Belonging – When I Becomes We

 “When ‘I’ is replaced by ‘We’ – even illness becomes wellness.” – Malcolm X

My heart soared while watching the news the other day – and that rarely happens.  In a sea of negativity, Mr. Barry White Jr. was a shining example of what is right with education.  This remarkable fifth grade English teacher inspires students at Ashley Park Elementary in Charlotte, North Carolina.  He welcomes each of his students daily with a specialized handshake – no two the same – just like his students.   He became an Internet sensation as Good Morning America shared his story of inspiration and belonging.

Mr. White told ABC News that his kids know when they get to the door it is time for their “good mornings.”  He says it pumps him up and gets his kids ready for a high-energy class, ready to learn.  White started the handshakes to bring joy to his students and to get them excited for school, and he also believes it builds trust.  He told NBC Charlotte, “I want this to be their sanctuary.”  Barry is committed to his students and they know that their classroom is a community – a place where they belong.

The trust and a sense of membership that comes from being a part of a classroom community is a powerful thing.  Establishing a community takes time, patience, acceptance, and the willingness to celebrate the unique personalities that work together to create the class family.  When we feel we belong, we are more engaged and more apt to take risks as learners – the kind of risks that inspire and spark lifelong learning.

Building community means:

• This is our classroom.  We are a team.
• We work together and make decisions that enhance learning, build responsible behavior, and support positive working relationships.
• We talk about learning – not grades or comparisons.
• We support each other as learners.
• We support each other as responsible citizens.
• We give kind reminders when friends forget and ignore the small things that do not interfere with learning.
• We build each other up.  Learning is building, creating, and inspiring – not tearing down.

Moving the focus from I to We creates a “wellness” of community.  In our fast paced world, it is often quicker to criticize than problem solve and speedier to isolate than to take the time to be inclusive.  Our children need the life lessons that come from the building of community because it is through that feeling of belonging that we are able to truly grow and thrive.  I wish that I was as cool as Mr. White, but we all bring different gifts to the learning table.  After all – it is our uniqueness, woven together, that makes the most beautiful quilt.