Quick Peek
A sense of belonging is just as important as the curriculum. If students don’t feel connected to you and to one another, it will be nearly impossible to keep them motivated to learn. My extensive work in Hawaii has acquainted me with what the Hawaii DOE calls the HA (Breath) Framework. The first component of this framework is a sense of belonging (He pili wehena ‘ole). “He pili wehena ‘ole” serves as one of the six pillars for supporting a holistic learning process that includes every students’ ability to stand firm on a strong foundation of relationships. Within the state of Hawaii and the rest of the United States, creating this sense of belonging has been made even more difficult by the current pandemic, the ongoing protests, and the upcoming move to virtual learning.