I have always treated every student as an individual and have respected their cultures and language. Every student is a precious human being. I worked in the field 40+ years and I have always not allowed my biases to interfere with my patient care and so it is as an Instructor. Every student has a right to be successful and it is my job to get them there. My record proves that this is so.
I learned things I already knew about myself. I do have unconscious bias and have tracked where it originated. Where? family, environment, societal norms. I identified a bias a couple of years ago while driving on a street. I saw a woman look like of Mexican descnce with a stroller (two kids in it), two kids walking and one in the belly. My first thought at a glance was anchor babies, and using the system with the children. Before I could complete that thought another thought popped up. Why did I go there? Why did I go negative?
I then said out loud is this how unconscious bias happens. I t thought about why didn't I say how nice it is for a mother to be at home with her children. Why not consider if it was a care provider for children? Why not consider based on her culture she may be a stay at home mom based on her Catholoic background and the role of the man being the provider.
I quickly shared this aha moment with my students as I share it with you. The beginning of cultural competence from my perspective is the self-reflection of your own bias toward others. I immediately ask for forgiveness from my Lord as that woman was also a daughter of the most high.
they are all important and should feel so. My goal is to share my knowledge with them the best way possible
to treat people with respect to value their input and acknowledge and encourage participation
I like the idea of sharing my personal narrative with my students will build a connection with my students.
cultural compentency helps us relate with the students more and allows us to build rapport with the students
Cultural compenency to me is an attitude of acceptance, and by recognizing differences among students you may then capitalize on it to improve learning.
Include everyone. Regardless of any surface differences we share many of the same goals.
I have learned that teachers need to be open minded, be curious, and be knowledgable. We need to be mindful of all our students and their families. We also need to realize that each student has their own "story" and background.
Peel the layers back on the complexities of the lives of many of our kids so I can better meet them where they're at. Opportunity in and of itself is not enough to pull many of them in so I have to be diligent in forging strong relationships that will open doors, minds, and opportunities.
Allow your students to feel wanted, secure, and accepted within your class and school. Simply acknowledge they are important to you.
Appreciate individuals and encourage their growth and learning!
Try to include and "see" everyone! Give all students opportunities to change their lives for the positive!
Give everyone a voice and listen to what they are saying.
I believe in our current times of racial division in America with the deaths of people like George Floyd, Breanna Taylor, and others, it is vital that we as instructors build cultural competencies with our students to bridge our cultural differences. We need to try harder not to stereotype or judge others from their race, religion, gender, cultural beliefs, or political ideology. We need to learn to appreciate all of our differences and learn from one another. When we learn unity, our world will live in harmony and peace.
John Mares
March 24, 2021
To understand the situations of the student and see them as individuals with special needs .
My takeway from this course is to be more aware of my students and who they are. I work very hard to build relationships with them and not to have my own bias interfere with who they are or their learning. I really appreciated the gentle reminder as an educator in this course.
My goal to treat every student fairly and with kindness.
Cultural Competency is definitley an ongoing challenge. Students attitudes about themselves or their situation can make it challenging, for the teacher and the student, possibly the students class.
My goal is to treat every student as an individual and to give each the same opportunities to be successful.
