How can I make experiences meaningful, where each student feels a sense of belonging?
The brain is hardwired to motivate us towards belonging and connection, where it is a primary survival need like food and water. (Billan, 2021) Our students come from all walks of life and it is important to address their diversity whether through social, physical or academic inclusion (Pfaff, 2016). It is through this mindset that we also need to take on an intersectional perspective. Our students are a lot more than a learning need or a language learner - they each bring on their individual identity which adds a layer to who they are, as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1: An intersectional lens to diversity. (Ellsberg, 2019)
Here are a few strategies or things to consider when addressing diversity:
- Consideration: As Arthur Chan quotes, "Diversity if a fact. Equity is a choice. Inclusion is an action. Belonging is an outcome." Billan (2021) took this quote further by focusing on the "experience once we are invited to the table". In other words, when addressing the diversity in our classrooms - question how can I make experiences meaningful one, where each student feels a sense of belonging?
- Strategy: Get to know your students through ice breaker activities.
- Strategy: Share stories - as stories create empathy.
- Consideration: Social pain is neurologically processed to be equivalent to physical pain. (Billan, 2021) Try to create moments of belonging and not seeing this concept as a program, policy or initiative - it's an experience - explore who your students are.
- Strategy: Connect curriculum content with your students by representing texts that are reflective of the community within the classroom and outside the school walls. Check out the non-profit organisation We Need Diverse Books (click to see the resource) to achieve this.
- Strategy: As a class, create essential agreements which define expectations. For example, what does respect, attentive listening, work completion "look like", "feel like" and "sound like".
- Consideration: When allowing moments of vulnerability express appreciation ("thank you for sharing") (Billan, 2021)
- Strategy: Establish a reflective practice regularly. Be the model through your interactions, language, and being mindful of your micro-gestures. Visit your own perspective and challenge them to acknowledge inherent biases. Think about how a student is included, involved and accepted in your classroom.