Your Happiness Calendar for September 2026
This month, invite someone to belong! With most schools back in session here in the US, we’re sharing research-based practices to build connections and increase belonging for students and adults throughout the school community.
The Greater Good Science Center is teaming up with the US Chamber of Connection for Welcome Week, running September 26 – October 4. Together, we’re mobilizing communities, neighborhoods, and organizations to do one simple thing: open the door to a new friend. It would be wonderful to see schools and students getting involved in this welcoming initiative!
To get to the interactive calendar, click on the image above or go to the calendar page in the Greater Good Magazine. (Please note: If you are having trouble clicking on calendar links with the Chrome browser, try these tips to fix the issue or try a different browser.)
Greater Good in Education Practices to build connections and increase belonging:
- Say “We” to Nurture Collaboration in Students (for preK/Lower Elementary): Use language that encourages a sense of connection and collaboration to encourage cooperation among students.
- Superstar (for PreK-Middle School): To build trust and inclusion, students play a game in which they learn more about each other and celebrate what they have in common.
- 4Hs of Belonging-Centered Math (for Middle & High School): Foster a sense of belonging by having students respond to questions about their home, hobbies, hopes, and heritage, interviewing each other for the answers, and finally, by integrating the collected data into math instruction.
- Responding to Differences (for High School and College Students): Students reflect on the ways people respond to human differences as they journal, read a poem, and engage in a sorting activity. They consider the consequences of people’s responses and how they want their school community to respond to difference.
- Courageous Connections that Challenge Your Biases (for Adults): Honestly assess your personal biases and their impact, and create a plan to face the anxieties you experience about people you dislike or avoid. Next, practice courage and openness while interacting with those individuals, and reflect on what you learned.
To find even more practices to build connection and belonging, check out the Positive School Relationships hub on the Greater Good in Education site. It’s full of strategies for developing positive relationships between students, colleagues, families, and the community.
Are you ready to build kinder, happier schools where everyone belongs? Join Greater Good Educators! Explore the science of well-being in a supportive community of practice with educators from around the world. Registration is now open for the 2026-2027 school year!