Today was a beautiful day of firsts. I recently had a new baby and have been stuck in the endless cycle of diaper changes and nursing. Such a dramatic change to one’s life has the high potential to impact your mental health. My mental health is top of mind right now as I go through this time in my life, so I am noticing this in the literature that I read. Today was special because my son had his first laugh. We also took a few minutes to connect with the earth and I placed his hand on a large cedar tree in our yard. The rain was falling on his face as he leaned back often to look at the sky.
As I continue working on my master’s project, I am reading a lot about sense of belonging and mental health. As an online teacher I know how hard it is to create that sense of belonging for students who are far away and not in the same room together.
The book Fostering a Sense of Belonging: Teaching Tips to Utilize UDL Online, 2024, Has some important notes on sense of belonging and mental health. Student engagement and academic achievement are impacted by their sense of belonging, and students are more likely to succeed in courses that address their sense of belonging (Bartlett & Ehrlich, 2024, p. 14). They also note that the risk of not fostering a sense of belonging has an impact on the student’s mental health, in addition to the academics and retention in not only the course, but the overall program (Bartlett & Ehrlich, 2024, p. 14). Do you have students who are leaving your program and you do not know why? Have you thought about incorporating practices to talk about mental health with your students? Have you thought about their sense of belonging in your class? How do you know if students feel like they belong? I encourage you to give this some thought as you are working throughout the year.
Also remember to be kind to yourself as you take time to ponder your impact in and on the world around you.
Fostering a Sense of Belonging: Teaching Tips to Utilize UDL Online: Unlocking Learning Potential With Universal Design in Online Learning Environments
