The research is clear that students learn best in an environment where they have a sense of belonging, perceive that they are part of a bigger unit, and have relationships with adults who care about them. Here are curated research and articles about the importance of strengthening student belonging in a school community.
Building a Caring Climate That Promotes Belonging and Engagement – Kappan article exploring our data on the correlation between belonging and academic engagement.
Why Students Need a Climate of Care – One-minute video from Denise Pope about the importance of a strong climate of care for student well-being.
Helping ALL Students Feel Like They Belong – E-School News article cites research on the importance of belonging for student success.
Why School Climate Should Be Every Principal’s Top Priority – Education Week article summarizes research on the importance of a healthy school climate.
Stories from the Field: Building strong teacher-student relationships in the classroom – Part of a series of briefs from Transforming Education on fostering strong relationships.
Student Health & Well-Being: How Libraries Can Create Safe Spaces – Example of one Challenge Success partner school leveraged their library to support student belonging and a climate of care.