Cultivating Connection and Belonging Beyond Boundaries

The need for connection, to figure out where and how we belong, takes on special importance during middle and high school. Adolescents are deeply attuned to their peers, and seek respect and belonging in groups where they can be supported, heard, and understood. By surfacing themes of belonging, and the many tangible and intangible borders that can shape it, ELA teachers can empower students to explore these concepts through the texts they read, in their interactions with others, in their schools, and in their lives. In this interactive session educators will explore resources, teaching strategies, and learning experiences applicable to specific grade bands (grades 7-8, grades 9-10, and grades 11-12). Participants will gain tools and classroom-tested resources to create a Borders & Belonging unit that helps students consider their own agency to cultivate a sense of belonging for themselves and others, and develop their capacity to participate fully in conversations across difference.