In today’s classrooms, the key to successful learning isn’t just rigorous academics or strict discipline; it’s a profound sense of belonging. We Belong: 50 Strategies to Create Community and Revolutionize Classroom Management, by award-winning educators Laurie Barron and Patti Kinney, is a practical guide for building classrooms where every student feels valued, safe, and part of the community. In this book, Barron and Kinney share 50 actionable strategies to help teachers foster connection, security, and social-emotional growth, transforming both classroom management and student engagement.
When students feel a strong sense of belonging, their commitment to learning rises, and behavioral issues diminish. Through approaches like creating a safe space, strengthening relationships, and encouraging engagement, We Belong shows how an SEL-focused approach to classroom management makes learning environments more inclusive, supportive, and effective. Building a culture of belonging can shift the entire tone of a classroom and, on a larger scale, reshape school culture. These small changes that prioritize empathy and connection over traditional discipline are tiny disruptions to the norm that, over time, can lead to meaningful system-wide change.
Belonging as a Disruption to Education
In a field often dominated by test scores and standards, centering classroom culture around belonging is itself a powerful disruption. It challenges long-standing priorities and brings focus to students' holistic development. Creating a classroom where every student feels they belong is a small but intentional shift that impacts learning and behavior. When this sense of belonging is replicated across classrooms and schools, it creates ripples that shift how the entire education system views student success.
Imagine if each teacher implemented just one strategy from We Belong to enhance belonging—over time, these small changes add up to a significant shift. Small but consistent actions can challenge the status quo, gradually transforming our approach to education. This cumulative impact is the essence of creating ripples of disruption: it’s about making small, consistent changes that lead to lasting, large-scale transformation.
The Connection to Deep Learning and Engagement
Belonging is a foundation for deeper learning, where students engage more meaningfully with content and feel motivated to participate. When students feel safe and connected, they are more open to challenges, willing to take risks, and prepared to actively engage. We Belong reinforces that building authentic relationships and fostering an inclusive environment are vital to effective learning. These principles remind educators that when students feel connected and valued, they become more open to the rich, transformative experiences that deep learning provides.
The book’s strategies serve as an invaluable toolkit for teachers aiming to deepen their students' engagement through empathy and trust. Each method, whether it’s a new approach to behavior management or a strategy for encouraging collaboration, strengthens the classroom’s culture of belonging and makes space for deeper, more impactful learning.
Key Strategies from We Belong
Here’s a look at some of the most impactful strategies in We Belong and how they can create small but powerful shifts in any classroom:
Building Authentic Relationships: One of the most foundational ideas in We Belong is the power of authentic connections between teachers and students. By dedicating time to getting to know students and fostering peer relationships, teachers create an environment of trust and mutual respect. These small acts of connection shift the classroom dynamic, paving the way for improved behavior and collaboration.
Creating Safe Spaces: Safety is central to a sense of belonging, both physically and emotionally. Strategies for creating safe spaces include establishing clear expectations, maintaining consistent routines, and encouraging open communication. When students feel safe, they are more likely to take academic risks and participate fully, leading to a more inclusive and engaged classroom.
Teaching Social-Emotional Skills: Social-emotional learning (SEL) isn’t a supplement; it’s essential to belonging. Skills like empathy, self-regulation, and conflict resolution help students navigate interpersonal challenges, fostering a supportive classroom climate. By prioritizing SEL skills, teachers make small but meaningful disruptions to traditional classroom management.
Engaging and Motivating Students: Engagement and intrinsic motivation naturally rise when students feel they belong. Centering learning around student interests, offering voice and choice, and recognizing individual contributions creates a classroom where students feel ownership over their learning. This approach strengthens student commitment and cultivates a learning environment that is dynamic and student-centered.
Practical Tools and Resources
We Belong includes downloadable templates and forms, making it easy for educators to implement these strategies immediately. Whether setting up classroom norms, guiding conflict resolution, or organizing collaborative projects, these resources help teachers bring belonging to the forefront of their classrooms.
Why We Recommend We Belong
We Belong is more than just a classroom management resource—it’s a transformative approach that redefines what it means to be part of a classroom community. Through strategies that emphasize safety, trust, and connection, Barron and Kinney demonstrate that small acts of inclusion and belonging are the tiny disruptions that yield the biggest results. When teachers across classrooms and schools adopt these practices, the collective effect is an education system that is empathetic, engaging, and equitable.
For educators seeking to strengthen their classrooms, We Belong is a guide for creating an environment where all students feel seen, valued, and ready to learn. It serves as a reminder that building a sense of belonging isn’t an add-on to teaching—it’s at the heart of effective, transformative education. With each small step, educators contribute to a ripple effect that, over time, can lead to a more connected, compassionate educational landscape.
If We Belong resonates with you and you're ready to bring its principles to life in your classroom, our Deep Learning: Part 1 course is the perfect next step. This course builds on the strategies from We Belong, guiding you through specific, actionable ways to create a classroom culture where each student feels valued, safe, and motivated to learn. You'll explore how to implement techniques that foster social-emotional growth, boost engagement, and establish a strong community. Join us in this course to gain practical tools and insights that will help you turn your classroom into a space where deep, impactful learning truly flourishes.
Dream Big, Learn Joyfully!
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