Tony Danza & First Year Teaching

Behavior Observation
Professor Aria
Christina Harrigan

During the semester, it was interesting to read and watch about Tony Danza fulfilling his goal
of becoming a teacher in his book I'd Like To Apologize To Every Teacher I Ever Had.
Throughout this book, we as future teachers were able to read about a first-year teachers
experience. Along with Danza's book, we were also able to view a documentary entitled Teach:
The First Years, also based on the experiences of first time teachers. Both of these examples
were able to provide great insight to what goes through the minds of first time teachers.
In both of the examples we encountered, both Danza and the other teachers had to overcome
many struggles. For example, Danza had a hard time motivating his students. In many instances
in his classroom, when he would mention assignments or books to read, the students would moan
and groan because they did not want to do it. The way he overcame the struggles was by
interacting one on one with each individual student. An example of this was when he couldn't get
his students to enjoy reading. Instead of forcing them to read something he knew they wouldn't
get, he listened to what his students had to say and found out they were interested in the book
Twilight by Stephanie Meyers. By purchasing copies for the students, he was able to gain their
focus and attention. From his students perspective, they felt he had listened to them and cared
about their thoughts and suggestions.
Though Danza was entering the teaching field for the first time, he did carry some strengths
with him. Because Tony Danza is a famous actor and performer, he found it easy to be able to
stand in front of a class setting. Though he may have been nervous at first, his prior career of
being in front of an audience came as a crutch for him in the long run. Another strength that

helped him with his personality had to do with the fact that he is a father himself. Throughout the
book we see many times where he references that he would want to be the type of teacher that he
would want his own child to have. We also see this part of him when he takes on a parental role
for some of his students when he cares about their well-being. One of the most important
strengths Danza had was his honesty. At the beginning of the book, his students asked many
personal questions, including how much money he has. When he knowledges that he is, indeed, a
millionaire, his honesty with the class helps them gain some respect for him.

Throughout Danza's lesson plans, he uses many different teaching styles. One of the first that
we see is auditory learning. At the beginning of the school year, Danza has his students write a
story, then share it with the class. By allowing them to hear one another, they are gathering the
information about their fellow peers. Another major style Danza uses is kinesthetic learning.
Whenever he is assigning projects, he gives the students free range. Many created posters, game
boards and even handmade origami figures. Another important style he uses is musical learning.
Many times throughout the book, Danza creates dances and songs to help students grasp different
lessons. Whenever Danza needed help putting these lessons together, he had many resources to
go to. First, he had his cooperating teacher, David Cohn. Cohn provided him with advice,
advised and critiqued him, and was a supporter of him. Another resource he had was his good
friend, Bobby Governale. As a former teacher himself, Governale was able to help Tony by
giving him advice and by using active listening.

When we were first introduced to Tony at the beginning of the book, he seemed pretty
confident at the idea of being a teacher. The moment he entered his classroom, his nervousness

began to set in and his attitude began to shift. The moment his students are all seated and ready
to go, the confident Danza that we first met was gone. This Tony Danza we saw was so nervous
that he sweat through his own dress shirt with in the first period. After a few weeks leading up to
winter break, Danza had become more comfortable with the school, his students, his coworkers
and most importantly himself. Though he is still grasping the main ideas of teaching, we see a
change in him. During the second half of the semester Danza has created very creative lessons to
engage students and even tried to relate to them by showing clips from media that they may
recognize and enjoy such as "Mean Girls" and "Freedom Writers." We also see a more enforcing
and confident Mr. Danza; the same confidence that at the start that was lost. At the end of the
school year, we see a proud and emotional Danza. He is proud of what he has accomplished and
he knowledges how hard it is for teachers everywhere in their first year and beyond.

Based on how much Tony changed throughout the year, it's safe to say that many first-year
teachers feel this way too. I believe this because in my personal life I have an older brother who
just started his first year of teaching and I have seen all of the emotions he went through
firsthand. Just like Tony Danza changed, I too have noticed a change my brother. When he was
nervous at the beginning of the school year, the more and more experience he had he became
more confident at home as well as in the classroom. He also gained confidence when he was able
to meet with his mentors and cooperating teachers who were willing to help.

Looking back on all of the situations that happened throughout Tony's time at Northeast high
school, there's one specific situation that I would've handled differently. When I look back on
how he spoke to the football team, I almost cringe. Though this doesn't involve the classroom, it

does involve an extracurricular that Tony his faced with and a reality for many teachers around
the world. Instead of being motivating, he proceeds to tell the team too much about himself,
expresses concern for teaching, and proceeds to ramble for about 30 minutes. If I were Tony, I
would've kept it short and simple. If I were Coach Riley, I also would have cut them off once he
kept rambling.

Based on Tony Danza's first time in a classroom, there are many things I have learned that I
will remember when I am a first-time teacher myself. The most important lesson I learned from
Tony was to always have some support system. Whether it was David Cohn, Bobby, Mrs.
DeNaples or Joe Connelly, they were necessary to help support Tony. When the going got tough
he was able to use all of them to help adjust to teaching. When I eventually have my own
classroom, I'm sure I will understand the importance of having a support system.

All in all, reading and viewing these experiences were extremely beneficial for all of us future
teachers. It was interesting to see the range of emotions one feels during the first year as well as
the struggles that come with it. Overall, this was extremely enjoyable to experience and I feel as
though it has somewhat prepared me for a classroom of my own someday.