An involved parent at home will bring a confident student into the classroom. It helps them to complete assignments on time, learn important concepts, and build strong relationships.

• Valuing diversity: Recognizing and respecting that people come from many cultures and backgrounds leading to unique perspectives. This helps create a inclusive environment for everyone.

• Ongoing self-assessments: looking deep into yourself finding your implicit biases, as well as how to avoid them. This helps you grow and improve in understanding others.

• Managing Differences: Learning how to handle conflicts or misunderstandings that arise from cultural differences in a respectful and constructive way. This helps maintain harmony and cooperation.

• Willingness to Develop Cultural Knowledge: Being eager to learn about other cultures, their customs, and ways of life. This broadens your understanding and helps you connect better with people from different backgrounds.

• Ability to Adapt: Adjusting your behavior and approach to meet the cultural needs of others. This makes interactions smoother and more effective, fostering a supportive community.

By using self-reflection and accountability of others around me I will identify and acknowledge my implicit bias's so that I can create the most inclusive classroom environment possible.

Implicit bias scenario:

The teacher is known for having a very strict and disciplined classroom. During a group activity she hears some laughing, looks over, and sees it is Charlie (an African American student). She automatically assumes that he is being disruptive and not paying attention. Teacher then interrupts the activity, tells him to stop causing disturbances, and moves Charlie's desk away from his group to 'keep an eye on him'.

Charlie now feels embarrassed and singled out. He becomes less likely to engage in class activities for fear of receiving negative attention again. As a result, his academic performance starts to decline.

This is a direct result of Teacher's implicit bias that thinks kids like Charlie are troublemakers. As it turns out Charlie was engaging with his peers about the assigned project and how they should go about it, but Teacher never knew that because she jumped to conclusions instead of asking him what they were talking about.

Teacher, by not addressing her bias, she reinforces a cycle of misunderstanding and misjudgment.

This scenario underscores the importance of teachers being aware of their implicit biases and striving to ensure that all students are treated fairly and with respect.

In the classroom, the benefits of religious upbringing become evident as it encourages a sense of belonging and confidence among students. This supportive atmosphere allows educators to focus more effectively on teaching, as students who feel secure and valued are more likely to engage actively in their learning and exhibit positive behaviors.

-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

-James A. Banks