Cultural Competence by Alexia Acker

Objective

aacker8_1 — 2025-07-23 01:47:09 UTC

Task: Identify and describe the impact of factors such as religious background, sexual orientation, gender identity, culture, family unit, and economic status on the personal growth and development of children and adolescents.

Identify & Describe the Impact of Factors

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The factors that impact the personal growth and development of children and adolescents are the following: 1) Physical Environment, 2) Socio-economic Status (SES), 3) Family Dynamics and Relationships, 3) Education, 4) Care, 5) Nutrition and Diet, 6) Cultural and Social Influences, lastly, 7) Psychological Factors. Let’s break it down

Factors and the Impact of Factors.

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Physical environment: refers to the housing conditions in which a child or adolescent is raised. This includes factors such as household temperature, where extreme heat or cold may affect health, and the presence of dampness, which can lead to mold and bacteria growth (Source). It also involves whether children have sufficient opportunities to spend time outdoors, access fresh air, and engage in physical activity.

Socio-economic Status (SES): refers to an individual’s or family’s economic and social position relative to others, often measured by income, education, and occupation. SES can influence the development of children and adolescents. Limited financial resources may affect access to basic necessities and participation in social activities such as sports or extracurricular programs. As a result, children from lower SES backgrounds may have different developmental experiences compared to their peers from higher SES backgrounds.

Family Dynamics & Relationships: The home environment significantly affects a child's development. Supportive and loving families—those who engage with their children—promote positive cognitive, social, and emotional growth. In contrast, neglectful families may contribute to poor cognitive and emotional skills and defiant behavior in children.

Education & Care: This refers to the education and care provided for children from birth to preschool age. Examples include preschools, day nurseries, and childcare providers. These early education options are designed to support development in social, emotional, physical, and cognitive areas. Children also have opportunities to interact with peers, which can help them prepare for school.

Nutrition & Diet: Getting good nutrition is important for growing children. What also is important during this time is tooth development. Breastfeeding is essential and Important for infants; due to all the important nutrients it provides. When the child starts to eat solid foods, it’s good to eat with your children so they learn good eating habits and try new things. Children eat what their parents eat.

Cultural & Social Influences: Cultural influences refer to various ways parents bring up their children. For instance, parenting styles can vary in terms of physical affection, such as hugging or kissing, as well as communication patterns, which may involve brief exchanges or more frequent and in-depth conversations. Other things include religion, politics, or neighborhoods.

Psychological Factors: Positive and negative experiences significantly influence a child's self-esteem, confidence, and overall development. Parents and caregivers can support this growth by encouraging children to solve problems independently, along with nurturing the child, thereby fostering greater confidence.

Gender: While gender may not initially appear to influence developmental impact, it is an important consideration given differences in puberty between boys and girls. Preferences, tendencies, and behaviors often vary by gender, which can shape developmental experiences and outcomes.

Genetics: This term refers to characteristics passed from parents to children. These characteristics may include height, weight, body type, eye color, hair type or color, and both physical and mental abilities. In addition to visible traits, genetics can involve the inheritance of certain medical conditions or diseases that may be present within a family, such as heart conditions or diabetes.

Objective

aacker8_1 — 2025-07-23 01:56:44 UTC

Task: Define implicit biases and cultural competence. Reflect on your own implicit biases and how they might affect your teaching.

Objective

aacker8_1 — 2025-07-23 01:58:00 UTC

Task: Describe why a framework for developing cultural competence should include valuing diversity, conducting ongoing self-assessments, managing differences, willingness to develop cultural knowledge, and ability to adapt to the cultural needs of the community.

Define Implicit Biases & Cultural Competence

aacker8_1 — 2025-07-23 14:56:11 UTC

Implicit Bias: Is an unconscious attitude or stereotype that influences our understanding, actions, and decisions without even realizing it.

Cultural Competence: Is the ability to understand, appreciate, and effectively interact with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Reflection & How it Will Affect Your Teaching

aacker8_1 — 2025-07-23 14:58:32 UTC

During kindergarten roundup, I realized an implicit bias in action - I didn't allow my husband to complete paperwork because I assumed his handwriting wouldn't be neat enough. This bias stemmed from the stereotype that women tend to have better handwriting than men. Reflecting on this moment has made me more aware of how such assumptions can influence my expectations in the classroom. As a result, I'm committed to showing grace to all of my students, especially the boys, as they develop their writing skills. I'll remind myself that perfection isn't the goal - if handwriting is legible, it's good enough. What matters most is encouraging effort and growth without judgement.

Describing the Framework

aacker8_1 — 2025-07-23 15:04:51 UTC

A framework for developing cultural competence should include valuing diversity because it helps us understand, communicate and interact well with people in different cultures. If we conduct self-assessments, we can learn more about the culture and be more aware of it, so we aren't assuming. By managing differences so that we aren't getting into arguments, and creating relationships based on our knowledge of cultural competence so that we can answer questions to avoid problems.

Applying the Framework in my Classroom.

aacker8_1 — 2025-07-23 15:08:48 UTC

In implementing this approach in my classroom, I would dedicate time to better understanding each student individually in order to be well-informed and ensure both students and parents feel comfortable. Additionally, I plan to promote fairness by treating all students equally and avoiding any appearance of favoritism. Finally, I will collaborate with the class to establish a comprehensive set of rules that apply uniformly to everyone, fostering a positive and inclusive learning environment.

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Objective

aacker8_1 — 2025-07-23 15:13:15 UTC

Task: Examine how implicit bias can impact a teacher's perceptions of children and families.

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aacker8_1 — 2025-07-23 15:41:57 UTC

Implicit bias can influence teachers' perceptions of students by leading them to make assumptions about a child's academic potential based on socioeconomic background or cultural differences. For example, a teacher unfamiliar with a student's culture may underestimate the student's ability to succeed in areas aligned with the teacher's own knowledge base. Similarly, teachers may assume that students from low-income families will struggle academically due to perceived lack of resources or opportunities compared to their peers.

aacker8_1 — 2025-07-23 15:42:00 UTC

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How Implicit Bias might influence teacher behavior and decision-making

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Lee, David. “Child Growth & Development: Environmental Factors.” CPD Online College, 16 Jan. 2025, cpdonline.co.uk/knowledge-base/care/child-growth-and-development/.

Weisner, Tom. “What Is the Most Important Influence on Child Development.” YouTube, YouTube, 15 Aug. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIZ8PkLMMUo.

Dixon, Elmer. “Unconscious Bias and Cultural Competence.” YouTube, YouTube, 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UdOx441IAw.

Windon, Suzanna. “What Is Cultural Competence and How to Develop It?” Penn State Extension, May 2023, extension.psu.edu/what-is-cultural-competence-and-how-to-develop-it.

Smartivity. “Factors That Affect Growth and Development in Kids.” Factors That Affect Growth And Development in Kids, Feb. 2022, www.smartivity.in/blogs/future-makers/10-factors-that-affect-growth-and-development-in-children?srsltid=AfmBOopfPc2t7QmFg8VQYkkJS2H6JIHjNBGOcL6rLUPjLNxvXBPapAS3.

Smith, Tiara, et al. Understanding Teacher Bias - Impact of Unconscious Bias | Learning A-Z, www.learninga-z.com/site/resources/breakroom-blog/understanding-teacher-bias. Accessed 23 July 2025.

Healey,J., Matthew,. Exploring Implicit Bias, July 2020.

https://www.ut.edu/uploadedFiles/Academics/Center_for_Teaching_and_Learning/Calendar%20of%20Events/Implicit%20Bias%20Presentation.pdf

Accessed 23 July 2025.

Stephens, Cindy, et al. “How Bias Impacts Our Relationships with Children and Families.” How Bias Impacts Our Relationships with Children and Families , 25 Sept. 2023, qualitystartla.org/how-bias-impacts-our-relationships-with-children-and-families/#:~:text=Early%20learning%20programs%20calling%20mothers,Class/Formal%20Education%20Bias%20Example:

https://www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/usable-knowledge/20/08/measuring-implicit-bias-schools