Creating a school culture of belonging is important for the emotional and intellectual well-being of our students, but it can be hard to do well—and can even come across as inauthentic—if we only rely on occasional assemblies or school slogans. Here are some easy ways to strengthen belonging organically through assignments and classroom workflow.
Mission Statement
Work alongside students to develop a class-wide mission statement about topics like integrity, technology use, and the purpose of scholarly work. Collaborative digital tools can support coauthoring a shared mission. This type of statement helps build buy-in during later conversations about assessment and classroom behavior.
Agency
Students thrive when they have a sense of self-actualization and self-determination. Making space for student choice and responsibility not only supports well-being but motivates students to do their best. Let them choose from a menu of research topic options or formats (like podcasts, blogs, or video essays) to demonstrate their knowledge.
Purpose
Everyone needs to know their effort has a point, so give students a reason to do the hard work we ask of them with integrity and accuracy. For me, this means two things: honoring student inquiry (e.g., projects that explore students’ questions about the curriculum) and making an impact beyond the classroom (e.g., public performances of student work).
Authenticity
Instead of simulations or games, give students assignments that address real issues in their community and connect to their lives. Interview community members, take polls, or respond to local news and events. Digital tools for storytelling, surveys, and media creation can make these real-world connections more engaging and accessible. Share student learning by publishing their work for audiences beyond the classroom.
Trust and Ownership
Invite students into assignment generation, feedback, and assessment, helping them learn to give and receive constructive feedback while taking greater responsibility for their learning. Peer workshops and gallery walks support this process. Create opportunities for students to teach the class (how-to’s, passion projects, etc.), or take on leadership roles like team leads, student editors, or mentors.
