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Age, sexual orientation, religion, gender identity, skin color, & political affiliation.

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1. Religious Background

🔍 Impact: Shapes values, identity, sense of belonging. Can offer support or cause conflict with identity (e.g., LGBTQ+ issues).
📘 Example: A Muslim student wears a hijab and is supported by her teacher, promoting confidence and inclusion.
🎥 Resource: Pew Research: Religion & Youth Development

2. Sexual Orientation

🔍 Impact: LGBTQ+ youth face higher bullying, isolation, mental health risks. Supportive environments foster resilience.
📘 Example: A student who feels safe coming out in class performs better academically and socially.
🎥 Resource: Trevor Project “Coming Out Stories”

3. Gender Identity

🔍 Impact: Trans and nonbinary students thrive when affirmed; risk of anxiety/depression if not supported.
📘 Example: A school that uses chosen names/pronouns sees better attendance and engagement from gender-diverse students.
📘 Article: Pediatrics - “Gender Development in Transgender Children”

4. Culture

🔍 Impact: Affects learning styles, communication, behavior expectations. Cultural mismatch may be misinterpreted.
📘 Example: A student taught not to question adults may seem disengaged to a teacher unfamiliar with the cultural norm.
🛠 Strategy: Use culturally responsive teaching and include diverse materials.

5. Family Unit

🔍 Impact: Stability and parenting style matter more than family structure. Diverse families can thrive with support.
📘 Example: A student in foster care may need trauma-informed classroom support.
📘 Resource: APA – “Parenting in Diverse Families”

6. Economic Status

🔍 Impact: Poverty affects nutrition, sleep, stress, and academic readiness. Creates opportunity gaps.
📘 Example: A student without internet or school supplies may fall behind.
🎥 Video: PBS Frontline: Poor Kids

🧩 How These Factors Interact in Classrooms

A transgender teen from a religious, low-income family may face multiple stressors.

A bilingual child in poverty might struggle with both language and access.

Educators must recognize these layers and respond with empathy, inclusion, and equity.

✅ Tips for Teachers:

Use inclusive language and affirm identities.

Offer school supplies and meal programs without stigma.

Integrate diverse cultures and stories into lessons.

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🔍 Implicit Biases

Definition:
Implicit biases are subconscious attitudes or stereotypes that influence our thoughts, actions, and decisions either unintentionally or without our awareness.

Examples:

A teacher may unconsciously call on boys more often in math class, believing they are naturally better at it, even if she supports gender equality.

Assuming a bilingual student is less intelligent because they struggle with English.

Disciplining Black students more harshly than white peers for similar behavior.

Students with ADHD, autism, or anxiety might be seen as lazy or disruptive rather than understood as needing different supports.

Quiet students may be overlooked or assumed to be less competent because they don’t speak up. Conversely, talkative students might be seen as leaders even if they don’t always contribute meaningfully.

🎥 Short Video

Title: Implicit Bias 101
A quick overview by the Kirwan Institute at Ohio State University.

🌍 Cultural Competence

Definition:
Cultural competence is the ongoing process of learning about, understanding, respecting, and effectively interacting with people from diverse cultural backgrounds, beliefs, values, and experiences. It involves more than just awareness—it’s the active practice of adapting behaviors, communication, and teaching methods to be inclusive and equitable.

It requires self-reflection, openness, and a willingness to unlearn stereotypes or assumptions. Culturally competent individuals recognize that culture shapes how people see the world, and they seek to bridge differences rather than erase them.

Example:
A teacher notices a student rarely makes eye contact and seems quiet during class discussions. Instead of labeling the student as disengaged, the teacher learns that in the student's culture, avoiding eye contact is a sign of respect, and participation is more passive. The teacher then uses more small-group or written formats for engagement.

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Framework for Developing Cultural Competence

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Framework for Developing Cultural Competence

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🌐 Cultural Competence Framework

Cultural competence isn't something you "achieve" once — it's a lifelong process of growth. A strong framework should include five key components, each building on the other.

🧩 1. Valuing Diversity

What it means:
Recognizing, respecting, and celebrating differences in race, ethnicity, gender, language, religion, ability, and more.

In the classroom:

Use literature, examples, and visuals that reflect a wide range of cultures and experiences.

Celebrate cultural holidays and traditions respectfully.

🪞 2. Conducting Ongoing Self-Assessments

What it means:
Regularly examining your own biases, beliefs, and teaching practices.

In the classroom:

Reflect on whose voices are included—and excluded—in your curriculum.

Ask yourself: “Am I teaching to all students or about all students?”

🤝 3. Managing Differences

What it means:
Navigating misunderstandings or conflicts that may arise from cultural differences with openness and empathy.

In the classroom:

Teach and model respectful dialogue.

Address microaggressions or bias incidents with honesty and care.

📚 4. Willingness to Develop Cultural Knowledge

What it means:
Actively seeking to learn about cultures, histories, languages, and traditions different from your own.

In the classroom:

Attend trainings, read diverse authors, and learn from families.

Invite guest speakers or community members to share lived experiences.

🔄 5. Ability to Adapt to the Cultural Context of the Community

What it means:
Adjusting your teaching to reflect and respond to the cultural realities of your students and school community.

In the classroom:

Use examples and materials that connect to students’ backgrounds.

Involve families in ways that honor their cultural values and communication styles.

🪄 Reflection: How I Will Apply This Framework as a Teacher

As a future educator, I will:

Use self-assessment tools regularly to stay aware of my biases.

Intentionally include diverse voices and avoid "token" representation.

Seek feedback from students and families on how welcome they feel.

Adapt communication (like translated materials or home visits) to support every student’s family.

Model curiosity and empathy when differences arise, teaching students to do the same.

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Impact of Implicit Bias on Teacher Perceptions

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Impact of Implicit Bias on Teacher Perceptions

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🔍 How Implicit Bias Affects Teacher Perceptions

Implicit bias can subtly shape how educators view, interpret, and interact with students and their families—often without even realizing it. These biases may influence how teachers:

Expect academic success

Discipline students

Communicate with families

Recommend students for programs (e.g., gifted, special ed)

📚 Studies & Articles That Show the Impact

1. Study: Yale University (2016)

Researchers used eye-tracking to show that preschool teachers watched Black boys more closely when expecting "challenging behavior"—even when none occurred.

Takeaway: Teachers may unknowingly expect misbehavior from certain students based on race or gender.

2. Article: “The Trouble with Black Boys” by Pedro Noguera

Discusses how implicit bias contributes to higher suspension and dropout rates for Black male students, and calls for equity-focused teaching.

3. Study: Ford et al. (2004)

Black and Latino students are significantly underrepresented in gifted programs, partly due to teacher biases in identifying giftedness.

Takeaway: Teachers may overlook high potential when students don’t “fit” their internalized image of a gifted learner.

✏️ Scenario 1: The Quiet Student

A Latina student is quiet in class. The teacher assumes she doesn’t understand the material and avoids calling on her. In reality, she’s fluent but shy due to past experiences being mocked for her accent.

➡️ Reflection: The teacher's bias about language ability affects how much opportunity the student has to participate and be seen.

✏️ Scenario 2: The “Involved” Parent

A white parent who frequently emails the teacher is viewed as "engaged," while a Black parent who works late and can’t attend meetings is seen as "uninvolved."

➡️ Reflection: The teacher's assumption about what parental involvement "should" look like misses cultural and socioeconomic realities.

✏️ Scenario 3: The Gifted Referral

An Asian American student excels in math and is recommended for gifted services. A Black student with equal test scores and creativity is not referred—because they are seen as “too energetic” or “disruptive.”

➡️ Reflection: The teacher’s implicit bias impacts access to opportunity.

🛠️ What Do I Think Teachers Can Do?

Use blind grading when possible.

Reflect on who gets praise and corrections.

Attend bias training and seek accountability from peers.

Use multiple criteria for things like gifted referrals or disciplinary decisions.

✅ Final Thought:

Recognizing how implicit bias shapes perceptions isn't about guilt—it's about growth. Awareness is the first step toward building a classroom rooted in equity, empathy, and respect.

Would you like a printable version of these scenarios for class discussion or journaling prompts?