UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL BULLETIN

ANNOUNCEMENT

Florida International University

University Graduate School

Doctoral Dissertation Defense

Abstract

Educators’ Perspectives and Practices for Fostering Belonging in the Upper Elementary Classroom

by

Akira S. Gutierrez Renzulli

Student sense of belonging (i.e., belonging) reflects their experiences of feeling accepted, connected to and included by others, valued as a self-directed learner and contributor to the school community, and is informed by specific school-based experiences, overall feelings about school, and quality of relationships with teachers and peers. This dissertation presents educators’ perspectives about belonging by exploring how they: a) conceptualize belonging; b) understand their role in facilitating belonging; and c) organize classrooms and schools to foster positive school culture and belonging. Informed by a phenomenological approach, archived transcripts of educator interviews were content analyzed. Nine teachers and nine school leaders completed semi-structured interviews exploring their values and beliefs; goals for students’ academic and social-emotional learning; and approaches to building positive school culture for student belonging. Teachers valued the importance of teaching the “whole child” by supporting students’ development of intrapersonal and interpersonal competencies. They built classroom communities to foster belonging through positive peer relationships. School leaders valued the importance of connection, community, and contribution and described belonging as the experience of feeling accepted and welcome everywhere. They prioritized time and resources to foster positive school culture that helps students be ready to learn and teachers ready to meet their needs. Implications are discussed for educators and administrators seeking to cultivate positive climates that foster student belonging through social-emotional learning, trusted relationships, teacher capacity-building and collaboration, and systemic practices that align with school culture goals.