How to Jumpstart Belonging in Your Classroom From Day One

2026-07-14

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Do you want to build a vibrant classroom community this year, but you’re not sure where to start? Research shows it’s well worth the effort—and the first week of school is the perfect time to lay that foundation. When students feel a strong sense of belonging at school, they tend to be more motivated to learn and achieve higher academic outcomes. In this first back-to-school episode from School of Practice, teacher Marcus Luther shares a simple activity that helps him get to know his students from day one, and sets th...

Do you want to build a vibrant classroom community this year, but you’re not sure where to start?

Research shows it’s well worth the effort—and the first week of school is the perfect time to lay that foundation. When students feel a strong sense of belonging at school, they tend to be more motivated to learn and achieve higher academic outcomes.

In this first back-to-school episode from School of Practice, teacher Marcus Luther shares a simple activity that helps him get to know his students from day one, and sets the tone for the year ahead. Then, he shares two easy strategies for keeping that feedback practice going, so you can continue to build belonging and engagement all year long.

Related resources:

Learn more about this episode
A First-Week Survey That Fits on an Index Card
Collecting and Using Student Feedback Throughout the Year
Monthly Pulse-Check Template: Ask Your Students How Class is Going
Creating a Cycle of Student Feedback
Making Schoolwide Use of Student Surveys
The Value of Soliciting Student Feedback
Improving Teaching with Expert Feedback – From Students
Research: Strengthening School Connectedness to Increase Student Success
Research: The relationships between school belonging and students’ motivational, social-emotional, behavioural, and academic outcomes in secondary education: a meta-analytic review