Beinvenidos! Karibu! Bonjour! Yōkoso! Welcome. My name is Joshua Varani-Edwards -but I go by Mr. E. for short. One of my favorite professors and mentors Art Pearl used to quip, “If we’re doing things right, then learning should be fun.” Having taught middle and high school students for over a decade, I’ve strived to live up to my mentors words by creating a classroom where my students have choices in the topics they write about, the projects they choose, and strong personal connection in their learning. To elaborate on Dr. Pearl’s point, I believe we can work together this year to create an inclusive, safe, and democratic space in our class where students will kindle their curiosity, passion, and wonder. Learning should feel exciting and fun.
Stating this lofty goal is easy; but, pursuing this dream can leave one feeling as tired and mad as Don Quixote (albeit fighting broken copy machines, standardized tests, and burnout in place of windmills). It is, however, a fight I fervently believe in. To that end, I will ask a lot of my students this year, including the maturity to take responsibility in their learning, to have compassion for their peers, and to work hard to push past the boundaries of what they thought was possible in their learning. I need your aid you in this quixotic quest: please stay current on the assignment I post on Home Access; have patience as I send out lengthy but detailed updates via Parent Square; and, please check our class website every few months to support your student as they publish their work. We are all in this battle together and, idealism aside, my greatest source of inspiration as a teacher has always been my fellow educators, students, and parents who have madly pursued this quest with me. This website is dedicated to you all.