Alex Kajitani, known as the Rappin Mathematician, is a former middle school math teacher who now inspires and supports teachers through his books, presentations, and resources. He started using rap songs to engage his students and found great success. He has written books for new teachers, teacher leaders, and administrators, providing practical and implementable solutions. His books cover topics such as running effective meetings, resolving conflicts, and navigating the media as a teacher. Alex emphasizes the importance of teacher leadership and encourages teachers to share their remarkable practices with others. He also highlights the need for connection with students and the challenges of recruiting and retaining teachers. In this conversation, Alex Kajitani shares strategies for connecting with students and building strong relationships. He emphasizes the importance of being interested and interesting, and encourages teachers to share stories from their own lives. He also discusses the role of trust in building relationships and offers a simple strategy for building trust: saying please, saying thank you, and doing what you say you're going to do. Alex also talks about his book, 'The Teacher of the Year Handbook,' which provides guidance on teacher leadership. He concludes by discussing the challenges of teaching math and the importance of making math relevant and engaging for students.

00:00    Introduction: The Rapid Mathematician's Journey

02:35   Creating Resources for Teachers of All Levels

09:08   Writing Practical Books for Teachers

15:37   The Importance of Teacher Leadership

23:06   Connecting with Students and Recruiting Teachers

25:02   Lessons from the Pandemic and Staying Hungry for Learning

26:11   Strategies for Connecting with Students

29:41   The Importance of Trust in Building Relationships

31:45   The Teacher of the Year Handbook: A Guide to Teacher Leadership

37:23   Making Math Relevant and Engaging for Students

https://alexkajitani.com/