Sense of Belonging (Week Four)

The sense of belonging, or belongingness, is the human emotional need to be an accepted member of a group. Whether it is family, friends, co-workers, or a sports team, humans have an inherent desire to belong and be an important part of something greater than themselves. Belonging is a strong and inevitable feeling that exists in human nature. To belong or not to belong can occur due to choices of one's self, or the choices of others. Not everyone has the same life and interests, hence not everyone belongs to the same thing or person. We all differ. Without belonging, one cannot identify themselves as clearly, thus having difficulties communicating with and relating to their surroundings. 

In my placement, the sense of belonging can be quite challenging for the teacher. The students in my classroom all have special needs. For individuals that have special needs, it is important that they are seen with as much potential as any other person, so their human nature for wanting to belong is just as equal. My host teacher, Ms. Thompkins, has done an incredible job by creating an environment that is warming and inviting to her students. She increases the sense of belonging for all of her students by emphasizing the importance of the teacher-student relationship and by actively involving everyone. She does not play "favoritism" and she makes it well-known that she cares about the success of each of her students. The result of this has all been very positive.

This is what I have done in the classroom as well and it is working positively. I do not favor just a select few of students. I make sure that my time is equally spent with all of the students in the class. I have done this from the first day I started with Ms. Thompkins and her students. I jumped in right away and I welcomed questions and provided the best answers to them that would make sense for their understanding. I believe by wanting to get to know the students and how their personalities are reflected in the types of students they are, they will want to get to know me and how my personality reflects the kind of teacher I am aspiring to become.

Ms. Thompkins also nurtures the culture of belonging by effectively nurturing her students through mainstream activities that all of them participate in together. For example, she has them watch CNN Student News and as they watch it together, she stops it and discusses some of the things that the news is talking about and measures their comprehension of what is going on. She also has them take notes and write down what they think is important information. This is an activity she says that allows all of her students a sense of belonging. Because she has students that are in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade, it is hard to test them all on the same level. She does teach the same material to them, but unlike social studies or science, she can use CNN Student News to test them all the same way and allow her students to feel like they are all working together. 

Other sense of belonging strategies that take place in the classroom are the following:

• Supportive peer relations
• Meaningful interaction between staff and students
• Developing knowledge, confidence, and identity
• Relate to student's interests and future goals
• Parental involvement

These strategies of belonging have also been positive. By remaining consistent, it promotes a healthier environment for growth and achievement.