Inspiring Symposium on Belonging and Teacher Practices on May 15th, 2024
On Wednesday evening May 15th, the Symposium on Belonging and Teacher Practices took place at the Academy Building in Utrecht. We look back on an inspiring evening with the special presence of Melanie Acosta all the way from Florida Atlantic University. Dr. Acosta is an Associate Professor of Education, and her research, teaching and services centers the well-being of Black children, families and communities through careful study of teacher practice.
Belonging has long been part of the education discourse of policymakers, educators, and researchers due to its key role in supporting academic and social wellbeing of students from disadvantaged backgrounds. During the symposium, we particularly explored the role of teacher practices and teacher education in fostering belonging in schools. In addition, we shared reflections on thinking about belonging in ways that addresses and responds to student demands and voices.
After a warm welcome by dr. Bjorn Wansink, dr. Zehra Çolak presented her research titled Relational and Pedagogical Practices of Belonging among Racialized Minority Youth in an Urban Secondary Education School. Zehra talked about the different theoretical approaches to belonging and shared how a radical belonging approach inspires her thinking along with an understanding of belonging as a situated practice. She presented her preliminary results and analysis of the interviews with racialized Dutch students in an urban secondary education school. Melanie reflected on Zehra’s presentation and questions particularly with regard to the white teachers’ relational practices of belonging.
Simone Polderdijk presented her research about Warm and Demanding from an Interpersonal perspective: A Qualitative Synthesis of Culturally Responsive Teaching in Urban Classrooms. Simone talked about the student diversity and teacher shortage in Dutch urban primary education schools and asked Melanie in what ways she thought we could use the warm and demanding teaching stance in the Netherlands.
After the break, Melanie Acosta presented her Keynote “Motherwit”, Or The Praxis of Black Migrant Women Belonging: Wisdom For Teaching & Teacher Education in black and white. Melanie used the intellectual work of African American skywatchers to position her work as a constellation and discussed the role of the Jeanes Supervisors, a group of African American teachers who worked in rural schools and communities between 1907-1968, in shaping her approach to thinking about belonging as in-of-for-by community. Her talk has particularly emphasized a need for decolonizing knowledge, historical, cultural, political, and community consciousness and centering African agency.
We would like to thank Bjorn, Zehra, Simone and the Dynamics of Youth communities for their commitment to this Symposium. Simultaneously, we thank all the attendees for both their interest and sharing their thoughts, questions and ideas!
Please feel welcome to contact Bjorn Wansink at b.wansink@uu.nl, Zehra Colak at f.z.colak@uu.nl, Simone Polderdijk at s.polderdijk@uu.nl .