International Perspectives on Belonging in Schools

Session Type: WERA Symposium

Abstract

Belonging is a basic human need and is associated with improved educational outcomes such as attributes that support student engagement and participation in learning and lead to academic achievement. A student belongs when members of the community (e.g., teachers, parents, other students, policy makers) consider that student valuable enough to belong as demonstrated in actions that communicate, “this person matters, her [learning] needs will be met”. When a student matters, policy and pedagogy supports and encourages belonging and inclusive action. The international papers in this symposium—from New Zealand, Australia, and England—explore belonging as constructed through pedagogy, policy, assessment, and family/school collaboration. The symposium concludes with a Kaupapa Māori response to the papers by an internationally known Māori researcher/practitioner.

Sub Unit

• World Education Research Association

Chair

• Susan L. Gabel, Wayne State University

Papers

• Understanding Children's Experiences of Belonging and Diversity: An Essential Contribution to the Development of Teachers' Inclusive Pedagogy - Kristine Black-Hawkins, University of Cambridge

• Assessment Approaches That Build and Support Belonging - Missy Morton, University of Canterbury

• Belonging in Families, Belonging in School: Making Visible the Relations Between Family Pedagogy and School Pedagogy - Marilyn Fleer, Monash University

• Who Belongs? The Use of Narrative Assessment to Recognize All Students as Learners - Annie Patricia Guerin, University of Canterbury

Discussant

• Mere Berryman, University of Waikato