Module Introduction
As the wonderful late Rita Pierson said in her famous TED talk, “Kids don’t learn from people they don’t like.” Ms. Pierson never mentioned the science of relationships in her talk, but she summed up the essence of what the research says: in order to learn and thrive, students need to feel accepted, loved, and that they belong, from both their teachers and peers. And this is something we all can learn how to do—because we, the adults, need and want to feel that way, too.
In this module, let’s:
- Brainstorm ways to build stronger teacher-student relationships with students
- Brainstorm ways to encourage stronger peer relationships among students
Module Resources
This toolkit includes additional resources, including classroom lessons and practices, staff meeting activities, videos, podcasts, articles, and professional development opportunities, as well as supporting materials for group facilitation on the topic of "Safety and Belonging in Schools".
Individual Exploration
Let’s explore cultivating belonging through teacher-student and peer relationships.
Cultivating Belonging Through the Teacher-Student Relationship
(narrated by Vicki Zakrzewski, Ph.D., Education Director, Greater Good Science Center)
Reflection
- How do you foster positive relationships with students?
- How do you support students in their development of healthy identities?
- What supports are in place at your school that help students and teachers to cultivate positive relationships with each other?
- In what ways could you or your school improve in any of these areas?
Cultivating Belonging Through Peer Relationships
(narrated by Vicki Zakrzewski, Ph.D., Education Director, Greater Good Science Center)
Reflection
- How do you and/or your school encourage positive relationships among students?
- How does your school encourage cross-group friendships?
- What opportunities do students have to take the lead in building relationships with other students?
- In what ways could you or your school improve in any of these areas?
2.5 Take it Deeper: Cultivating Belonging through Teacher-Student and Peer Relationships
Reflect on a teacher who made a difference in your life, and helped shape the educator you have become.
Module Resources
This toolkit includes additional resources, including classroom lessons and practices, staff meeting activities, videos, podcasts, articles, and professional development opportunities, as well as supporting materials for group facilitation on the topic of "Safety and Belonging in Schools".
Reflect on a teacher who made a difference in your life, and helped shape the educator you have become.
Group Facilitation
Before facilitating groups, spend time in individual exploration in order to experience and embody the learning. And if you haven’t yet explored our introduction to SEL in California, make sure you explore those resources, too.
When facilitating groups, use the following resources:
This toolkit includes additional resources, including classroom lessons and practices, staff meeting activities, videos, podcasts, articles, and professional development opportunities, as well as supporting materials for group facilitation on the topic of "Safety and Belonging in Schools".
A revisable, turnkey powerpoint slide deck to use for professional learning sessions on the topic of "Safety and Belonging in Schools".
A powerpoint slide deck with welcoming and closing activities to include in professional learning sessions.
Reflect on a teacher who made a difference in your life, and helped shape the educator you have become.
Additional Modules
Safety and Belonging in Schools
- Module 2.1 Why Belonging Matters
- Module 2.2 Knowing Ourselves First: Surfacing Our Beliefs About Social and Emotional Well-Being and Belonging in Schools
- Module 2.3 The Questions of Belonging: Interventions to Help Students Feel Like They Belong
- Module 2.4 Meeting Students’ Psychological Needs to Help Them Feel Like They Belong
- Module 2.5 Cultivating Belonging Through Teacher-Student and Peer Relationships
- Module 2.6 Building a Belonging School Through Trust and Psychological Safety
Do you want to dive deeper into the science behind our GGIE practices? Enroll in one of our online courses for educators!
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