Iheoma Iruka

The purpose of this project is to examine the relationship between implicit bias, teacher expectations, teacher–child interactions and child outcomes. There are disparities in child discipline and development that can manifest early for poor and/or minority children and can have lasting consequences. Previous research has shown that teachers demonstrate implicit preferences towards White versus minority students. Self-fulfilling prophecies and teachers' lower expectations of children can s...

The research team will investigate cumulative influences on early learning and achievement for young children at economic disadvantage across rural and urban settings in a Midwestern state. The researchers will examine macro-level policy and micro-level classroom factors: responsiveness (approaches or personal experiences that attend to child need); organization and structure (the capacity of schools and classrooms to function effectively); instructional support (e.g., staff qualifications a...