Thoughts From a Bilingual Educator!

               Ever wonder why students don’t feel comfortable enough to share their feelings or thoughts on different issues in class? Or why, in remote learning, do they keep their cameras off and hide behind those black Zoom squares? Sometimes, I find it frustrating when students do not feel important or smart enough to share their opinions freely and confidently; however, I am not frustrated with my students, I am more concerned with my inability to facilitate opportunities for students to participate in classroom discussions. So, the question I toil with the most is how can I make my classroom environment a safer and fairer place where students could express themselves without fear of rejection or being wrong. Personally, I don’t have a secret sauce. In fact, many times I failed miserably at making my classroom a safer and fairer place, but I feel like if your classroom oozes tolerance, inspiration and love, more often than not, your students will find a safe zone.  To begin wit

     This is for all the single mothers raising children. I am thankful that I was raised by a single mother; of course I needed a father, but that was the hand I was dealt. This emptiness was needless, but I have to recognize that my older brother and my mom tried to fill that void and they tried their best. In fact, most of the world, including the church, would say that I came from a dysfunctional family, but it was God's plan all along; it was what actually brought me to my knees and accepted Christ. I am thankful for Him, them and all the people that invested in me; especially my mom. This blog post is for all the mothers, mainly those single mothers raising men.      After the not so pleasant memories in my early years, my “first” memories were of my mom working two jobs, one at Publix and another at a restaurant (don’t remember the name). However, I do remember that she would leave early and not come back until late at night dressed in her cashier uniform, not knowing she ha