Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! I sat in front of the computer, thinking about what I could come up with to keep my students engaged for this last week of school. The computer screen began to blur reminding me of the metaphorical “blur” of […]
Michele Lamons-Raiford
Michele Lamons-Raiford is a hearing American Sign Language (ASL) and English teacher at Pinole Valley High School in the West Contra Costa Unified School District. She has been a High School teacher for the past twenty years, as well as an Adjunct Instructor at Solano Community College for the past fifteen years. She has a BA and MA in English from Cal State University Sacramento, and teaching credentials in English and ASL from Cal State University East Bay. She is a devoted wife, a mother of a beautiful Neurodiverse Son, and a lifelong Advocate for ASL, Deaf Culture, Students with Special Needs, Culturally Relevant, Culturally Affirming, Anti-Racist School Cultures, Climates, and Diversity in Educational Institutions and Organizations.
Posted inMental Health
A Safe Space, A Safe Place
Finding New Ways to Build Student Relationships Built on Trust Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! It all began when I started to meet students one-on-one in breakout rooms during the pandemic. I wanted to “become more in touch with the mental health of some […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education
You Showed Up: Reflections On Another School Shooting
Reflections On Yet Another School Shooting Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! Like so many others, I found myself sitting in my car in the school parking lot a few minutes longer than usual Wednesday morning. I didn’t know how to describe what I felt […]
Posted inOpinion
The Exhaustion of Black Educators on Another “Day After”
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! Rage. Grief. Fear. I felt a plethora of emotions as I watched, listened, and read about yet another racially motivated mass shooting. Something as simple as a “normal” day of shopping on a beautiful and seemingly peaceful Saturday afternoon […]
Posted inInterviews
Why the Arts Matter in Schools
An Interview With Art Teacher, Jan Barzottini Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! As arts programs continue to be cut across K-12 schools, I am reflecting on the importance of arts in education. In “Arts Integration in School: 10 Reasons Why It’s Important,” Sandra Larson […]
Posted inOpinion
An Educator Mom’s Perspective On Mother’s Day
As teachers who are also mothers, our roles are often even more than the “dual roles” of teacher and parent. It is difficult for most teachers with kids to strike the right balance, but when we think about the many roles mothers play, it is even more of a struggle to maintain a work-life balance. […]
Posted inOpinion
What Trevor Noah Can Teach America About Teachers
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! Like many teachers, I have had to take a long, hard look at whether or not I had the capacity to stay in education. The past few years have tested my dedication to education more than any in my […]
Posted inPedagogy
How to Support Parents and Educators of Autistic Students
I remember the first student I taught who had been diagnosed with autism very well. “Ms. Lamons, you need to fix the date on the board.” “Ms. Lamons, I need to know what we are doing today.” “Ms. Lamons, I finished my work. Now, what do I do?” John had what some described as a […]