I can't have it a lot because I'm lactose intolerant but on days where I don't care I am all in for eating a grilled cheese sandwich.  It is also the first thing that I learned how to cook by myself, so it holds a special place in my heart and stomach.

So that everything! I can't wait to get this semester going!

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Hi!
My name is Genesis Fonseca. I am in my second year in the master's program for adolesecents. I did my undergrad at Queens College in ESL so I have experience on working with ELLs K-12 grade. I have worked in all content areas as I would would push-in and pullout with my co-teacher. I also taught 11th and 12th grade English at International High School at LaGuardia Community College. I also taught 6th grade summer school (Math, English, Social Studies). Currently I am working with a 15 yr old boy with autism and teach him math a couple times a week while also helping him be more independent.

My favorite books are The Outsiders by S.E Hinton and Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer. The Outsiders was the first book that I read more than once because I loved it so much, not because it was assigned. It had important  issues like conflict between social class or the way the characters reacted to different situations were also relatable. I also love Into the Wild because it got me thinking of traveling more. I like the idea of not finding comfort with what you have but always seeking for more, or "making a horizon each day." I have been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to visit other countries and experience different cultures. I always loved traveling, but I feel like the way the book is written it makes you think of not worrying about the little things or making excuses to not do things.

I was born and raised in Astoria, NY. My parents are Ecuadorian and came 30 years ago. Growing up in Astoria, I was always surrounded by Greeks and Italians so I love pasta, pizza, gyros, wraps, moussaka, spanakopita, etc. Even so, I love my Ecuadorian food. I can have shrimp ceviche everyday or rice and beans with maduro and steak or chicken and a salad. Honestly, when it comes to food it's hard to pick one so that's just a couple of things I love to eat.

Anyways, that's me. I look forward to this semester with all of you :)

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My name is Abigail Wile. I am a student in the masters program in special education for adolescents at Hunter. Currently, and for the last12 years, I have worked as a psychotherapist . I have come to love working with adolescents and their families. Many of patients hAve been lucky enough to be helped by special education services. Yet many others never found a school or teachers who were able to help them fully engage in school. Over time, seeing what important impact this is upon my patients, I developed the desire to become a special education teacher myself. Before my social work career, I taught English literature for a few years, and have missed that ever since. I am excited that this class includes a component of reading YA literature, an area I enjoy but don’t know enough..... it is hard to choose my favorite book, as there are so many roles that different types of books play in my life and my education. My favorite novel is Portrait of a Lady by Henry James. I have re- read it many times since it was assigned to me in college 23 years ago! It always seems to have a different meaning every time. I love how the novel shows every character having conscious and unconscious motives, and sometime working against their own best intentions. This feels realistic to me about human struggles. One of favorite YA novels is Camilla by Madeline L’engle. This is a book that has helped me greatly in my understanding of adolescent development. Then novel portrays an adolescent’s dawning recognition of her parents fallibility, how painful and yet freeing a process. I enjoy discussing books, movies and tv with my adolescent patients.

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Hello everyone! My name is Lauren Maddock. This is my fifth year teaching at Community Action School- MS258. I teach 6th and 7th grade science. I received my undergraduate degree and teaching certification from Marist College and now am in my last year of classes towards my masters and special eduction generalist 7-12.

One of my favorite books that I've ever read was The House on Mango Street. I appreciated the depth of the story and it was one of the first times I remember thinking about other cultures and cultural differences on an empathetic level. I remember realizing there are very strong similarities across seemingly different cultures.

I am originally from East Islip on Long Island. One of my favorite parts about where I teach is learning about the different cultures and traditions amongst the community where I live and teach. One of my favorite foods is homemade Spanish food.

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Hello Everyone I'm Eleni Evangelou. I hope everyone enjoyed the summer, it's my favorite time of the year. I am starting my 9th year teaching at New Town High School in East Elmhurst. It's my 6th year teaching at New Town. I Teach world history. I received my under grad at Queens College, and started a masters in counselor education at hunter, however once I started teaching in an ICT setting I reapplied to the special education programs as I wanted to better understand and serve my students. I do love teaching and my students but I do have plans to finish my counseling degree and finish the second half of my career as a school counselor. I am the respect for all liaison in my school and love working with teens resolve any conflicts they may be facing. I love to read but between work, school, and being anew mom I haven't had much time to read on a personal level which is something i'm not happy about. I love the book "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini. It's a beautiful story of two women that had to overcome great hardships. I was born and raised in Astoria Queens. I'm an American Greek. I love to travel and visit Greece often. I love to eat as it is a huge part of the Greek culture, and when I travel to new places I always research where I can go eat with the locals. Picking a favorite food is so hard because I have so many. I love pizza and can eat it everyday, but I also love watermelon and can live off of that. I love Mexican food and Thai food as I love anything spicy, the hotter the better.

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Dr. Xuchilt Perez         I'm deeply excited about teaching this course and about getting to know all of you. As the coordinator for the Adolescent Generalist Special Education program I strive to provide a seamless experience for my students. One that challenges them cognitively but that also fuels their hearts and passion for teaching. I'm originally from Miami and relocated here thanks to a tenure track position at Hunter. I definitely miss the Miami sun and heat but LOVE Hunter students. Some goals this semester  include:Making SPED 771 students fall in love with literacy and culturally responsive instruction.

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Dr. Xuchilt Perez         I'm deeply excited about teaching this course and about getting to know all of you. As the coordinator for the Adolescent Generalist Special Education program I strive to provide a seamless experience for my students. One that challenges them cognitively but that also fuels their hearts and passion for teaching. I'm originally from Miami and relocated here thanks to a tenure track position at Hunter. I definitely miss the Miami sun and heat but LOVE Hunter students. Some goals this semester  include:Making SPED 771 students fall in love with literacy and culturally responsive instruction.

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Hello everyone! My name is Celines Diaz but everyone calls me Celi (Pronounced: CELL [like a cell phone] and the letter E).

I am currently a Math Coordinator at the Neighborhood Charter School of Harlem, I have been for 2 years now. I am hoping to get my Adv.Cert for grades 7-12. I previously taught in a 1st grade class for 2 years and a 2nd grade for 1 year.

My favorite book is Number the Stars by Lois Lowry because my elementary school librarian recommended it to me and it was the first book I remember feeling real emotion from. I was only 9 or so when I read it and I cried because it was so intense/good.

I was born and raised in New York specifically from Spanish Harlem with 3 brothers and 4 sisters. I love reading fantasy/ sci-fi book, watching Korean dramas and organizing things.

My favorite food is oatmeal because it reminds me of a simpler time and I love that I don't have to "work" for it.

Super excited for this course and to get to know everyone!

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My name is Alexandra Bauer and I like to be called Alex. I received my math certification from Penn State University and I am in my 2nd of 3 years in Hunter's Master's program in Special Ed, grades 7-12. This is my 8th year teaching at Success Academy Charter School which includes 4 years teaching Math in the High School.

I grew up in Plainview, Long Island and I currently live in New York City.  My favorite food is Italian food and my favorite book is The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas. I thought this book was very interesting and is relatable to the world we live in and the demographics of the students I teach. I look forward to this class and working with all of you!

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Hello. My name is Deborah Katz.  I prefer to be called Deb in the professional areas of my life.  This year will be my fifth year teaching chemistry at Bronx Collaborative High School.  I am from Long Island and my favorite food of all time is peanut butter.

Now to get into my favorite book- a hard choice if there ever was one.  Having met and fallen in love with many books over the years I will first narrow it down to the author who has had the greatest impact on my life- Tamora Pierce.  Tamora Pierce is mostly known for two of her fantasy series- The Tortall Books and The Circle Books, which I have been reading since the fourth grade up to the present.  Staying within this vein of thought, I would need to say that my favorite book would be the first Tamora Pierce book I read as it subsequently brought me to the rest of them.  This book, Alanna: The First Adventure, tells the story of a young girl who switches place with her willing twin, in order to become a knight, though my summary does poor justice for representing the depth of this story.  The universe this world is set in has become like a second home, visited again and again. In middle school, I started to call this series my comfort books, in the same way some people have comfort food or comfort clothing, used whenever you face a trying day.  Looked at from an older perspective, twp of the things which drew me to this series of books was their deep worldbuilding, populated as they are with people from multiple walks of life and a relatable main protagonist.  However, my relationship with these books are complex, and at this point built on much more that the mere words written.  These books, shared with my siblings, are part of many other fond memories and numerous philosophical and ethical discussions.

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Hi Everyone :)
My name is Yuniet Cuadra, but everyone calls me June. This is my second semester at Hunter in the Masters  Adolescent Special Education Program. I have had some experience as a substitute teacher this past summer. In a week I will be subbing for 11/12th TIP classroom. Which I am super excited and anxious about. My favorite book is  "Little Women", I have loved this book for a long. I love how no matter how many times I read it, I enjoy it like I did the first time. I love how it is written.
I am from Yonkers and my favorite food is black beans and white rice (my mom makes it the best LOL). I am looking forward to a great semester and can't wait to be able to learn new strategies to use in the classroom.

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Hey everyone! Hope you all had a great summer! My name is Joshua Danishefsky and I am a 2nd year in the Adolescent Special Education master’s program. I am currently teaching 7th grade math on a leave replacement at Wagner Middle School. I have also had the opportunity to teach science, social studies, and English. So I have worn many different hats so far through my brief teaching career. I hope that in this class I learn more interventions to help my students improve their reading. I always like to read about new strategies to add to my toolbox. Collaborating and hearing new ideas is a great way to help improve my teaching practices.
My favorite book is "Silver Linings Playbook. I enjoyed the character arc of the protagonist Pat. His resilience and change in thinking towards believing in himself despite his struggles was something I really admired. I also read the book at a a time when I was not believing in myself and I found this book to be helpful in changing my own attitude about life. It is one of the few books that I have read multiple times in my life. I am from Long Island and my favorite food is pizza.
I am looking forward to being a part of this course and working with all of you throughout the semester.