Our Classroom

I don’t even like math like that but this was fun! 😂 My mom commented, “I wish I had a math teacher like you when I was in school!” Brother Kwame Sarfo-Mensah out here getting love from mom dukes! I guess he was a good guest to have on the show and I will have to bring him back in the future! Yes, I used all exclamation points is this caption! Check out this lively conversation where we talk abou...

Henry J. Turner and Kathy Lopes join Roberto to discuss their new book Change the Narrative : How to Foster an Antiracist Culture in Your School . In addition, they share about their co-authoring process, their challenge in writing about assessments, and the content that most resonates with them. Henry J. Turner serves as principal at Newton North High School in Newton, Massachusetts. He is most p...

It’s great to learn and journey with others. Thom Gibson is my go-to person for all EdTech related questions. In this episode of Our Classroom, we discussed EdTech and Edupreneurship . We also touched up fatherhood and the challenge of trying to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Thom Gibson is a two-time teacher of the year educator, creative director at New EdTech Classroom, educational consu...

Student voice matters! In this episode of Our Classroom, I had my first student guest, Clara Mangali . We discussed how her senior research project led to her creating a Justice & Healing virtual workshop for educators and students. Clara Mangali (she/her) is a student seeking to affect change through activism, community building, and identity development. She currently resides on the ancestra...

Since y’all kept stressing me about bringing Lorena Germán back on the podcast, I found a way to do it without giving her an opportunity to turn my interview into a flirt session with me! This is the shortest episode that I have published, yet it is fruitful. This is an excerpt from her Textured Teaching presentation several months ago at the ICTE (Iowa Council of Teachers of English) Conference....

Well… I tried to keep the interview focused on Textured Teaching but your girl Lorena was wildin’ (dropped the “g” because she was out of control)! Nonetheless, before she snuck in to give me a kiss, we managed to discuss:     ◦    The impact of Textured Teaching since being published in Sept 2021     ◦    What has sur...

All the way from London, UK! Author Marisa Taylor checked into Our Classroom to discuss Using Bilingual Books to Teach Self-Love & Diversity . She touched upon: -The personal experiences that inspired her book ´Happy within´ -Her observations of how other countries responding to the concepts of bilingualism and diversity -Steps monolingual families can implement now to learn a new language and...

It's Women's History Month and fortunately an Extraordinary Latina was the most recent guest .In this episode of Our Classroom we were joined by Isis Ortiz-Belton who is making power moves in the financial services and banking industry.  We discussed Isis': Education journey Co-authorship of the book Extraordinary Latinas Women she admires ISIS ORTIZ-BELTON is a financial services and banking...

New York City represent, represent! Dr. Gloria Rosario Wallace dished out the marvelous as we discussed Liberation Pedagogy including: - What is Liberation Pedagogy and why should people learn about it? -The trials and triumphs of co-founding a high school in Brooklyn, NY where she implemented Liberatory and Critical pedagogy to design an inclusive learning community -Considerations for...

After a brief hiatus, it felt great to be back in conversation with amazing people! Tonight in Our Classroom Roberto was joined by Alexis and Chanté   @letstalk_sis . They discussed Advocacy & Affirmation in Predominantly White Spaces including: - The top two or three most difficult topics that they find themselves addressing -The Utah Parent Opt-Out Law and what race-related advocac...

In honor of   Black History Month ,   Lorena German   and   Britt Hawthorne   came together to talk about different aspects of   Blackness . Like the last one, this mini summit featured short 20 minute conversations with guests. This bonus episode features  Lorena  &  Tanesha B. Forman  breaking colorism all the way down.  #podcasts #teach...

In honor of   Black History Month ,   Lorena German   and   Britt Hawthorne   came together to talk about different aspects of   Blackness . Like the last one, this mini summit featured short 20 minute conversations with guests. This bonus episode features Lorena & Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz  talking about healing and Blackness , as well as what it should look like...

In honor of   Black History Month ,   Lorena German   and   Britt Hawthorne   came together to talk about different aspects of   Blackness . Like the last one, this mini summit featured short 20 minute conversations with guests. This bonus episode features   Britt   &   Roberto   talking about Blackness , the diaspora, and Latinidad. #podcasts...

In honor of Black History Month , Lorena German and Britt Hawthorne came together to talk about different aspects of Blackness . Like the last one, this mini summit featured short 20 minute conversations with guests. This bonus episode features Britt & Lorena talking about Black biracial identity, teaching about Black History Month , the difference between race, culture, and ethnicity… and mor...

On this first day of Black History Month 2022, we had the privilege of hearing from Amelia Allen , founder of Sankofa Learning Center , about Centering Black Children . Amelia shared touch upon the following: Why she took this leap of faith Meaning of Sankofa The trial & triumph of purchase her first home Learnings from starting her own school Strategies that center Black children and create a...

Fun, joy and love when chopping it up with Taína Benitez  from Teach With Love Global . We talked about Exploring Culture on a Global Level . We also talked about some immersive travel trip opportunities including the Egypt 2023 trip that Roberto and Lorena Germán will be leading. Taína is a Spanglish-speaking advocate, speaker and educator. A true lover of helping people, she has been an adv...

It’s about building relationships and effective communication! Great talk with Katie Malinski as we discussed her book How to Talk to Your Teen About Anything . She shared strategies that parents and educator alike can implement. Katie Malinski , LCSW-S, is an Austin-based parenting coach and family therapist. With over 2 decades' experience, Katie helps parents see the key connections that help r...

On Monday, January 17th, Multicultural Classroom hosted an MLK, Jr. Summit. Lorena Germán facilitated brief conversations all day long. Our guests included José Luis Vilson, Tiffany Jewell, Tamara Russell, and Tricia Ebvaria . This episode weaves the four conversations together for insightful and fruitful reflections about Martin Luther King, Jr's life and legacy, and the impact his work still has...

Say my name, say my name! Yes, a throwback Destiny’s Child reference but it works in this case. Katherine Trejo is today’s guest and we are discussing her book Yefferson, Actually / En Realidad, Yefferson . Katherine Trejo is a first-generation Salvadoran-American college graduate with a bachelor’s degree in politics and Latin American/Latino studies from UC Santa Cruz. She lives in Historic Filip...

A couple months ago, Roberto was asked participate on a virtual panel regarding colorism in the Latina/o/e Community. The event was organized by AP for All NYC and hosted by Marisol Manríquez and Dr. Akua Kisiwaa-Adefope . In addition to Roberto, it featured Dr. Gloria Rosario-Wallace f, Rosa Bell and Dr. Soribel Genao . The panelists were asked to consider the following questions: 1. What does co...

Dr. Richard Reddick helps us unpack the notion of Restorative Resistance in Higher Education. He also shares his experience leading The Eyes of Texas History Committee and University of Texas-Austin . Finally, he shares a bit about how he engages in self-care . Richard J. Reddick, Ed. D. is the inaugural Associate Dean for Equity, Community Engagement, and Outreach and Distinguished Service Profes...

Dr. Lois Marshall Barker & Ava Barker discuss their picture book Ava’s Caribbean ABC. They express the importance of cultural affirmation. Dr. Lois Marshall Barker is a Grenadian native and creative currently living in Houston, Texas. She has over 14 years of experience in education. Dr. Barker has served as a high school ELA teacher, instructional coach and now a curriculum developer. She wor...

Today’s episode features Ellison & Bavu Blakes discussing their self-published book El’s Mirror . El’s Mirror is an upper elementary picture book and a reflective tool for families, parents, mentors, leaders, and educators of children. Ellison Blakes is a scientist, pianist, researcher, athlete and baller, video game lover & designer, sports analyst, and author. After Mama’s prediction (wi...

Today's episode features Roberto being interviewed on Rosa Bell's PLC (Professional Learning Community) discussing how to integrate culture in Spanish Language classrooms through poetry. #OurClassroom #MulticulturalClassroom #SpanishTeachers #AfroLatino #languageteachers #podcast #OurClassroomPodcast #education #culture #PLC #ProfessionalLearningCommunity Credits: Host: Roberto Germán, R...

Today’s episode features Jordan Botello. He is a PhD Student and Graduate Teaching Fellow in the Department of Philosophy at The Graduate Center, CUNY in New York City. Currently he teaches at Brooklyn College. His areas of interest are Metaphysics, Philosophy of Language, Critical Philosophy of Race, Philosophy of Law and Philosophy of Religion. In particular, he has been doing research on the se...