Cultural Resident: Determining cultural impact through residential and intellectual mindset Merriam-Webster defines a resident as “. . . serving in a regular or full-time capacity”. Meaning. Moreover, visitor is defined as, “One who makes formal visits of inspection.” As an instructional leader and teacher in the GREAT city-state of Newark, I’ve had the privilege to […]
Culturally Responsive Teaching
Tea, Bannock & Poetry – A Teacher’s Tale
I pulled into the parking lot and parked in my usual place. I was always early, and there was only one other car in the parking lot. I hopped out and got my extension cord to plug in the block heater. The cord was still frozen and had to be carefully untangled. The drive to […]
Cultural Exchange Teachers in the United States: Supporting The Need for Effective Mentorship Programs
The Cultural Exchange Teacher program of the United States State Department has been in existence since 1967, where teachers from diverse countries like the Philippines, Ghana, Mexico, and China have the privilege and opportunities to experience professional and personal growth and development in various areas of teaching specialization – including mathematics, science, English, and special […]
Teaching Writing to Secondary Students is Hard, But It’s Necessary
During my first year of teaching, I had a brilliant student named Joshua*. Joshua was a Junior who was wise beyond his years. He loved to talk about books. He loved to debate different topics in class. However, it wasn’t until we read the cult favorite, The Color Purple, during the first nine weeks when […]
Embracing Deaf Representation: Strategies for Fostering Inclusivity in Education
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! Picture this: I once taught at a school that served preschool through fifth grade, including students who were Deaf or Hard of Hearing. But despite our efforts to create an inclusive learning environment, there was a noticeable lack of understanding […]
Black History is World History
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! “Wait, can you go back to that slide!?” one of my students asked. It was the beginning of February, and I was teaching a World History class about the Enlightenment. After numerous slides highlighting the ideas of European men, […]
Honor Mother Languages in Your Classroom
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! As a young girl, newly immigrated from Guatemala, I wondered whether my new teachers and classmates saw the real me -an individual with diverse thoughts, ideas, language, and culture. I felt alone and scared as I tried to overcome […]
Why Every Teacher Should Play De La Soul for Their Students
What De La Soul can teach Black students (and teachers) about breaking the status quo Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! I grew up listening to De La Soul. They are part of the landscape of my adolescence and young adult development. The trio from […]