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    TOOLKIT

    Mitigate the Impact of Implicit Bias 

    Understand your own identities, biases and beliefs.

    Reflect on Your Own Cultural Lens

    The first step in mitigating the impact of our implicit biases on our students is to step back and consider our own identity. What are the parts of our identity and cultural background that have informed our values? How are those values similar to or different from those of our colleagues and our students? In what ways may we be consciously or unconsciously asking students to conform their ways of thinking, talking and interacting with our own, or with the expectations of the dominant culture and values of our society?

    Understand How Beliefs Inform Actions

    In her book “The Art of Coaching,” instructional coach Elena Aguilar writes, “We experience our beliefs as truths, and we can usually find evidence to support them.” But using the ladder of inference, we can explore some of the beliefs that no longer serve us or our students, and revisit a situation to unpack how we draw conclusions and make decisions. With greater consciousness, we can ensure that we are acting with intention, and are avoiding taking action based on our unconscious biases.

    Unpack the Impact of Dominant Cultural Norms

    Schools are one of the main ways in which society teaches and reinforces cultural norms– but do all of those norms serve our students? By identifying some of the characteristics of the dominant culture and how those may differ from the cultures of our students, we are better equipped to create a classroom culture that reflects the communities we serve.

    Develop fluency in talking about identity, bias, prejudice, and injustice with colleagues and students.

    Build Your Background Knowledge and Vocabulary

    Just as with any new skill set you develop, it is essential to build up your background knowledge and vocabulary to help you confidently navigate conversations about identity, privilege, and oppression. You can do this through reading, watching tv, and familiarizing yourself with key words and concepts.

    Have Conversations

    As you build up your vocabulary and knowledge around identity and equity, you can begin to integrate these important topics into conversations with your students and colleagues. Consider how you might work conversations about identity into an advisory lesson or a morning meeting. Consider how you might raise issues of equity with colleagues during department or faculty meetings. Consider using the equity rubric or planning tools linked below as a starting point for the conversation.

    Respond to Microaggressions

    Microaggressions (small everyday slights that are often unintentionally committed against members of marginalized groups) will probably come up in your class at some point in the school year. However, if you have built your vocabulary and your students’ vocabulary for talking about identity, power, and oppression, you can help the class learn and move forward from these incidents.

    Accept feedback with humility.

    Ask Students and Families for Feedback

    Getting the perspectives of our students can help us develop a better understanding of how we show up in the classroom. One way to do this is to ask students for their open and honest feedback about their experiences in our class—not just at the end of the year, but throughout the year.

    Repeat: there will always be more learning and unlearning to do! 

    Join an Affinity Group

    Joining an affinity group is a great way to sustain your learning alongside peers who share your racial identity. It can provide a supportive space for educators of color to explore issues that are unique to their own teaching practice, and can allow white educators to explore issues of equity together.

    Follow the Conversation Online

    Continuing to read, watch and learn on your own is important, but following educators who discuss issues of equity online can be a helpful reminder to integrate your learning into your daily life. It’s also an excellent way to discover new thinkers in the field and to become a part of a broader national conversation. Here are a few educator accounts and groups to follow and join!