In “17 Simple Ways to Build a Sense of Belonging in Your Classroom This Year,” Tim Cavey, writing from a Vancouver elementary school perspective, underscores the critical idea that students thrive when they feel safe, included, and appreciated—and that sense of belonging belongs at the center of our daily teaching practice. As schools gear up for the new year under the theme “You Belong,” Cavey shares a collaborative exercise where educators generated simple yet impactful strategies to cultivate belonging in the classroom.

Here is a reframed and themed overview of his 17 practical suggestions:

1. Personal Validation & Presence

• Write down one thing you genuinely love about each student and revisit it throughout the year.

• Greet each student by name with a warm smile every morning.

• When students return after an absence, acknowledge them with genuine warmth: “You’re back! We missed you.”

2. Shared Experiences Through Food

• If students eat in the classroom, “set the table” with placemats for each child.

• Sometimes join them at snack or lunch to connect beyond lessons.

3. Celebrations That Include Everyone

• During birthdays, have the student sit on a special “birthday chair,” wear a hat, and lead classmates in song and dance.

• Encourage all students to share what they appreciate about the birthday child.

4. Visual Symbols of Community

• Display an enlarged, nice class photo in a visible place—on the door, front of room, or on your desk—to reinforce that each student belongs.

• Create a “word cloud” of affirmations for a “cool kid of the week,” and display it as a testament to uniqueness.

5. Student Voice & Engagement

• Early on, survey students about whom they appreciate working with and something they want the teacher to know.

• Invite help from any student, not just the eager ones—this signals that everyone's contribution matters.

6. Social Connections & Crew Identity

• Frame each table group as a “crew”—a small community that looks after each other and follows up when someone is absent.

• Ask your teacher-librarian to connect students who share interests (e.g., anime fans) across classes.

7. Reflecting Families & Cultures

• Ask families to bring a photo of their whole family and create a special display to honor the diverse home lives represented.

• Sing “Happy Birthday” in all languages represented in your class to celebrate linguistic and cultural diversity.

8. Storytelling & Shared Narrative

• Use read-aloud stories that reinforce the message of belonging. Tap your librarian to help select age-appropriate titles.

• Build narratives of community and inclusion through literature.

These strategies are grounded in consistent, caring interactions rooted in recognizing each student’s individuality. They emphasize visual cues of belonging, meaningful inclusion in rituals and routines, and moving beyond the academic to social, emotional, and relational domains.

Cavey’s suggestions are practical, low-cost, and easy to implement—many require no new materials, just intentionality and consistency.

For educators, the key takeaway is that belonging isn't one lesson—it’s the ambient climate we build through thoughtful routines and symbolic gestures. Whether it's a personalized placemat or calling a quieter student forward for help, these actions send the message: “You matter. You belong.”

Original Article

Source: Tim Cavey, 17 Simple Ways to Build a Sense of Belonging in Your Classroom This Year, Teachers on Fire (Aug 29, 2025) — https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire/17-simple-ways-to-build-belongi...

Prepared with the assistance of AI software

OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT (4) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com