Sarah McKibben (thumbnail)

Sarah McKibben

08 08 25 Editors Note Sept 25

Publish_Date

The Adults Who Care

School Culture

Michelle Culver

Alison Lee

Student with glasses using a laptop in a colorful classroom setting, focused on the screen.

0925_Bots for Belonging?

Bots for Belonging?

Technology

Sheldon L. Eakins

Lead background art for the title of September 2025 Educational Leadership article “Belonging Before Behavior” by Sheldon L. Eakins. The illustration supports the central theme of the story, which reframes classroom management through a culturally responsive lens. The piece introduces the “Teacher VIBE” framework—Valuing Inclusion and Belonging for Everyone—and advocates for connection over control, especially for students from collectivist cultural backgrounds.

0925_SheldonLEakins_BelongingBeforeBehavior_inline_openerbkg_art

Belonging Before Behavior

Classroom Management

Andrew Housiaux

A high school teacher talking with a student in a supportive, encouraging manner inside a bright classroom. The interaction shows positive connection and engagement.

0925_Housiaux_Feedback That Teaches

Feedback That Teaches and Connects

Instructional Strategies

Abbie Misha

Close-up of a student holding a smartphone with colorful social media emojis bursting from the screen, symbolizing online engagement, digital connection, and the importance of safe online spaces for students.

0925_MetaPartnerContent_Hero

Inside a New Partnership to Help Schools Keep Students Safe Online

Tom Szczesny

Photo for Educational Leadership article "Creating a Mosaic of Connection" by Tom Szczesny. Visual of a mosaic heart, illustrating student connection, belonging, and relationship mapping in schools.

0925_Szczesny_Hero_MosaicOfConnection

Creating a Mosaic of Connection

Leadership

Cody Marx

Two high school students read together in a classroom, reflecting themes of respect for cultural identity and correct name pronunciation from Cody Marx’s “The Importance of Saying Students’ Names Correctly” in Educational Leadership, September 2025.

0925_Marx_What's in a Name?_Hero

What’s in a Name?

Equity

Dominique Smith

Douglas Fisher

Nancy Frey

Hero image for Educational Leadership (September 2025) feature “Five Simple Ways to Say ‘You Belong’” by Dominique Smith, Douglas Fisher, and Nancy Frey. Licensed stock photo representing student belonging and classroom connection.

0925_Fisher_Five Simple Ways

Five Simple Ways to Say “You Belong”

Social-Emotional Learning

Megan Pitrat

08 21 25 Pitrat

From Stigma to Strength in Special Education

Maria Munro-Schuster

Photo  for Educational Leadership article “Calm Under Pressure” by Maria Munro-Schuster. Visual of a calm teacher with blurred students, illustrating teacher self-regulation, co-regulation, and belonging in the classroom.

0925_MunroSchuster_Hero_Calm Under Pressure

Calm Under Pressure

Jan Hasbrouck

Sponsored article hero image for Educational Leadership (September 2025): visual supporting ‘Empowering Young Scholars with Differentiation in Study Groups’ by Jan Hasbrouck and Douglas Fisher. Depicts K–5 small-group learning and teacher support.

0925_McGrawHill_Hero

Empowering Young Scholars with Differentiation in Study Groups

Teresa D. Hill

Hill 08 21 25

Help Students Find Their “Third Place”

Brent Warner

08 21 25 Warner

Tech-Powered Personalization

Fisher Frey Sept 25 

Collecting Evidence of Learning

Assessment

Michael Creekmore

Nita Creekmore

Creekmore EL Sept 25 

Do Your Students Feel Wanted?

Bryan Goodwin

Incoming 9th graders who watched older students share honest stories about overcoming fears of not fitting in—and then reflected on their own experiences—showed stronger belonging, better attendance, and higher grades throughout the school year, especially among Black and Hispanic students.

0925_Goodwin_t+t_Power of Student-to-Student Advice

The Power of Student-to-Student Advice

Michael Hernandez

Hernandez EL Sept 25 

Five Ways to Foster a Culture of Belonging

EL Logo

Educational Leadership Staff

2022_TakeAways

EL Takeaways (thumbnail)

EL Takeaways

Magazine

Teaching for Belonging

By prioritizing relationship-building and authentic connection, educators can move beyond compliance to create engaged learning communities.

The September 2025 issue of Educational Leadership explores how educators can foster belonging in learning through culturally responsive teaching, asset-based practices, and durable-skills development that deepens learning.

2438_0925_EL magazine

Teaching for Belonging

$9.95

About this Issue

Features

The Adults Who Care

Bots for Belonging?

Belonging Before Behavior

Feedback That Teaches and Connects

Inside a New Partnership to Help Schools Keep Students Safe Online

Creating a Mosaic of Connection

What’s in a Name?

Five Simple Ways to Say “You Belong”

From Stigma to Strength in Special Education

Calm Under Pressure

Empowering Young Scholars with Differentiation in Study Groups

Columns

Help Students Find Their “Third Place”

Tech-Powered Personalization

Collecting Evidence of Learning

Do Your Students Feel Wanted?

EL Takeaways

Advisory: Trends and Ideas

The Power of Student-to-Student Advice

Five Ways to Foster a Culture of Belonging

Listen & Learn

Recent Issues

July 2025

May 2025

April 2025

March 2025

February 2025

December 2024

November 2024

October 2024