Building Belonging: Reimagining Schools, Welcoming Newcomers, and Creating Community
This collaborative report from Re-Imagining Migration and History Co:Lab delves into the critical importance of fostering a sense of belonging within educational ecosystems, particularly in light of the profound demographic shifts and increasing diversity in classrooms across the United States. It highlights the urgent need for educational practices that acknowledge and celebrate diversity as a cornerstone of a vibrant and inclusive society.
Sandy Mendoza’s International Cafe
The word ecological refers to the field of ecology which means the relationship between a living object and the environment in which it lives. By using the language of ecology, Bronfenbrenner is reminding people that who we are, and what we do, is profoundly influenced by our physical and social environment. Humans do not live in isolation, and therefore our identities develop within an environmental context.
Moving Stories: Roots and Braches
The word ecological refers to the field of ecology which means the relationship between a living object and the environment in which it lives. By using the language of ecology, Bronfenbrenner is reminding people that who we are, and what we do, is profoundly influenced by our physical and social environment. Humans do not live in isolation, and therefore our identities develop within an environmental context.
Sarah Said’s initiative, “Pieces of Me,” in a school just outside of Chicago, underscores the pivotal role schools play as community hubs, fostering inclusion, equity, and understanding. By transforming the school culture to celebrate diversity through year-round activities, starting with reading the children’s book “The Name Jar” by Yangsook Choi, Said’s project ignited discussions on identity, heritage, and belonging among students, families, and staff. The weekly “Culture Crew” sessions and the creation of family boards and personalized name jars by families and students highlighted the school’s function as a central gathering place for sharing and learning about diverse cultures
The word ecological refers to the field of ecology which means the relationship between a living object and the environment in which it lives. By using the language of ecology, Bronfenbrenner is reminding people that who we are, and what we do, is profoundly influenced by our physical and social environment. Humans do not live in isolation, and therefore our identities develop within an environmental context.
Culturally Responsive Teaching Checklist
While many educators recognize the value of creating a culturally responsive classroom, for many teachers, it is difficult to imagine what a culturally responsive classroom looks like in practice. This tool, developed by members of the Re-Imagining Migration team and researchers at UCLA, is intended to help make the concept of a culturally responsive classroom concrete and to provide an opportunity for reflection and self-assessment.
This reflection form is designed to assist educators in conducting holistic observations of their school community, classroom practices, and student social relationships. It aims to deepen the understanding of students’ experiences, particularly focusing on immigrant-origin and newcomer students. The insights gained will help formulate action plans that enhance inclusion and belonging for all students.
Community Belonging Audit: A Tool for Fostering Inclusive Environments
The Community Belonging Audit is a comprehensive resource designed to help community members assess and improve the sense of belonging in their towns or cities, with a particular focus on young people, newcomers, and immigrant-origin individuals. This practical tool encourages users to evaluate various spaces and aspects of their community through a lens of inclusivity and belonging.
Understanding Migration History Curriculum Reflection Tool
The “Understanding Migration History Curriculum Reflection Tool” is an essential resource designed specifically for educators teaching migration through a historical lens. Grounded in the Re-Imagining Migration framework, this tool encourages teachers to reflect on diverse narratives and sources related to migration, fostering an inclusive curriculum that resonates with all students. It emphasizes key dispositions such as curiosity, empathy, and action towards social equity, prompting educators to critically evaluate the histories and stories they include in their lessons.
Re-Imagining Migration Literature Curriculum Resource Toolkit
This toolkit is in pilot form. It is designed for ELA teachers who aim to create a more inclusive and reflective curriculum that addresses the themes of migration, belonging, identity, and community. It provides structured support for both planning and teaching, ensuring that these critical themes are thoughtfully integrated into the classroom. The kit consists of three main components that can be used together or independently.
Belonging is the cornerstone of social-emotional and academic development. Download the document below as a starting point for intentional community building driven by student agency, interest, and choice. This document is intended for use with K-12 students; some questions may need to be adapted/translated/scaffolded.
Feeling respected, valued, liked, and cared about by adults and peers is central to students’ engagement and motivation. We have developed a free, easy-to-use survey you can use with students to measure their sense of belonging in your classroom and school. This survey asks students to reflect and self-report on their sense of belonging in the school and classroom.
Introducing Belonging Alliance Clubs: A Call to Educators and Students
Re-Imagining Migration invites educators and students to join us in piloting Belonging Alliance Clubs—student-led initiatives designed to foster connection and belonging in diverse school communities. These clubs are inspired by our approach, emphasizing empathy, cultural exchange, and mutual respect.
Our School Culture Audit is a powerful tool designed to help you assess and improve the sense of belonging within your school community. This comprehensive evaluation process encourages reflection, discussion, and action to create a more inclusive environment for all students.
Additional Non-Mention Resources
The Re-Imagining Migration framework, as developed by Verónica Boix-Mansilla at Project Zero’s Harvard Graduate School of Education, presents migration as an opportunity. Therefore, the Framework prepares educators and institutions to respond to the demands and opportunities that arise with the changing demographics associated with human migration flows in the US and beyond.
Re-Imagining Migration Coaching App
The app leverages the Re-Imagining Migration approach to build belonging and understanding of migration through inquiry-based learning. Built on the Playlab.ai platform, this app leverages cutting-edge educational technology to provide personalized, data-driven insights and resources, enhancing your teaching experience through innovative solutions drawn from our resources and experiences with educators. Engagement with the app begins with questions about your role, your community, your goals, and the students you serve. Based on your responses, the app will offer specific suggestions for planning curriculum, resources, and teaching ideas that will help you achieve those goals.
In this activity, you will work with students to determine what a safe classroom looks, sounds, and feels like. Then, you will turn those concepts of safety into community guidelines. You will decide what rules or classroom systems must be in place for everyone to experience a supportive learning environment. Then, as a class, you will draft the responses or consequences that will occur if someone does not follow the agreed-upon guidelines. After discussing accountability, students will compare actions in different scenarios against their safe classroom ideas, proposed guidelines, and potential consequences.
The Goal of Action Plans: To create your desired impact in your communities/classroom utilizing the Re-Imganining Migration framework, resources, and support. Your action plans can be curriculum-based: an in-class activity, lesson, or unit. They can be community-based: a whole school activity, decoration, event, book read, presentation, club, reflection, home outreach/inclusion, or a curriculum action plan done in every classroom. They could also be a teacher learning plan where you share your learnings/resources with fellow educators.
This Newcomer Kit is a living resource designed to aggregate materials for a comprehensive newcomer intake process and strategies for ongoing community building. It includes resources for teachers, administrators, parents, and community members. We strive to keep this document as updated and actionable as possible.
This resource provides educators with a detailed observation and reflection form to help them understand individual students, classroom dynamics, and the overall school environment. It covers aspects such as student identity, academic challenges, socio-emotional development, civic engagement, cultural representation, school community interactions, and more.