A strong sense of belonging helps students feel safe, valued, and ready to learn. It also strengthens teacher-student relationships and improves school culture.
Belonging isn’t just about including different perspectives. It’s about making sure everyone feels recognized and respected every day. While diversity and inclusion remain essential, recent shifts in education suggest belonging may be a better focus.
A Harvard Business Review article, “What Comes After DEI?” argues that many DEI programs fall short because they don’t create meaningful, lasting change. Schools that build belonging go beyond policies and focus on everyday actions that help people connect.
How can you create belonging in your school or classroom?
Practical Ways to Build Belonging
1. Get Names Right
Names matter. When you say someone’s name correctly, you acknowledge their identity. Mispronouncing a name—especially repeatedly—can make a student feel invisible.
- Ask for the correct pronunciation early and practice until you get it right.
- Use tools like NameCoach or Forvo to check pronunciation.
- Model respect by correcting mispronunciations when you hear them.
2. Design an Identity-Safe Classroom
Students feel safer when they see themselves reflected in the curriculum and environment.
- Display books, posters, and resources representing different cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives.
- Invite students to share their stories through assignments, discussions, or projects.
- Use inclusive language that respects students’ identities.
3. Use Jigsaw Learning
Jigsaw learning ensures every student plays a vital role in group work.
- Break lessons into key parts and assign each student a section.
- Have students teach their section to their peers.
- Encourage collaboration by rotating groups regularly.
This method, developed by Elliot Aronson, improves engagement and helps students feel like valued contributors.
4. Craft Inclusive Situations
Every interaction in your school shapes belonging. Small shifts in how and where students interact can make a difference.
- Pair students purposefully to encourage new friendships.
- Rethink classroom discussions to ensure multiple perspectives are heard.
- Offer leadership roles to students who might not usually step forward.
5. Connect Learning to Students’ Lives
When students see themselves in the material, they engage more.
- Use case studies and examples that reflect diverse experiences.
- Ask students to bring stories, music, or traditions that matter to them.
- Create assignments with flexible formats so students can express themselves in natural ways.
Angeline Aow, in Becoming a Totally Inclusive School, emphasizes that identity-safe spaces improve student confidence.
How to Answer This in an Interview
If a school leader asks, “How do you create a sense of belonging in your classroom?” they want a clear, structured answer. Use the S.T.A.R. method to give a strong response:
- Situation: Describe a challenge related to belonging.
- Task: Explain what needs to change.
- Action: Share specific steps you took.
- Result: Highlight the impact on students or staff.
Example Response for an Academic Leader
Situation: Some students in my school felt disconnected because class discussions often centred on dominant cultural narratives.
Task: I wanted to create a more inclusive space where all students saw their perspectives reflected.
Action:
- I adjusted the curriculum to include stories from different backgrounds.
- I encouraged students to bring in personal experiences related to our covered topics.
- I used jigsaw learning, so every student contributed meaningfully.
Result: Students became more engaged, and classroom discussions reflected a wider range of experiences. I also saw a shift in peer relationships, with more cross-cultural friendships forming.
Example Response for a Pastoral Leader
Situation: A new student from another country was struggling to make friends.
Task: I needed to help them integrate into the school community.
Action:
- I paired them with a buddy who shared a similar interest.
- I introduced lunchtime social groups where students played games and discussed their cultures.
- I checked in regularly to see how they were adjusting.
Result: The student became more confident, participated more in class, and formed strong friendships.
What This Means for International Schools
Many international schools have strong diversity statements. But will they stay true to their values if external pressures push against DEI work?
Belonging offers a way forward. Instead of framing inclusion as a debate, schools can focus on creating environments where students feel connected. This approach moves past labels and into real, daily practices that benefit everyone.
Takeaways for Educators and Leaders
- Small actions, like learning names and rethinking classroom discussions, shape belonging.
- A welcoming classroom is intentional, not accidental.
- In interviews, use the S.T.A.R. method to show how you create belonging.
- Schools should focus on sustained efforts rather than temporary initiatives.
Creating belonging isn’t just about policies—it’s about what happens daily in classrooms and hallways. How will you contribute?
