The importance of affirming student identity
For many years, WRDSB Director jeewan chanicka has been discussing the importance of affirming student identity to transform education in a way that serves all students.
Indigenous ways of knowing and understanding reveals the many ways we are deeply connected to each other and our environments. Research also shows that students’ sense of belonging and well-being have a significant impact on their ability to achieve academic success (see School Mental Health Ontario). For example, the Blair Outdoor Education Centre is a collaborative effort by the White Owl Native Ancestry Association (WONAA) and the WRDSB. It serves as a space of learning for Indigenous Land-based programming and education for students in Grades 4-12. The Blair garden has contributed 733 pounds of food.
In order to create safe, welcoming, inclusive and equitable school environments, students must feel a sense of belonging and have trusted, caring adults who they feel are supporting their learning journey.
In Place and Belonging in School: Why It Matters Today | Case Studies by Professor Kathryn Riley, Dr. Max Coates and Dr. Tracey Allen, they describe “The Belonging Opportunity” to improve student motivation, improved academic achievement, positive social outcomes and a sense of agency, among others. They note that: “Whether young people feel they belong in school influences how they think about themselves today, and how they see their future on our planet as global citizens.”
“I belong here” Classroom exercise
Invite students to create art submissions to capture what they would like to see in a school where they feel they belong and can show up as their full selves. Explore using art, music, dance, etc. Share photos or videos on social media using #DreamEd.