Children develop complexly, and factors such as religious background, sexual orientation, gender identity, culture, family unit, and economic status shape their personal growth, learning capabilities, and emotional maturity, ultimately influencing the rest of their lives.

Educators must implement an empathetic approach when teaching. Recognizing how these factors work teachers can create inclusive lesson plans and allow for open communication. This will boost engagement and allow for all students to learn. Without teachers having knowledge about these factors, students will fall behind and act out. It will lead them to believe they are not welcome and in return give less effort.

Content:

1. Healthy Parents Healthy Children. “Factors That Affect Child Development.” Healthy Parents Healthy Children, Alberta Health Services, https://www.healthyparentshealthychildren.ca/im-a-parent/overview-of-parenting/factors-that-affect-child-development/. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.

2. Likhar, Akanksha, et al. "Early Childhood Development and Social Determinants." Frontiers in Psychology, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9596089/. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.

3. "Child Development." Birth to 5 Matters, Early Years Coalition, https://birthto5matters.org.uk/child-development/. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.

4. "5 Main Factors That Influence Child Development." Dr. Olfa, https://drolfa.com/5-main-factors-that-influence-child-development/. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.

5. Wright, Liz. "How Environmental Factors Influence Child Growth and Development." CPD Online Training, https://cpdonline.co.uk/knowledge-base/care/child-growth-and-development/. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.

Implicit bias is a stereotype that influences one's actions or thoughts about a person that the individual is unaware of. For example, a teacher calls on boys more than girls.

Cultural competence is someone's ability to interact with diverse people. This is extremely important in an educational context because without it the students would not feel safe, respected, or be able to learn. With this teachers can teach effectively to all types of students regardless of their background.

Implicit bias like religion might affect my actions. However, self-reflection and feedback from other educators, my students, or parents can help me minimize my implicit bias.

Content:

1. Arkansas Open Educational Resources (OER). Video 1: What is Cultural Competence? YouTube, uploaded by Arkansas Open Educational Resources (OER), 2024,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsWbODQiDWsLinks to an external site.

2. Ness, Sheryl. "Cultural Competency and Implicit Bias." Wild Iris Medical Education Blog, Wild Iris Medical Education, https://wildirismedicaleducation.com/blog/cultural-competency-implicit-bias. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

3. Shah, Harini S., and Julie Bohlen. "Cultural Competence." StatPearls, StatPearls Publishing, 4 Mar. 2023, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK589697/. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

4. "Osmosis: Implicit Bias." Osmosis, https://www.osmosis.org/learn/Implicit_bias. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

5. Apodaca, Mikayla. "An Ethical Guide to Implicit Bias." Ethics Spotlight: Student Project Showcase 2022, Santa Clara University, https://www.scu.edu/ethics-spotlight/student-project-showcase-2022/mikayla-apodaca/. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

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 because it creates an environment where all students feel important. Valuing diversity helps educators be more open and create engaging lesson plans for all students. For teachers to reach all students they must reflect on previous lesson plans and see what worked or didn't. Developing cultural competence allows teachers to be invested in their lessons. It also allows them to grow as human beings.

Content:

1. "A Framework for Cultural Competence." Centre for Culture, Ethnicity & Health, https://www.ceh.org.au/resource-hub/a-framework-for-cultural-competence/. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.

2. Escudero, Bárbara. "How to Practice Culturally Relevant Pedagogy." Teach For America, https://www.teachforamerica.org/stories/culturally-relevant-pedagogy#:~:text=Cultural%20competence%20requires%20that%20teachers,and%20strengthen%20their%20instructional%20practice. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.

3. Wlodkowski, Raymond J., and Margery B. Ginsberg. "A Framework for Culturally Responsive Teaching." ASCD, https://ascd.org/el/articles/a-framework-for-culturally-responsive-teaching. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.

4. Deady, Kathy. "5 Steps to Becoming a Culturally Responsive Teacher." Teach Away, https://www.teachaway.com/blog/5-steps-becoming-culturally-responsive-teacher. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.

5. Kumar, Mohan. "A Simple Guide to Cultural Competence for Educators." HubPages, https://discover.hubpages.com/education/A-Simple-Guide-to-Cultural-Competence-for-Educators. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.

Implicit bias can affect a teacher's perceptions of their students and families. This is an unintentional action but can be corrected with dedication. Implicit bias can lead to only calling on certain students or arranging desks in a certain way because of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or other factors. Personal reflection is a huge factor in correcting this habit of judging others. Teachers must ensure all students feel welcomed and have the tools they need to learn. A safe and welcoming environment is part of those tools. I believe all teachers in some way or form do this, but with effort, it can be minimized.

Content:

1. "How Do I Know if My Biases Affect My Teaching?" National Association for Multicultural Education, https://www.nameorg.org/learn/how_do_i_know_if_my_biases_aff.php. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.

2. Quintero, Esther. "What Is Implicit Bias, And How Might It Affect Teachers And Students? (Part II - Solutions)." Shanker Institute, 17 Apr. 2014, https://www.shankerinstitute.org/blog/what-implicit-bias-and-how-might-it-affect-teachers-and-students-part-ii-solutions. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.

3. Staats, Cheryl. "Understanding Implicit Bias: What Teachers Should Know." American Educator, https://www.aft.org/ae/winter2015-2016/staats. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.

4. DeCuir-Gunby, Jessica T., and Vandna Gill Bindra. "How Does Teacher Bias Influence Students?: An Introduction to the Special Issue on Teachers’ Implicit Attitudes, Instructional Practices, and Student Outcomes." Learning and Instruction, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959475221000827. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.

5. Flannery, Mary Ellen. "When Implicit Bias Shapes Teacher Expectations." NEA Today, 9 Sept. 2015, https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/when-implicit-bias-shapes-teacher-expectations. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.