Title: How to Promote Diversity in the Classroom: Recognize and Challenge Implicit Bias | Waterford.org
Headings: How to Promote Diversity in the Classroom: Recognize and Challenge Implicit Bias
Education
How to Promote Diversity in the Classroom: Recognize and Challenge Implicit Bias
Defining Implicit vs. Explicit Bias
Implicit Bias Can Worsen the Achievement Gap in Education
How to Use Implicit Bias Training to Embrace Diversity
5 Tips and Activities That Promote Diversity in the Classroom

Content: 1] In part because of implicit biases, minority students are at a higher risk for school failure and negative experiences with their teachers. [ 17]
Because of this disparity between minority students and their predominantly white teachers, an educator’s implicit biases can cause them to project different outcomes for marginalized students and unconsciously help them less. [ 14] Achievement gap statistics show that children from low-income and minority families are most likely to fall behind in school, but not due to their own potential. And due to limited time and resources at home, many low-income children are already behind by the time they enter school. [ 20]
Unconscious racial bias is one of the biggest barriers to closing the achievement gap between white children and students of color, particularly those who come from low-income homes. [ 12] In these cases, socioeconomic disparities between students and social segregation within schools can also worsen existing achievement gaps. [ 13] Without training on how to better accommodate these students and avoid implicit biases, teachers may treat them differently than their peers. Teachers are most likely to act on their implicit biases in the following situations: [ 9]
When they have vague or incomplete information about a topic or student
When they’re acting under time constraints
When they’re tired, burned out, or have a lot on their plate
Unfortunately, teaching is such an intensive job that many educators work under these situations every day. But culturally responsive teaching can help close the achievement gap and prevent discrimination in school. [