Tag: high school

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Be a Warrior! on Tola Talks – Ep #222

In this conversation, Rich Tola reflects on the past year, discusses the importance of reading and education, and shares insights on upcoming movies for 2026. He emphasizes the warrior mindset and life lessons drawn from films like ‘Peaceful Warrior’ and ‘Lost in Translation’, as well as gives his review of the new Timothee Chalamet film, ‘Marty Supreme’. Tola also encourages listeners to make good choices as they enter the new year.

Watch now and discover: → It’s time to refocus, recenter and wipe the slate clean for the New Year. → Reading books is crucial for child development – children with access to books complete 3 more years education than those who don’t (have access to books). → The warrior mindset is about peaceful positivity and accountability for your actions. → Make good choices and make it about the journey, not the destination → Movies can provide valuable life lessons, while 2026 is set to be a great year for movies!

🎧 Subscribe for more inspiring conversations:→ @tolatalks

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Should Students Wear Uniforms? Tola Talks – Ep #218

In today’s Tola Talks, Rich Tola discusses various topics including the significance of the winter solstice, celebrates the achievements of the Texas A&M volleyball team, and delves into the controversial subject of school uniforms. He presents both the pros and cons of implementing uniforms in public schools, sharing personal insights and experiences from his time as a teacher. The conversation concludes with reflections on the importance of discipline and the challenges of enforcing rules in educational settings.

Watch now and discover: → Celebrating achievements in sports fosters community spirit. → School uniforms can promote equality among students, while reducing peer pressure and bullying. → Uniforms can save time in the morning for students, while also creating a cost burden for families. → Uniforms may not effectively address issues of individuality. → Enforcement of rules is crucial for the success of uniform policies.

🎧 Subscribe for more inspiring conversations: Subscribe → HERE

📘 Feature Book: The Sub: Tales of an Inner-City Teacher by Rich Tola

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What is Hanukkah? on Tola Talks – Ep #216

In today’s Tola Talks, Rich Tola reflects on the recent tragedies at Brown University and Bondi Beach in Australia, pays tribute to the tradition of Hanukkah, discusses cultural observations related to In-N-Out Burger, and shares insights from the world of sports, particularly focusing on resilience and the lessons learned from volleyball competitions.

Watch now and discover: → 5% of the year is gone, time to reflect. → Thoughts and prayers for recent tragedy victims, including Hollywood legend, Rob Reiner. → Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the temple of Jerusalem. → Adam Sandler’s Chanukah song is a cultural staple. → The best team doesn’t always win in sports.

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How to Play Volleyball & Coach’s Interview on Tola Talks – Ep #213

On today’s Tola Talks, Rich dives deep into the world of volleyball, discussing its history, skills, and the importance of commitment in the sport. Joined by expert coach Brad DiRupo, they explore various aspects of volleyball, including serving strategies, player positions, and the significance of teamwork and dedication.

The conversation also touches on injury prevention and conditioning, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to excel in volleyball. DiRupo also discusses the critical roles of setters and liberos, emphasizing the importance of communication, teamwork, and player development. He shares insights on recruiting players for college, the significance of height in certain positions, and the year-round commitment required to excel in the sport. The discussion also touches on the positivity and support within teams, the dynamics of substitutions and rotations, and the growth of volleyball as a competitive sport.

Watch now and discover: → Volleyball began 130 years ago as a less stressful alternative to basketball. → Volleyball became an Olympic sport for both men and women in 1964. → Key skills in volleyball include serving, passing, setting, attacking, blocking, and digging. The setter is crucial, akin to a quarterback and arguably the most important position on the court. → Commitment from players, coaches, and parents is crucial for success. → Injury prevention, particularly for knees and ankles, is essential in volleyball.

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Police Work is Hard & Officer Interview on Tola Talks – Ep #196

Today I interview my longtime friend, Guy LiMato, a retired police officer with a rich background in law enforcement and education. We discuss Guy’s journey into policing, the stress and challenges faced by officers today, and the realities of domestic violence calls. The conversation also touches on Guy’s transition into education, working with special needs children, and the importance of family dynamics in shaping behavior. We also explore the differences between policing as portrayed in the media versus real life, and delve into the roles of the National Guard and ICE in current law enforcement.

And since Guy is all too familiar with K-12 teaching – instructor’s aid for 10 years – we reflect on my new book, The Sub: Tales of an Inner-City Teacher and the challenges of classroom management and the future of education.

Thanks for tuning in, and as always, get your workout in! Peace – R

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AI Actors are Here to Stay on Tola Talks – Ep #192

Today on Tola Talks – Live we’re talking about AI actor Tilly Norwood and the uproar she’s causing in Hollywood, the 2009 sci-fi classic, Star Trek, RIP shout-outs to Jane Goodall and Tom Petty, fitness tips for folks like me with major back problems, some talk about the US government shutdown, plus the Autistic kids in my new book, The Sub: Tales of an Inner-City Teacher.

Thanks for tuning in everyone…and get your workout in! Peace – R

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Live-streaming and More on Tola Talks – Ep #191

Hey everyone, Tola Talks is back!

This time around it’s all LIVE, so hope you can join us on YouTube or LinkedIn or X (formerly Twitter) or Twitch. For today’s Episode #191 we kept it short and sweet while discussing my new book, The Sub: Tales of an Inner-City Teacher, plus some excellent teachings from the Chinese philosopher and humanitarian, Confucius.

Have an awesome day and as always, get your workout in! Peace – R

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The Sub: Tales of an Inner-City Teacher

Hey everyone! If you’re concerned about everything that’s wrong with our inner-city public schools – as you should be – then check-out my latest book, The Sub: Tales of an Inner-City Teacher. (click to view on Amazon)

Based upon my real life experiences as a K-12 substitute teacher, The Sub gives you an outsider’s view inside America’s troubled educational system.

An historical fiction novel that’s based upon true encounters, The Sub shines a much-needed light on the challenges facing our beleaguered (and burnt out) inner-city educators. There’s everything from lockdowns and school shootings, to Autistic children with a penchant for changing lives, to fighting 5th graders and discourteous kids dropping F-bombs, to Middle School girls with their own school-specific gang. Not to mention a sweet and sexy romance that’s fit for a Hallmark movie! Most of all, is our insightful protagonist’s (Eddie Cruz) ability to address all the brokenness with concrete solutions to fix them.

A must read for all High School students and K-12 educators everywhere!

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More School Closures – Ep 9 – Tola Talks Texas

Today we’re talking about the negative impacts the pandemic continues to have on children of all ages, especially more school closures leading to our worst “academic achievement crisis in living memory”, as well as suicide rates rising sharply among girls 12-17 years old (up 51% from 2019-2021); another variant called IHU in France that is “definitely not worth worrying about at the moment”; kudos to Green Bay Packers star quarterback Aaron Rodgers pushing back on criticism for hugging NFL reporter Erin Andrews in a postgame interview on Christmas Day; decriminalization measures in NYC meant to combat their growing crime; the good and the bad news when it comes to US companies hiring employees in December (good) while thousands of flights are still being cancelled and more Broadway shows are closing their doors (bad); plus good news from Goldman Sachs about Bitcoin potentially reaching $100,000 as it takes store of value share away from Gold. And of course, more talk about drinking from the Fountain of Youth and my new Tola Yoga class at Plano Athletic Club starting this Saturday at 12:30p.