Sense of Belonging Offerings
LearnLaunch is excited to partner with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to offer professional learning services focused on increasing students’ Sense of Belonging. Sense of Belonging is the feeling that one’s authentic self is seen, valued, affirmed, and connected by/to the school and district. When students feel a sense of belonging at school, they are more likely to engage deeply in the learning process. Sense of Belonging is intricately connected with many other areas, such as school culture, student engagement, positive relationships, and others.
Our offerings support Massachusetts districts and schools to work toward sense of belonging by tapping into three key practices: building relationships, valuing and affirming diverse identities, and creating opportunities for engagement.
Professional Development Events
Exploring Sense of Belonging: Defining and Taking Action
We are excited to offer an in-person professional development day on Friday, March 31st for educational leaders and educators from across Massachusetts. The event will be held from 8:00 AM – 2:30 PM at The Sturbridge Host Hotel and Conference Center in Sturbridge, MA. Participants will reflect on what sense of belonging means in their contexts, learn from experts and peers who are implementing impactful strategies, and leave with tangible action steps to bring back to their schools and districts.
The day’s program will include:
- An opening keynote by Secretary Patrick Tutwiler
- Interactive sessions on topics such as positive adult-to-adult, adult-to-student, and student-to-student relationships; the intersection of DEI and Belonging; inclusive environments; and students as stakeholders;
- Opportunities to learn from experts in the field as well as from peers across the state;
- Complimentary breakfast and lunch.
Attendees will be awarded PDPs. Space is limited.
Drop-In Workshops
Foster a Sense of Belonging: The Youth Development Approach
LearnLaunch is excited to partner with Health Resources in Action to offer a two-part workshop Foster a Sense of Belonging: The Youth Development Approach. These two 2-hour sessions provide participants with grounding in the Positive Youth Development (PYD) approach, including exploring positive, developmental outcomes for youth. The Positive Youth Development approach results in young people with more fully developed social skills, civic and cultural competencies, positive attitudes toward community, and a strong sense of identity (AED/Center for Youth Development Policy Research). Participants will be guided on how to best build positive youth outcomes and Developmental Outcomes (DO’s) into their schools and districts. Participants are expected to attend both workshop sessions. This workshop is open to any Massachusetts educator or leader in a secondary context.
Join us to:
- Understand the Positive Youth Development (PYD) Approach and its impact on student belonging;
- Explore Developmental Outcomes;
- Identify the purpose of Youth Participation (YP) and plan to incorporate YP into their work;
- Learn with and from peers; and,
- Leave with an actionable next step.
The workshop will be led by Gina Rodriguez of Health Resources in Action. Health Resources in Action works at the intersection of population health, policy, research, and practice.
Team Workshop Series
Over the course of the year we will be offering workshop series. Each series, consisting of two three-hour workshops, will offer guidance and support through planning, implementing, and evaluating interventions to foster students’ sense of belonging. Participating teams will work with a LearnLaunch facilitator in a highly facilitated environment.
Check back soon for our next team workshop.
Professional Learning Networks
Our professional learning networks provide personalized support to district teams for the entirety of the school year. Participating teams attend cohort meetings to connect with one another, learn from each other, and delve deeply into the topic of student belonging. Teams also work 1:1 with a LearnLaunch coach to examine their practice and move toward their unique goals.
Sense of Belonging Prioritization and Implementation: Policies, Procedures, and Practices
This network will support district and school leaders to make changes on a high level to support students’ sense of belonging. Teams will audit existing systems and structures, identify areas of need, and create specific plans to use policies, processes, and systems to build stronger student belonging. This network is most appropriate for teams that are interested in examining district-wide policies, practices, and systems. This network will consist of up to 15 teams, made up of 6-8 members (district representatives and school leaders). The network will convene for cohort meetings 5 times over the course of the year (every other month), and will participate in a site visit two times over the year. Each team will appoint a team lead to engage in 1:1 coaching on a monthly basis with a LearnLaunch coach. Participation is free for all Massachusetts schools and districts.
Building a Sense of Belonging through Tier 1 Instruction: Instructional Practices and Classroom-Based Experiences
This network will support school teams, with district representation, to design relevant and inclusive learning experiences to foster students’ sense of belonging. Teams will examine instructional practices on a classroom and school level that support students’ sense of belonging. This network will consist of up to 15 teams, made up of 6-8 members (district representatives and school leaders). The network will convene for cohort meetings 5 times over the course of the year (every other month), and will participate in a site visit two times over the year. Each team will appoint a team lead to engage in 1:1 coaching on a monthly basis with a LearnLaunch coach. Participation is free for all Massachusetts schools and districts.