Our Classroom

In this episode of Our Classroom, Carla España, Ph. D and Luz Yadira Herrera, Ph. D join me in Exploring Language, Identity, and Power with Poetry. Classroom Notes 1. The poetry in their book cover 2. Poets, poems and text sets they would add to their list in Chp 6 3. Reading & discussion of my poem Café Con Leche Welcome to Our Classroom! Carla España, Ph. D. is a middle-grade language arts t...

In this episode of Our Classroom, JD Fuller , a therapist in private practice, adjunct professor & school counselor, as well as a consultant & trainer, joins me to discuss removing the stigma of mental health in the global majority.   Classroom Notes 1. Origins & present barriers related to mental health stigma amongst People of the Global Majority   2. Disparities in mental...

In this episode of Our Classroom, Tina Starks, an educational designer for Student Achievement Partners, joins me to discuss Working Together for Equitable Schools.   Classroom Notes   1. The true problem in our educational system 2. Three action steps we can take to transmute our pain into purpose 3. Powerful Frederick Douglas quotes   Welcome to Our Classroom!   An educationa...

In this episode of Our Classroom, Dr. Towanda Harris , author of The Right Tools: A Guide for Selecting, Evaluating and Implementing Classroom Resources and Practices, joins me to discuss the idea of Collaborating to Learn. Classroom Notes Collaborative planning to support teachers with improving student performance Leveraging ELL, special education, and gifted teachers as resources to provide add...

In this episode of Our Classroom, author and professor Steven Alvarez joins to discuss Taco Literacy. Classroom Notes:   Breakdown of Taco Literacy   Relationship between politics, immigration policies, and the rise of  taco culture     Looking for what’s there rather looking for what’s “authentic” Steven Alvarez is an Associate Professor of English at St. J...

In this episode of Our Classroom,   Dr. Jamila Dugan , Co-Author of   Street Data: A Next-Generation Model for Equity, Pedagogy, and School Transformation , gives us a deep dive into chapter two of her book - No Shortcuts: Avoiding Equity Traps and Troupes. Classroom Notes: Defining equity traps and troupes Commonly observed equity traps and troupes Advice to help avoid falling into equi...

In this episode of Our Classroom, author and professor Shane Safir  joins to discuss Street Data: A Next-Generation Model for Equity, Pedagogy, and School Transformation . Classroom Notes: Utilizing to create systems of education that edifies students of color A counter approach to the current system of education Consequences with our fixation on standardized testing Shane Safir has worked at...

In this episode of Our Classroom, Dr. Kimberly N. Parker , author of Literacy Is Liberation: Working Toward Justice Through Culturally Relevant Teaching , discusses one of the CRTs that are driving some folks crazy.   Classroom notes: Her best-selling book Literacy is Liberation: Working Toward Justice Through Culturally Relevant Teaching The focus on Culturally Relevant Teaching and how it h...

In this episode of Our Classroom, Sheldon L. Eakins, Ph. D , author of Leading Equity: Becoming an Advocate for All Students , joins to discuss Modeling Vulnerability & Humility. Classroom notes: Mistakes made What our fathers mean to us Importance of modeling vulnerability and humility Check out this powerful conversation in which two Black men get vulnerable. It’s not something you see every...

In this episode of Our Classroom, Roberto wraps up 2022 by engaging in a vulnerable moment and apologizing to any students that he may have caused harm to, even if he did so unknowingly.

In this episode of Our Classroom, author and professor  David Bowles joins to discuss Border Stories. Classroom Notes: Immigration and life on the border as focal points for his writing The way he shows up in his writing Balancing writing for children while also infusing profound topics David Bowles  is an associate professor and coordinator of the English education program at the U...

In this episode of Our Classroom, author Afrika Afeni Mills , shares insight about her book Open Windows, Open Minds: Developing Antiracist, Pro-Human Students .   Classroom Notes: The story of her name 3 actions steps administrators and teachers can take right now to transform their instructional practices 3 things White antibias, antiracist practitioners wish they would have known when they...

In this episode of Our Classroom, Roberto shares an excerpt from the article To Build a Pipeline of Black Teachers , This Program Starts Recruiting in High School by Emily Tate Sullivan. The article examines the Genius, Joy and Love initiative led by Dr. Valerie Kinloch, dean of the University of Pittsburgh School of Education. Don't be late to class!   Subscribe to Our Classroom   today...

In this episode of Our Classroom, Roberto is joined by Kamania Wynter-Hoyte, Eliza Braden, Michele Myers, and Natasha Thorton, the authors of the book Revolutionary Love , to discuss Creating Culturally Inclusive Literacy Classrooms . Revolutionary Love offers practices that affirm and celebrate students' identities, languages, and cultures to build a vibrant community of engaged, valued, and thou...

In this episode of Our Classroom, Zakiya Jackson , President of The Expectations Project shares her insight and experience regarding where the church and public schools can meet. Key Moments: The role of the church in the current educational landscape Bridging the gap between the faith community and schools What has surprised Zakiya in this line of work Follow Zakiya - @expectationsproject Welcome...

Welcome to Season 2 of Our Classroom! In this episode, Roberto breaks down an article that he and Lorena originally published through Edutopia . The article examines the idea that school leaders should take an active role and set attainable goals to ensure that diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives are successful.  #education #schools #schoolleaders #DEI #diversity #equity #inclusion #...

Welcome to Our Classroom! In this episode, Stacy Seward , Executive Director of The Dream Network in Lawrence Massachusetts, joins to discuss the school-to-prison pipeline and prison to community re-entry, including a healing-centered transformative model along with financial literacy and economic power. Focal points: Origins of The Dream Network Wish teachers would have known or cared to know Sch...

This week's guest was Terra Lynch, Director of Middle School at Headwaters School in Austin, Texas.   We discussed the following: Director of Middle School role Triumphs & trials in the first year Expectations for year 2 ABAR efforts Welcome to Our Classroom! Terra Lynch spent a decade teaching Humanities at University Neighborhood High School in New York City, and a decade as a consultan...

Aiko Bethea stopped by Our Classroom to discuss her upcoming publication, the Magnolia Murder Series . We touched upon the following: ◦ Characters in the series ◦ Shifting POC stories from being steeped in suffering ◦ What it looks like when systemically marginalized communities define success on their own terms ◦ Favorite authors The  founder of RARE Coaching & Consulting , Aiko Bethea i...

In this episode of Our Classroom, Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul invites Lorena Germán to join her in one of the RedClayEd Community Conversations. As we transition from summer fun and flexibility, Sonja challenges the audience to consider the following themes: Nourishment Rejuvenation   Preparation   Anticipation   Reflection Questions How are we feeding ourselves physically, spiritually, e...

In the third and final part of our poetry series with author Ummi Modeste, she shares and analyzes the poem Hyphenated from her book Because I Knew. This is one of her favorite poems as it speaks to the struggle of tracing her roots.  R. Ummi Modeste is a native of Brooklyn, NY where she attended and graduated from the New York City Public School System. She retired from t...

Part Two of our poetry series with author  Ummi Modeste  explores immigration from a number of different angles. In this episode, Ummi reads the poem Dreaming A Decolonized World   from her book  Because I Knew.  This is a passionate conversation that we invite you to join. Click the image above to   listen   to the episode now! R. Ummi Modeste is...

If you dig poetry then you are in for a treat! This is part one of a 3-part poetry series w/ author Ummi Modeste . In this episode, Ummi reads the poem Quien Soy Yo from her book Because I Knew. We then had the opportunity to analyze the poem and discuss ways to apply it in the classroom. R. Ummi Modeste is a native of Brooklyn, NY where she attended and graduated from the New York City Public Sch...

Welcome to Our Classroom! In this brief episode, Math Educator and Consultant Kwame Sarfo-Mensah wraps up our conversation about math including talking about supporting bilingual learners.  Kwame Sarfo-Mensah is a 15-year veteran urban educator and the founder & CEO of Identity Talk Consulting, LLC., an independent educational consulting firm that provides professional development and con...

As we proceed (P. Diddy voice) with the math strategies you need! In part 2 of Mathin' It Up w/ Kwame Sarfo-Mensah , we discuss Math & Hip Hop, creating a STEM Speaker Series, Culturally Responsive Teaching in math, standardized testing, and the difference between math in the USA and math in Western African countries. Kwame Sarfo-Mensah is a 15-year veteran urban educator and the founder &...