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5 Tips for Eliminating School-to Prison Pipeline through Equitable Math Practices
India White • October 14, 2023
5 Tips to Eliminate School to Prison Pipeline!
5 Tips for Math Teachers to Combat School-to-Prison Pipeline with Equitable Math Practices
The school-to-prison pipeline is a disturbing phenomenon that disproportionately affects marginalized students, leading them from educational institutions to the criminal justice system. This usually happens from minor infractions that take place in the classroom that led to multiple unnecessary suspensions, and eventually causes learners to be expelled and enrolled in the juvenile system. For instance, there have been cases of students who were goofing off with friends, that were escorted out of their classroom by law enforcement as a result, although they did not pose a threat or harm to anyone. When these infractions add up on these students’ disciplinary records, it creates biases and has a negative psychological effect on each learner. ACLU mentions how this method of injustice has disproportionately affected students of diverse backgrounds, in particular, African American and Hispanic leaners.
Hence, as math teachers, we have a unique opportunity to challenge and disrupt this pipeline by implementing equitable math practices in our classrooms. By creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment, we can empower all students to succeed and break free from this unjust cycle!
Let’s talk about five essential tips for math teachers to diffuse school-to-prison pipeline practices with equitable math practices:
1. Cultivate a Positive Classroom Culture:
Creating a positive classroom culture is crucial for fostering an inclusive learning environment. This happens when there is cultural responsiveness, empathy, and strong relationships with students. Educators must be intentional at encouraging open dialogue, respect diverse perspectives, and actively listen to your students. When your students act out of character, or refuse to listen, take a moment to find out how to crack that shell and help them in their vulnerable state. Then, continue to establish clear expectations in a compassionate manner for behavior and ensure that all students feel safe and valued. By promoting a sense of belonging, you can help students develop a positive attitude towards math and education as a whole. Remember, you did not come to school to arrest students; you came to teach and support them as they evolve into productive citizens in society.
2. Incorporate Culturally Relevant Math:
Teachers should strive to make math relatable and culturally relevant to your students' lives. This can be accomplished as teachers integrate real-world examples, diverse mathematical contributions, and culturally significant contexts into your lessons. Choosing to celebrate learners by their cultural distinctions through prestigious leaders in their community and or highlighting neat facts about their ethnicity is key for connecting students to math. As mentioned in Ed Week, by connecting math to their experiences, you can engage students who may have previously felt disconnected from the subject and convince them that they belong.
Choose to see each learner for what they bring into the math space and give them a moment to have their voices empowered. These approaches help students see the relevance and applicability of math beyond the classroom, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for the subject.
3. Provide Differentiated Instruction:
Recognize that students have different learning styles, abilities, and backgrounds. Guess what? Sometimes, students just “don’t get it” like we got it! Hence, we have to put ourselves in their shoes, and take off the hat of judgment and choose to relate to their struggle in the math class. Some students have barriers of math anxiety, fear from their guardians of math due to years of pressure at home, and a lack of support in their communities. Hence, implementing differentiated instruction strategies to meet the diverse needs of your students is needed to make sure that every angle is covered and that students can flow metacognitively as they learn the math. Choose to offer various entry points to math problems, provide multiple representations, and encourage your students to engage in collaborative problem-solving. Further, choose to challenge your learners in the math and refuse to assume that they don’t want the more challenging problems because they “can’t do that level of math yet.” By tailoring your teaching to individual students, you can ensure that everyone has an opportunity to succeed and feel valued in the math classroom.
4. Address Implicit Bias: Implicit biases can unintentionally influence our interactions with students, perpetuating inequities. Sometimes, society can make educators feel that students from underserved communities cannot do math, and simply aren’t motivated or interested. However, this has been proven several times to be incorrect. Educators, choose to reflect on your own biases and actively work to address them. Work on your level of biases and see how you can reflect in a way that will help you address any unknown biases that have been detrimental to students. Allow yourself to challenge stereotypes and assumptions about students' mathematical abilities based on their race, gender, or socioeconomic status.
Begin treating all students with equal respect and provide equitable opportunities for participation and success. Remember, your character can be measured by how you treat people that you feel are less than you that cannot do anything for you! Hence, build your character and choose to show love and compassion and treat all students…. EQUALLY. Your students are trusting you to help them learn math, so keep the main thing the main thing! By being aware of and actively combating implicit biases, you can create a fair and inclusive learning environment.
5. Foster Student Agency and Empowerment:
Empower students to take ownership of their learning and make decisions about their mathematical journey. This can only be effectively done when teachers have developed a love and compassion for EACH learner and is truly an advocate for their students. Choose to encourage student voice and choice in the classroom, allowing them to explore topics of interest and solve problems in ways that resonate with them. Refuse to allow any form of dehumanization in your class, whether that’s students being exposed to racism, bullying, or hatred in any other form. Provide opportunities for students to collaborate, share their ideas, and engage in critical thinking. By fostering student agency
you can help students develop a sense of ownership and confidence in their mathematical abilities, reducing the likelihood of disengagement and negative outcomes.
Conclusion
As math teachers, we have a responsibility to challenge and dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline by implementing equitable math practices. Your kids need you to protect them, not sign them up for prison. By cultivating a positive classroom culture, incorporating culturally relevant math, providing differentiated instruction, addressing implicit bias, and fostering student agency, we can create an inclusive learning environment where all students can thrive. Let us commit to breaking the cycle and empowering our students to reach their full potential, both academically and personally. Together, we can make a difference and ensure that every student has an equitable opportunity to succeed in math and beyond.
Join us on the Let's Get Gritty Podcast with Dr. India White. On this show, we will repeat a show from the Grit and Equity talks Podcast with Dr. India White, where we walk through the recently released NAEP data from the National Report Card and speak about moving the needle forward. Listen on Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/india-white3 #grit #equity #naep #drindiawhite #nctm #ncsm #bwxme #math #teachers #students
🌟 Just wrapped up an incredible G.R.I.T. Training session with the amazing leaders from Imagine Schools! 💪✨ We took a deep dive into the G.R.I.T. framework, and I can't wait to see the results unfold! 🚀🙌 #drindiawhite #grit #imagineschools #tedx #nctm #ncsm #bwxme 🎉 (I don’t own music copyright
Check out my Feb. 2025 Newsletter!
Thankful for Partnership and Recognition: A Shoutout to Dr. Matthew Joseph and X-Factor EDU Network I am incredibly thankful to partner with Dr. Matthew Joseph and the amazing leadership of the X-Factor EDU Network! It is truly an honor to collaborate with such a visionary leader who is dedicated to amplifying voices in education and creating spaces for impactful conversations. This month, I was deeply grateful to be mentioned in Dr. Joseph’s newsletter during Black History Month. His recognition means so much, not just for me, but for the work we are all doing to inspire and empower educators and students alike. You can check out the newsletter here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/drmxj_stongertogether-activity-7291502796753809408-0zX3?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAmqD2wBkz8Qc7EA0bvwxWyMJH2HykCUA-Y But beyond the shoutout, I’m even more excited about the opportunities ahead—including the chance to have a podcast on Dr. Joseph’s platform! Partnering with X-Factor EDU Network opens doors to share insights, engage in meaningful discussions, and continue championing grit, resilience, and equity in education. Thank you, Dr. Matthew Joseph, for your support, encouragement, and belief in this mission. Looking forward to what’s to come! 🚀 #StrongerTogether #GRIT #XFactorEDU #BlackHistoryMonth #EducationalLeadership #Thankful
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🎊Super excited about this opportunity! Looking forward to connecting with these amazing leaders! 🥰🥳🎉 Please register below and let’s connect so we can bridge the achievement gap together! hashtag#drindiawhite hashtag#ncsm hashtag#grit hashtag#math hashtag#teachers