Mom of twins, wife and educator

Issues in Latino Education          Some of the books that I have read this year, has made me think and reflect.  As a mother of two  beautiful and bi-cultural children, I am concerned and aware that not all children will receive the same opportunities in life. Our job as parents is to be aware that education is a system and that we all need to be included in conversations that expresses our ideas and perspectives. Resource. Power. Perspective. Diversity. The politics of language : “Schools are political domain and are linked to power and control within the dominant society. They are also agents of socialization in which formal pedagogy as well as the informal hidden curriculum reflect the beliefs of the dominant society” (Giroux, 1983). “A common perception among public educators and the public in general is that minority students drop out of school because of personal deficiencies, language difficulties, poverty, and many other perceived cul...

When introducing myself, I say my name is Deidania. “Hum.. Deidania where does that name come from?” People ask. Well, tell you truth I am not sure.. I know that my Godmother suggested that name to my mom and that is where I got my name. What people are really trying to ask and some do ask, is what race and/or ethnicity am I from? Before I even tell them, some people are already guessing. Are you Puerto Rican? Lebanese? Colombian? Italian? Cuban? Dominican? Yes, I have heard them all and then I say proudly “I am Latina, I am Dominican… well Dominican-American because I was born here in Providence. I was always confused when younger while living in the United States, I was considered Dominicana and when I would travel to D.R, I was considered a “gringa”. So where did I fit? What does this mean? Who am I? Why does your identity matter? Why does the languages that I speak matter? Why is Spanish and Spanglish so important to me and my family? Why is talking about it so important...

                        Why is the achievement gap such a big difference in the United States between cultures and society? Why is it that our Latino and African Americans students drop-out of school at a higher rate than White or Asian students? As a Latina and being a parent of multicultural kids, my husband and I want the best for our children just like all parents want the best for their children. As we discuss, I explain to my husband that what I want from the school that they will attend in this upcoming school year is a diverse background of students and educators. We learn best when there are different perspectives, discussions,a positive and equitable learning environment. “Research shows that racial and socioeconomic diversity in the classroom can provide students with a range of cognitive and social benefits.”  tcf.org Students in integrated schools have higher test scores.  Students in integrate...

Day off and home with kids. They are here watching television while I write. They are watching PBS kids, my son can watch television all day while my daughter loves to write, color, draw and play teacher. He does love sports and being outdoors. They are twins but have very different personalities which we love. This week we decorated pumpkins and they made such a mess but enjoyed every minute of it. We try to do things together as a family because children will remember time spent with one another more than anything in the world. I remember Sundays were family day when I was a child because my Father owned a Liquor store and he worked long hours day and night. We would go to church, visit family and friends, go to the park depending on the season, the store to shop, different beaches but the best memories were when we went to the Dominican Republic for a month or so every two years. What I am trying to say is that childhood is a short period of time but the most important ...

Let's talk about Culture and Education. The two subjects are very important to me because I love my culture and learning about someone else's culture and I love Education and learning more about how education can open many doors to many people.   I am a Latina woman. Dominican-American. I was born in Providence, Rhode Island but grew up speaking Spanish at home. Everything I did was in Spanish or Dominican slang or Dominican. I ate rice and beans, platano, mangu. Listened to Merengue, Salsa and Bachata. With only one television at home, night time was for watching telenovelas. Thalia was my favorite actress at that time. Juan Luis Guerra, Los Toro Band, Las Chicas del Can was a few of my merengue favorites. Anthony Santos was the Bachata king at that time. I can go on with my list because for the first five years before attending kindergarten, I was Dominican while living in the United States. We also had the privilege to travel to the Dominican Republic to visit our gra...

Blog when I reflect and reflect when I blog. Summer is my reflective time. It is where I sit and think, sometimes overthink. I enjoy my time, our time and every moment possible. Waking up without having a set time and routine feels good. Summer homework, class, reading. Coffee, kids running around, laundry, cleaning up, watching tv, playing outside, taking in some sun, watering the plants, getting sprinkled by the kids, sitting on the deck and again reflect. Trying to put the kids to nap, Target run, paying bills, running errands with the twins, Cook, wash dishes, more laundry, wash the floors, bath time for the kids, husband time, trying to settle down, nice warm hot shower, bed. No routine, just living life. But here I am having some type of anxiety, thinking I have two weeks left until returning back to work.(Do not get me wrong, I Love Teaching)  However, after having kids, I feel that my time with them during the summer is the best time I have with them. We ...

What do you do? Where do you go? What can I do? Where can I go? To hide To find peace To find a hug To give a hug To find the truth Communication is very important Trust and Respect is needed to be able to move and live in a content, calm world What do you do? Where do you go? What can I do? Where can I go? Words They hurt Sometimes more than someone can imagine Its like walking but not sure which direction to take A right, A left, straight or backwards I am stuck Stuck because I do not know where to go Which direction to take Because I am stuck Amazed Scared Afraid Because all I want is peace Peace For me and my family I want a hug I want the truth I want to know What do you do? Where do you go? What can I do? Where can I go? Should I move? I have to move. I have to move on I have to for my children, my gifts from God I have to for my family For me to find peace What do you do? Where do you go? What can I do? Where can I go? If you were in...