Attending to Sense of Belonging in Teacher Education: A Twofold Necessity

Abstract

In this chapter we reflect on the dual task of teacher educators on the topic of ‘Belong ing.’ Dual in the sense that, firstly, teacher educators need to tend to the sense of belong ing perceived by their students (the prospective teachers). Secondly, they need to edu cate prospective teachers about the importance of a sense of belonging experienced by their pupils and equip them with the practical skills associated with fostering a sense of belonging in school. Here, we emphasize the critical importance of belonging in urban, super-diverse schools and advocate for “brave spaces” in teacher education to cultivate belonging and model practices for prospective teachers. We conclude with discussing challenges for teacher educators in their endeavour to stay connected in diversity and the necessity of an open and collegial environment where those challenges are regarded as sources for growth. This chapter further explicates the theoretical basis of teff Work Package 5 on diversity and inclusion, which led to an online course and a series of lec tures and workshops on sense of belonging in educational settings. Keywords: Sense of belonging; Brave spaces; Pedagogical Considerations in Teacher Education