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Cultural Curriculum Chat with Jebeh Edmunds
Welcome to the Cultural Curriculum Chat Podcast—an inclusive space for educators, DEI practitioners, and all individuals eager to foster diversity and understanding! If you're seeking a vibrant, authentic podcast to guide you in implementing Multicultural Education, look no further. Are you yearning for inspiration to cultivate a truly inclusive classroom community? Join us on a journey filled with insightful resources, practical tips, and a touch of humor, all led by the knowledgeable educator, Jebeh Edmunds.
Our podcast is designed to uplift and empower you, offering a blend of expertise and laughter to spark creativity and engagement in your educational endeavors. Tune in to discover a wealth of valuable insights and strategies that will ignite your passion for inclusive teaching practices and multicultural learning.
Embark on this enriching experience with us, and together we'll champion diversity, inspire change, and create welcoming spaces for all. Subscribe now to stay connected, join the conversation, and access more empowering content. Let's make a difference, one episode at a time! Thank you for being a part of our mission.
Cultural Curriculum Chat with Jebeh Edmunds
Season 7 Episode #17 Uncover Your Unconscious Bias: A Self-Reflection Exercise"
Ever caught yourself making a snap judgment about someone without realizing it? That's unconscious bias at work, and it shapes everything from our teaching practices to our everyday interactions. As educators, these hidden biases can profoundly impact who we trust, how we grade, and even how we discipline students.
In this deeply reflective episode, I introduce myself in a new light—as an author currently publishing my debut novel, "Uncover Your Unconscious Bias"—while guiding you through the essential work of bias awareness. I share the Mirror Moment exercise, a powerful self-reflection tool that asks thought-provoking questions about your comfort zones, leadership perceptions, and reactions when your biases are challenged. This isn't about inducing guilt but fostering genuine growth.
Beyond self-reflection, we explore practical strategies for classroom implementation: challenging stereotypes in lesson plans, examining representation in classroom visuals, and developing the courage to interrupt bias in real-time. I also highlight additional resources, including my weekly blog, the Inclusive Educator newsletter, and specialized courses on Code Switching 101 and Being an Active Ally. These tools are designed to meet you where you are on your journey toward cultural competence.
Remember, awareness leads to action, and action leads to equity. You've already taken the first step by listening. Now, take the free unconscious bias quiz linked in the show notes, sign up for the newsletter to receive your complimentary Mirror Moment PDF, and join me in the ongoing work of creating truly inclusive learning environments. Stay intentional, stay inspired, and most importantly, stay inclusive.
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Hey, hey, friends, welcome back to the Cultural Curriculum Chat. I'm your host, jeba Edmonds, educator, dei consultant and your go-to guide for creating inclusive classrooms and communities. And another new multi-hyphenate thing to add to my repertoire author. Yes, your girl is in the process of publishing her debut novel, so stay tuned. Make sure you sign up for our inclusive educator newsletter where I will give you all the details of my new book uncover your unconscious bias, and we're going to do a self-reflection exercise. But before we dig in, I've got a quick question for you. Have you ever made a snap judgment about someone and didn't even realize it until later? You're not alone, and that's exactly what we're exploring today, because here's the truth we all have biases, but awareness. That's where the real change begins. So stick with me because I will walk you through a powerful self-reflection exercise and a free quiz you heard it free that you can use today to start unpacking those hidden biases. The link is waiting for you in the show notes, so let's get into it.
Speaker 1:So what is unconscious bias? Unconscious bias is the automatic mental shortcuts we take, shaped by our background, our experiences and our culture, that influence how we perceive others. These biases can show up in who we trust, who we hire who and how we grade and even how we discipline our students. This doesn't make you a bad person. It makes you human. But just because it's natural doesn't mean it shouldn't go unchecked. I always say you need to check and correct your unconscious biases. If we're not aware of our biases, we risk reinforcing stereotypes, especially in the classroom or our workplace, and that's why doing this kind of self-reflection is oh so critical.
Speaker 1:We're going to do the mirror exercise. This is an exercise that I've used with my clients and this has worked so well for having that self-reflective piece. You know, as educators and as people in the professional world, we always want to do better, and this exercise will help you along this journey, so I'm calling it the mirror moment. All right, you can do it with a notebook, make a voice memo or even use your favorite journaling app. So I want you to ask yourself the following questions who do I feel most comfortable around and why? When I think about leadership, what image comes to mind? Have I ever made assumptions about someone based on how they look, dress or speak? And the last question when was the last time I was challenged on a bias and how did I react Now. This exercise is not about guilt, it's about growth, and if you are ready to go even deeper, I've got a free unconscious bias quiz just for you. It's quick, insightful and designed to jumpstart your journey. You'll find that link right in the show notes. Now, after you do this mirror moment, I also have the mirror Moment reflective exercise in a PDF that, if you would like to snag it, you need to sign up for my email newsletter, the Inclusive Educator, and I'll also have that free Mirror Moment PDF by signing up in the show notes as well.
Speaker 1:What's next? Once you have taken the quiz and completed the reflection, it's time to apply what you've learned, and I want you to start small. Challenge a stereotype that is in your lesson plan. Examine your classroom visuals. Who is represented? Is there things that are accessible for all? And I want you to interrupt bias in the moment, even if it feels uncomfortable. We really need to get comfortable with being uncomfortable, speaking up even when your voice shakes, and having that courage is something that is paramount, especially in this time that we're living in Now.
Speaker 1:This isn't a one-time fix. It's a lifelong journey, and remember, every step counts, and if you're ready to take the next one. I want you to follow my blog. Every week I post new strategies, educator insights and real-life stories to help you embed cultural competence into your everyday practice. So subscribe, share and let's grow together. And if you want to go further with that, I even have the Next Step courses Code Switching 101 and Cultural Competency and being an Active Ally. Code Switching 101 is perfect on learning how language and identity intersect in diverse spaces, and that being an active ally is perfect for educators and leaders and anyone who is ready to create real change. Both are under two hours, they're on demand and designed to meet you where you are. No fluff, just transformational learning.
Speaker 1:Now, when we are talking about our own unconscious bias, I want you to think about in the classroom who's being left behind, who's in the subject of our lesson plan that's being spotlighted, and what other perceptions are there. Are you still doing the first Thanksgiving lesson but not incorporating the multiple perspectives at that event? Are you still having one particular group that is the sidekick in your books that you're sharing, that is, a person of color? Are you not having access for all of your student learners? Are there ways and furniture pieces that are not conducive to your learners that have ADHD. Think of things that can help you foster your own cultural competence within your classroom. I'll leave you with this Awareness leads to action and action leads to equity. You've already taken this first step by tuning in, so don't stop here. Take the quiz, do the reflection and let's keep doing the inner work together. Until next time, I want you to stay intentional, stay inspired and stay inclusive. Bye-bye.