Mark Yates

I usually write on the board, “I dare you to ask me too many questions.” I want students to know they can ask me to explain something, and if I can’t—if they don’t understand my explanation—then that’s okay. It’s important that they ask again. I know I’m successful if a student asks me two or three times in a row and tells me why my explanation isn’t good enough..

 

When I teach Honors Geometry, I love covering subjects that aren’t in the book, like non-Euclidean and fractal geometry. The kids get nervous because it’s not in the textbook, and it’s riskier for me because I’m hanging out there without much to bail me out. But those subjects are so much fun to talk about. Geometry proofs are the hardest things to teach. It’s critical that you use rigorous deductive reasoning, and students aren’t used to that. They’re used to a looser approach. It’s hard for them to get past, “I hate proofs.” I have heard students say, “I love proofs”—but only after the course is over.

 

The great thing about our school is that we have 50 feet of whiteboard, with everybody standing at the board with markers. You can look left or right and find what you need to get going. Despite all the fancy stuff we talk about—technology, virtual desktops—nothing is more helpful than the whiteboard and markers.

 

Coaching Ultimate Frisbee has been a tremendous experience. Our assistant coach has an ungodly amount of energy and intensity and knowledge; under his tutelage, we’ve gone to two national tournaments. Ultimate is a great beginner sport: two thirds of our team in any given year has never played or even seen a game before. The kids are incredibly passionate, and at the end of a game, whether they win or lose, they make up a cheer or song or haiku for the other team.

 

I really enjoy seeing students’ gratitude when they get close to graduation. Suddenly their opinion of the school becomes tremendously positive; they feel grateful for what’s been given to them. The opposite of entitlement, I think, must be gratitude. And yet I’m sure they can’t fully understand how lucky they are. By coming to a place like NMH, they’ve already won the lottery.