How do we teach children to respect others without teaching them to ignore themselves?

In this episode of Our Classroom, Roberto Germán sits down with children's author Caitlin Roeder to discuss her forthcoming picture book, Family Kisses, and the important conversations it invites around family traditions, culture, consent, bodily autonomy, and children's voices.

Together, they explore how adults can help children navigate relationships with confidence, kindness, and self-respect—without asking them to sacrifice who they are.

In this conversation, we discuss:

The inspiration behind Family Kisses

Teaching children about bodily autonomy in age-appropriate ways

Honoring family traditions while respecting personal boundaries

The role trusted adults play in helping children find their voice

Why consent is really about dignity and respect

How picture books create opportunities for meaningful conversations

What educators and families can learn from Mei-Li's story

This episode reminds us that teaching children to honor others should never require them to lose themselves.

"Children can learn to be kind, respectful, and compassionate while also understanding that their voice and their boundaries matter."

Caitlin Roeder is a children's author whose forthcoming picture book, Family Kisses, offers a joyful depiction of family celebration while introducing young readers to ideas of consent, bodily autonomy, and self-advocacy through the story of Mei-Li and her Chinese New Year celebration.

Teach in Truth.
Lead with Courage.
Belong to a Community That Gets It.

Every lesson teaches something.

The question is: What are students learning beyond the standards?

In this episode of Our Classroom, Lorena Germán sits down with educator and school leader Suzanne Adinolfi to explore the hidden curriculum—the unspoken messages students receive about identity, belonging, voice, and power.

Together, they discuss why meaningful learning extends beyond academic standards and how educators can intentionally create classrooms where students feel seen, valued, and empowered.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

This episode is an invitation to rethink not only what we teach, but also what our teaching communicates.

“Students may forget a lesson, but they’ll remember how your classroom made them feel about themselves as learners.”

Teach in Truth.
Lead with Courage.
Belong to a Community That Gets It.

What if some of the most important lessons about belonging happen outside the classroom?

In this episode of Our Classroom, Roberto Germán sits down with educator, school social worker, author, and parent Jalpa Vaidya Patel to discuss how schools and families can intentionally create spaces where children feel seen, valued, and connected.

Drawing from her work helping transform recess into a cultural celebration and her broader commitment to community-building, Jalpa shares practical insights about belonging, curiosity, culture, and student well-being.

In this conversation, we explore:

This episode reminds us that belonging isn’t something we simply hope for—it is something we build together.

“Belonging doesn’t happen by accident. It happens through intentional relationships, meaningful experiences, and a commitment to seeing one another fully.”

Jalpa Vaidya Patel is an educator, licensed clinical social worker, author, and advocate for student well-being. Her work focuses on helping children develop empathy, connection, and a sense of belonging in schools and communities.

Teach in Truth.
Lead with Courage.
Belong to a Community That Gets It.

What does meaningful school change actually look like?

In this episode of Our Classroom, Roberto Germán sits down with Dr. Lucy Canzoneri-Golden, Co-Founder and Co-Director of Coral Reef Montessori Academy Charter School, to discuss what happens when a school commits to culture, belonging, and student-centered learning over the long haul.

Rather than treating equity and inclusion as isolated initiatives, Coral Reef Montessori has worked intentionally to embed these values into the fabric of the school community. Dr. Canzoneri-Golden shares lessons learned from that journey, the challenges along the way, and the impact it has had on students, educators, and school culture.

In this conversation, we explore:

This episode is a reminder that meaningful change rarely happens overnight. It happens through commitment, reflection, relationships, and a willingness to keep showing up.

“School culture isn’t built through a single workshop. It’s built through years of intentional practice.”

Dr. Lucy Canzoneri-Golden is an educator, Montessori leader, and advocate for child-centered learning. As Co-Founder and Co-Director of Coral Reef Montessori Academy Charter School, she has helped cultivate a learning community grounded in independence, curiosity, compassion, and lifelong learning.

School leaders, if this conversation resonated with you, we’d love to help your team move from good intentions to sustained impact.

Multicultural Classroom partners with schools and districts through professional development, coaching, and implementation support designed to strengthen belonging, student engagement, and culturally sustaining practice.

Visit MulticulturalClassroom.com to learn more.

Let’s build the kind of schools our students deserve.

Teach in Truth.
Lead with Courage.
Belong to a Community That Gets It.

What if picture books were some of the most powerful tools available to educators—not just for teaching reading, but for helping students understand themselves?

In this episode of Our Classroom, Roberto Germán sits down with literacy consultant and author Sarah Cordova to discuss the role picture books can play in shaping student identity, developing writers, and creating more inclusive classrooms.

Together, they explore how thoughtfully selected mentor texts can serve as both mirrors and windows—reflecting students’ lived experiences while expanding their understanding of others.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

Whether you’re an elementary teacher, literacy coach, administrator, or secondary educator looking to strengthen writing instruction, this conversation offers practical ideas and inspiration for helping students see themselves—and their possibilities—through books.

Sarah Cordova is a national literacy consultant and author of The Power of Picture Books in Student Identity: Writing Lessons That Empower. Her work helps educators integrate identity, belonging, and culturally responsive literacy practices into daily instruction.

Teach in Truth.
Lead with Courage.
Belong to a Community That Gets It.

Libraries shouldn't be a luxury.

In this episode of Our Classroom, Roberto Germán reflects on a social media post from an educator who challenged the reality that many students still attend schools without fully functioning libraries.

What happens when we say literacy matters but fail to provide access to books?

This episode explores:

- Why libraries are an equity issue
- The connection between literacy and opportunity
- What students lose when libraries disappear
- How budgets reveal priorities
- Why access to books should not depend on a ZIP code
- The role libraries play in belonging, curiosity, and identity

At a time when educators are being asked to improve literacy outcomes, this episode asks a simple but important question:

How can students become readers if they don't have access to books?

Key Reflection

"A library is more than a room filled with books. It's a declaration that a child's imagination matters."

Discussion Question

What is the state of your school library—and what does it communicate to students about what we value?

Teach in Truth.
Lead with Courage.
Belong to a Community That Gets It.

What happens when schools see refugee students through a lens of deficit instead of possibility?

In this episode of Our Classroom, Roberto Germán sits down with Dr. Yacoub Aljaffery, author of Narratives of Success and Resilience of Students from Refugee Backgrounds in U.S. Schools: From Invisible to Valuable, to discuss what educators need to understand about refugee students, multilingual learners, and the power of belonging.

Drawing from his own journey as a refugee and educator, Dr. Aljaffery challenges common misconceptions and invites educators to move beyond trauma-centered narratives toward asset-based approaches that recognize resilience, brilliance, language, culture, and humanity.

Together, Roberto and Dr. Aljaffery explore:

• What makes students from refugee backgrounds feel invisible in schools
• How deficit thinking harms students and limits possibilities
• Why multilingualism should be viewed as an asset, not a problem
• The difference between supporting students and “fixing” them
• How current global conflicts and immigration debates impact students in classrooms today
• Practical ways educators can foster belonging and dignity
• What gives Dr. Aljaffery hope for the future

This conversation is a reminder that refugee students do not need pity. They need opportunity, affirmation, and educators willing to see their full humanity.

Teach in Truth.
Lead with Courage.
Belong to a Community That Gets It.

Follow Multicultural Classroom and subscribe to Our Classroom for more conversations at the intersection of education, culture, identity, and belonging.

ELA isn’t dead.

It just needs to be revived, reimagined, and remembered differently.

In this episode of Our Classroom, Roberto Germán reflects on why imagination, joy, speculative thinking, and culturally relevant literacy practices matter now more than ever in ELA classrooms.

This conversation explores:

This episode also introduces:

Hosted by Multicultural Classroom
Facilitated by Lorena Germán and Lamar Timmons-Long

📚 June 5 & 6
🕘 9:30 AM – 12 Noon EST

DM us for details or information about requesting district/school funding support.

What happens when schools misunderstand culture as misbehavior?

In this episode of Our Classroom, Roberto Germán reflects on powerful conversations with a Dominican mother advocating for her son after repeated school experiences rooted in misunderstanding, bias, and cultural disconnects.

This conversation explores the important distinction between cultural competence and cultural humility—and why humility requires more than training or good intentions. It requires listening, reflection, partnership, and the willingness to recognize that our norms are not universal.

Through real stories from families navigating schools, this episode challenges educators to rethink what belonging truly means and asks an important question:

Are students being supported… or silently asked to erase parts of themselves in order to fit in?

“Students should not have to erase themselves in order to belong.”

As school demographics continue to shift, many educators are realizing that diversity alone does not create belonging.

This episode is a reminder that culturally responsive practice is not about mastering “other people’s cultures.” It’s about developing the humility to listen, learn, reflect, and build authentic relationships with students and families. 

Teach in Truth.
Lead with Courage.
Belong to a Community That Gets It.

Join My Classroom Gold — a community of educators committed to equity, truth, and impact.

https://www.multiculturalclassroom.com/founding-member

Follow @multiculturalclassroom
Subscribe to Our Classroom
Share this episode with an educator, administrator, or parent navigating conversations around culture, belonging, and identity in schools.

What does it mean to cultivate hope in a moment like this?

In this reflective episode of Our Classroom, Roberto Germán explores the idea that hope is not denial, optimism, or pretending things are okay—it’s intentional, courageous work.

Inspired by the upcoming Cultivate Hope 2026 gathering hosted by The Flourish Collective, this conversation reflects on the Harlem Renaissance, the role of educators during uncertain times, and why imagination, creativity, and community matter now more than ever.

This episode is an invitation to resist cynicism, reclaim possibility, and remember that even in difficult seasons, people still have the power to create beauty, truth, and belonging.

“Hope is also imagining what could still become possible.” 

This episode was inspired by Cultivate Hope 2026, an event hosted by The Flourish Collective centered on the belief that difficult times can still produce beauty, art, community, and collective joy. The event draws inspiration from the Harlem Renaissance and the enduring power of people refusing to be diminished. 

Teach in Truth.
Lead with Courage.
Belong to a Community That Gets It.

Join My Classroom Gold:
👉 https://www.multiculturalclassroom.com/founding-member

Follow @multiculturalclassroom
Subscribe to Our Classroom
Share this episode with an educator, artist, or leader who needs encouragement right now.