As per my previous post on August 9th, my colleagues and I have initiated an advisory program in our middle school. In our second advisory session, we decided to take a deeper dive into how students can actively contribute to a more inclusive and welcoming school community. 

Diving deeper into the concept of belonging is crucial because it’s not enough to simply have a ‘one and done’ session on such a significant middle school topic. Fostering a genuine sense of belonging requires ongoing reflection, discussion, and action to truly make a lasting impact on a school community

So, building on last week’s activity, where students brainstormed ways to reach out to peers who might feel disconnected, this session aimed to uncover the obstacles that prevent us from making those connections and to explore actionable strategies for inviting others to belong.

Step 1: Reflecting on Last Week’s Activity

We began by revisiting the previous session’s activity, where students worked with a black-and-white figure outline to brainstorm ideas for reaching out to peers. I asked the class to share what steps they had taken during the week to make a fellow student feel more welcome. This reflection encouraged students to consider their actions, or lack thereof, over the past few days.

For those who hadn’t taken any steps to reach out, we delved into the reasons why. We explored the barriers and obstacles that might be preventing them from connecting with new students or peers who struggle with feeling a sense of belonging.

Activity 1: Identifying Barriers to Belonging

Students were divided into pairs and given the task of brainstorming all the potential barriers that keep them from reaching out to others. They were provided with a visual aid—a document featuring an image of people separated by a barrier. Inside this barrier, students were encouraged to write down their ideas about what might be holding them back.

After about five minutes of discussion, we came back together as a group to share and discuss these barriers. This activity was crucial in helping students recognize the challenges they face and in fostering an open conversation about the difficulties of reaching out.

Step 2: Understanding the Power of Inviting

To get over these barriers, we introduced the concept of “inviting” as a key element in the process of belonging. We discussed how it’s up to each of us to extend an invitation to others, making them feel included and valued within our community. To make this concept relatable, we used humor, asking, “What does inviting look like? Do we ask them to marry us? Do we give them all our money?” 

This light-hearted approach helped to ease into a more serious discussion about what it truly means to invite someone to belong.

Activity 2: Brainstorming Ways to Invite Others

For the second activity, students were given a document titled “You’re Invited…” and asked to brainstorm, either individually or in pairs, ideas for how they could invite others to belong. They considered questions like, “What opportunities do we have to invite others?” and “How can we make someone feel really welcome?”

After about five minutes of reflection and writing, we regrouped to share ideas. This discussion provided students with a range of strategies and encouraged them to think critically about the key role they play in fostering a sense of belonging within the school. 

This second advisory session not only helped students identify the challenges they face in connecting with others but also empowered them with practical strategies for making their peers feel more welcome. By focusing on both the barriers and the solutions, we’re fostering a more inclusive school environment, one step at a time.

Ed X!