Author Profile

1997-2001: Rutgers College, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ. Graduated with High Honors and Departmental Honors in Philosophy. Minored in English. Spent a semester abroad in Florence, Italy.

2001- 2003: I taught all over New Jersey privately and publicly for a major test preparatory company, so I’ve been trained in fast and easy ways to teach essay writing for standardized tests proven by research. One good thing about huge corporations is that they afford to research and develop strategies that a lone teacher could not.

I'm the white guy in the blue shirt front & center with the extremely unflattering cornrows.

2002-2003: I taught English in Middlesex Community College for two semesters. I learned that there are no harder working students than those just arriving to the USA who strive for the American dream. I was awarded the Outstanding Faculty Award. Maybe this is because I promised to get cornrows in my hair if students all got B’s or better on their final exams. They did, so I did.

Me teaching writing to a Japanese boy

2003-2006: I taught English in Japan for a private company for 3 years, so I have learned easy and fun ways to teach writing to exhausted, overworked business men. They could barely walk straight they were so tired, let alone complete a laborious essay assignment. I was promoted to “head teacher” and helped school grow by 50%. Teaching here was one of my first big challenges as an educator.

8th Grade Graduation Ceremony... too bad I can't include any images of my 8th graders... I really was proud of them all.

2007- present: I am currently teaching language arts in urban East Newark, New Jersey. My students are mostly immigrants from Peru, and some of them never went to school before my class. Thus, I have been FORCED to figure out a way to make it as easy, fast, and fun as possible. I am succeeding at this more and more every year.

26 Comments »

26 Responses

on August 18, 2010 at 5:10 PM | Reply Alain Mollinedo

This is a great idea! As usual, you are always thinking about your students – we all know that you are sooooooooooooo proud of your students. We are also VERY proud of you!
- on August 18, 2010 at 5:20 PM | Reply enpsteacher
  
  Thanks for your support and praise, Alain!
on August 23, 2010 at 6:12 PM | Reply Melanie

David, we are all so proud of you and all of your accomplishments. You are an awesome nephew and an outstanding teacher. Keep up the good work!

Love you,
Aunt Melanie
- on August 23, 2010 at 6:42 PM | Reply enpsteacher
  
  Thanks, Aunt Melanie. (blush) I’d be nothing without my awesome, inspiring family!
on September 6, 2010 at 9:10 PM | Reply Roxane

Hi David,

It’s very inspiring to see your passion for work and people. Guess nothing has changed! As I tell the guys I work with, inspiration isn’t a want, it’s a need. Thank you. With joy, I’ll look forward to reading your words. This is a great gift.

R.
- on September 8, 2010 at 9:16 PM | Reply enpsteacher
  
  Thanks for your kind words, Roxane. Coming from a talented and passionate person like yourself I feel very flattered. As I said before I want all of my students to read your expertly written blog: An Elegy for the Road
on September 20, 2010 at 9:07 AM | Reply enps student 823

Hello. One question, how did you find East Newark if you were in Japan.:)
- on September 20, 2010 at 9:25 PM | Reply enpsteacher
  
  I just used a map! (Haha… corny, social studies joke) Good question. I was actually working as a permanent substitute in Kearny after I came back from Japan. I went for a jog one day and saw East Newark Public School for the first time. I grew up in Kearny, but had never seen our beautiful building my entire life! I went inside and asked if they needed a substitute. They said yes. I taught a lesson about the Japanese language a few weeks later, and got hired full-time a few months after that! The rest is history…
on September 20, 2010 at 9:07 AM | Reply enps student 822

Hello, I would just like to say that I’m really learning a lot so far. So, thank you.
- on September 20, 2010 at 9:21 PM | Reply enpsteacher
  
  Thanks for the nice words! I’m glad you are learning a lot!
on September 20, 2010 at 9:08 AM | Reply enps student 821

hey, mr. mach. just wanted to say to keep up with the good work. You have really helped us a lot in these 2 years.
- on September 20, 2010 at 9:17 PM | Reply enpsteacher
  
  Thanks a lot! I hope you realize that your class has helped me be a better teacher, writer, and human being in general. I think you guys are great!
on September 20, 2010 at 9:08 AM | Reply enps student 821

hey, mr. mach. just wanted to say to keep up with the good work.
- on September 20, 2010 at 9:15 PM | Reply enpsteacher
  
  Thanks! I will keep up the good work if you will too! You should be really proud of your NJASK score in Language Arts last year!
on September 21, 2010 at 9:37 AM | Reply enpsstudent809

hmm awesome:D anyways keep up the good work!
- on September 21, 2010 at 9:38 PM | Reply enpsteacher
  
  Thanks!
on September 21, 2010 at 9:42 AM | Reply enps student 813

this looks like a lot of work [:<
- on September 21, 2010 at 9:35 PM | Reply enpsteacher
  
  Haha… this is only phase 2 out of 6. Hey, you are an 8th grader… you did much more than this last year!
on September 27, 2010 at 10:58 AM | Reply enps student 607

Mr.Mach, you are a very wonderful teacher , and believe it or not I’m really looking forward to having you as my L.A. teacher for 2 more years !
- on September 27, 2010 at 9:17 PM | Reply enpsteacher
  
  Thanks! I look forward to having you and your class as students for two more years! We will learn a lot of good stuff together!
on September 27, 2010 at 1:42 PM | Reply enps student 715

Hey, Mr. Mach, I like how you find creative strategies to help us learn. And I think I will have lots of fun in this school year, thanks to you of course! I wanted to let you now that I admire your care for students adn what they learn. Well, bye!
- on September 27, 2010 at 9:05 PM | Reply enpsteacher
  
  Thanks! I enjoy finding those creative strategies, everyone wins. Let me know if you ever have any ideas for cool, new ways to learn!
on October 1, 2010 at 12:58 PM | Reply enps student 713

Hey, Mr. Mach. I’m really looking forward to having you this year.
on October 19, 2010 at 9:00 AM | Reply enps student 813

we NEED more circle time , (: .
- on October 25, 2010 at 8:46 PM | Reply enpsteacher
  
  OK. I will plan some circle time soon!
on October 21, 2010 at 9:59 AM | Reply Rich Corbett

Dave,
I like what I’m seeing! Keep up the good work.

RRC