Our Classroom

Roberto Germán | Multicultural Classroom
  • 4.9 (22)
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Welcome to Our Classroom! In this space we talk about education, which is inclusive of, but not limited to what happens in schools. Education is taking place whenever and wherever we are willing to learn. In Our Classroom, we explore educational journeys, discuss instructional strategies, unpack books, speak with authors, and we think about how all of this is connected to education. Subscribe, rate the show and write a review! For resources to help you understand the intersection of race, bias, education, and society go to multiculturalclassroom.com

  1. 12/22/2025

    Episode 141 | When Teaching Has No Script: Staying Human in Unsteady Times

    In this episode of Our Classroom, host Roberto Germán reflects on what it means to teach in truth when the ground beneath education feels unstable. Sparked by a powerful question raised during a Teaching in Truth masterclass, this conversation explores fear, uncertainty, and responsibility in today’s classrooms—particularly for immigrant families and communities of color. Rather than offering quick fixes or scripted responses, Roberto invites educators to sit with the tension: how do we stay human, ethical, and grounded when schools no longer feel universally safe? This episode centers history, names systems, and reminds listeners that clarity and courage are often cultivated in community, not isolation. Chapters 0:00 – Welcome to Our Classroom 1:20 – When School No Longer Feels Safe 3:45 – Teaching in Truth Means Naming Systems 6:10 – Why Neutrality Isn’t Neutral 8:30 – Community Is Not Optional 11:00 – When There Are No Easy Answers 13:30 – Sustainability Over Solutions 15:30 – Teach in Truth. Lead with Courage. (CTA) Reflection Questions for Listeners What tensions am I currently holding in my teaching practice? Where have I felt pressure to have answers instead of asking better questions? Who do I turn to when the work feels heavy or unclear? An Invitation to Continue the Work Teach in Truth. Lead with Courage. Belong to a Community That Gets It. My Classroom Gold is a community of educators committed to equity, truth, and impact—designed for those who want to keep learning, reflecting, and leading with integrity in complex times. https://www.multiculturalclassroom.com/founding-member   Connect & Share Follow @multiculturalclassroom Subscribe to Our Classroom wherever you listen Share this episode with a colleague who’s navigating uncertainty

    9 min

  2. 11/28/2025

    Episode 140 | Reading with Purpose Writing with Passion

    In this episode of Our Classroom, host Roberto Germán explores how emotion and identity serve as the gateway to authentic literacy engagement. Drawing from his presentation Reading with Purpose, Writing with Passion, Roberto invites educators to rethink what truly keeps students — especially reluctant and multilingual writers — from fully engaging with reading and writing. Through student testimony, classroom strategies, and reflections from Blue Ink Tears, this episode centers literacy as a human experience before it becomes an academic one. When students are seen, heard, and affirmed, reading and writing transform from tasks into tools for expression, healing, and connection.   CHAPTERS 0:00 – Welcome to Our Classroom 1:10 – What Keeps Students from Engaging with Literacy 3:00 – Emotion as an Entry Point to Writing 5:00 – Identity, Language & Student Confidence 7:00 – Books as Mirrors, Not Just Texts 9:00 – Instructional Strategies that Humanize Literacy 11:30 – A Writing Invitation You Can Use Tomorrow 13:00 – Patterns Across Classrooms 14:30 – Teach in Truth, Lead with Courage (CTA)   Featured Student Voice “When he talked about his feelings, it made me more confident to talk about mine.” — José Reyes, 9th Grade, Notre Dame Cristo Rey High School   Resources & Next Steps Blue Ink Tears by Roberto Germán Author Visits & Workshops: multiculturalclassroom.com Follow: @multiculturalclassroom   Join the Community 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.

    7 min

  3. 11/22/2025

    Episode 139 | Boldly Serving Boys of Color: Stories, Emotions & Accountability

    In this episode of Our Classroom, host Roberto Germán explores what it means to boldly serve boys of color—not just academically, but emotionally, culturally, and holistically. Drawing from Roberto’s live session at the NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) Annual Convention in Denver, Colorado, this conversation centers identity, storytelling, emotional literacy, and high expectations rooted in love. If you teach, mentor, parent, coach, or work alongside boys of color, this episode offers concrete shifts in mindset and practice that affirm humanity rather than manage behavior. CHAPTERS 0:00 – Welcome to Our Classroom 1:00 – Why Boys of Color Need Better Support 2:30 – Emotion Is Not Defiance 4:30 – When Boys Are Seen, They Speak 6:00 – Identity Is Complex, Not Confused 7:30 – Commitments for Educators 10:00 – Create Space, Not Silence 11:30 – Teach in Truth, Lead with Courage Key Themes Anger as communication, not misbehavior Storytelling and poetry as emotional containers Identity as complex, multilingual, whole High expectations as a form of love Rewriting deficit narratives in classrooms Creating space rather than controlling behavior Join the Community Teach in truth. Lead with courage. Belong to a community that gets it. Become a founding member of My Classroom Gold — a community for educators committed to equity, truth, and impact. Connect Follow @multiculturalclassroom Subscribe to Our Classroom on all platforms Explore resources at multiculturalclassroom.com Share This Episode If this message resonated, share it with someone who serves boys of color and help build a culture of love, truth, and accountability.

    8 min

  4. 11/13/2025

    Episode 138 | When the Work Reaches Places You've Never Been

    In this episode of Our Classroom, Roberto Germán shares a powerful testimony from community member Justin Luttrull about a moment that unfolded in a breakout session at Calvin University. A professor teaching about book bans and the difference between harmful books and books that expose harm cited the work of Lorena Germán — and mentioned that he listens to Roberto’s podcast. This unexpected story, coming from a white professor in Grand Rapids, Michigan, serves as a reminder that our work travels farther than we ever see. It speaks to representation, legacy, and the impact of culturally grounded education across communities and generations. This is an episode about encouragement, legacy, and the quiet ways our work changes the world. Chapters 0:00 – Welcome to Our Classroom 1:00 – Justin’s Testimony 2:30 – Representation in Unexpected Places 4:30 – Why This Matters for Educators 6:00 – Staying Faithful to the Work 7:30 – A Call to Community 9:00 – Outro: Keep Leading with Curiosity

    7 min

  5. 11/05/2025

    Episode 137 | Why We Still Need Libraries (More Than Ever)

    A librarian at the Los Angeles Public Library went viral after giving one of the funniest and most thoughtful explanations of internet slang ever recorded. But beyond the humor lies a deeper message about curiosity, culture, and why libraries still matter. In this episode of Our Classroom, host Roberto Germán reflects on what this viral moment teaches us about learning in public, bridging generations, and approaching education with humility and curiosity. Because whether we’re in classrooms or libraries, the goal is the same: to create spaces where learning feels human again. Key Topics The librarian as cultural translator Why curiosity is a powerful teaching tool Learning in public vs. performative knowledge Libraries as spaces for connection and equity How this viral moment mirrors the mission of Multicultural Classroom Resources Mentioned Video clip on Instagram Multicultural Classroom Chapters 0:00 – Welcome to Our Classroom 1:00 – The Viral Librarian Moment 3:00 – The Power of Curiosity 5:00 – Learning in Public 7:00 – Making Learning Human Again

    10 min

  6. 10/29/2025

    Episode 136 | What Book Banning Really Means — and Why the Language Matters

    In this follow-up to “The Difference Between Harmful Books and Harm-Exposing Books,” host Roberto Germán responds to a public comment on Lorena Germán’s recent post — a comment that reflects a common misunderstanding about book banning and access. In this episode, Roberto unpacks the language used in conversations about “restricted” versus “banned” books, revealing how the distinction is often used to downplay the real issue: power and control in education.  Through reflection and challenge, this episode invites listeners to rethink what it means when schools remove certain stories — and who ultimately benefits when harm-exposing books are kept off the shelves. Resources  Blog: “Harmful Books vs. Harm-Exposing Books” by Lorena Germán Learn more at multiculturalclassroom.com

    10 min

  7. 10/16/2025

    Episode 135 | The Difference Between Harmful Books and Harm-Exposing Books

    In this episode of Our Classroom, host Roberto Germán expands on Lorena Escoto Germán’s blog post “Harmful Books vs. Harm-Exposing Books.” Roberto breaks down the crucial difference between books that perpetuate harm and those that reveal it to inspire empathy and justice. Through this lens, he explores how silence, stereotypes, and unchecked bias shape what students read — and how banning books written by marginalized authors silences essential voices. Tune in to learn how educators, parents, and readers can defend harm-exposing books and nurture classrooms rooted in truth, love, and humanity.   Timestamps 0:00 – Intro: Why this conversation matters 2:20 – What makes a book harmful 8:10 – What makes a book harm-exposing 13:30 – Why book bans target these stories 18:00 – How educators can stand for truth and love 22:00 – Closing reflections

    10 min

  8. 10/08/2025

    Episode 134 | Teaching AI Through Storytelling w/ Abigail Hing Wen

    In this episode of Our Classroom, New York Times bestselling author Abigail Hing Wen joins to explore how storytelling can be a dynamic tool for teaching students about artificial intelligence. Diving into her new middle-grade novel, "The Vale," Abigail shares her vision of a hopeful, creative, and ethical approach to technology—one where young people are empowered, not intimidated, by AI. We discuss the power of fiction to foster tech literacy, empathy, and imagination. The conversation also highlights the importance of diversity in both tech and storytelling, as seen through the journey of Bran, a neurodiverse protagonist navigating both real and virtual worlds. Abigail shares candid insights from her experiences in Silicon Valley, offers inspiration for educators to use "The Vale" and its companion film in the classroom, and encourages students to become thoughtful creators and users of technology. Welcome to Our Classroom!

    16 min
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4.9
out of 5
22 Ratings

About

Welcome to Our Classroom! In this space we talk about education, which is inclusive of, but not limited to what happens in schools. Education is taking place whenever and wherever we are willing to learn. In Our Classroom, we explore educational journeys, discuss instructional strategies, unpack books, speak with authors, and we think about how all of this is connected to education. Subscribe, rate the show and write a review! For resources to help you understand the intersection of race, bias, education, and society go to multiculturalclassroom.com

Information

  • Creator
    Roberto Germán | Multicultural Classroom
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    145
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Our Classroom