Personal Belonging Journal

Use these prompts to explore and record your feelings of belonging at school. Take your time and write freely.

1. What does “belonging” mean to you? Describe a moment or example that illustrates this.

2. Recall a time when you felt you truly belonged at school. What happened, who was involved, and how did you feel?

3. Think of a moment when you felt excluded or out of place. How did you respond then, and what did you learn from that experience?

4. List three people or groups at school who help you feel connected. For each, explain why their presence matters to your sense of belonging.

5. Imagine an ideal school environment where everyone feels they belong. Describe what it looks like, sounds like, and feels like when you walk through those halls.

6. Write three positive affirmations you can say to yourself whenever you need a reminder of your worth and place at school.

Guided Reflection Script

Session Time: 10 minutes
Purpose: Lead a one-on-one, paced conversation so the student deepens understanding of their belonging experiences and builds positive affirmations.

Before You Begin (30 seconds)

• Take a deep breath.
• Remind yourself: listen actively, pause generously, and validate all responses.

1. Exploring a Belonging Moment (Approx. 2 minutes)

Teacher (00:00–02:00):
“Let’s start with something from your Personal Belonging Journal. You described a moment when you felt you truly belonged at school. Could you share more about what was happening in that moment?”
Pause for response (allow 30–45 seconds).
Follow-up Prompts (as needed):
• “Who else was there with you?”
• “What senses do you recall—what did you see, hear, or feel?”

Adaptation Tip: If the student seems stuck after 20 seconds, rephrase: “Maybe tell me one vivid detail—like a color you saw or a sound you heard.”

2. Reflecting on Exclusion (Approx. 2 minutes)

Teacher (02:00–04:00):
“Thank you. Now let’s think about a time you felt excluded. In prompt 3 of your journal, you wrote about feeling out of place. What thoughts went through your mind then?”
Pause for response.
Follow-up Prompts:
• “How did your body react—did you notice any tension or butterflies in your stomach?”
• “What did you say to yourself in that moment?”

Adaptation Tip: If emotional or silent, offer reassurance: “Take your time. There’s no right or wrong answer here.”

3. Learning from the Experience (Approx. 2 minutes)

Teacher (04:00–06:00):
“When you felt excluded, how did you respond? And looking back now, what did you learn from that experience?”
Pause for response.
Follow-up Prompts:
• “If a friend went through the same thing, what advice would you give them?”
• “How might you handle it differently next time?”

Adaptation Tip: If the student is very reflective, let them lead but bring it back on task at 5:45.

4. Vision of an Ideal School (Approx. 2 minutes)

Teacher (06:00–08:00):
“Let’s move to prompt 5 from your journal: your vision of an ideal school environment. Could you paint a vivid picture for me of walking through those halls?”
Pause for response.
Follow-up Prompts:
• “What would you see on the walls or hear in the cafeteria?”
• “How would people treat each other?”

Adaptation Tip: Encourage descriptive language: “Use one adjective to describe the atmosphere—for example, ‘warm’ or ‘inviting.’”

5. Creating Affirmations (Approx. 1 minute)

Teacher (08:00–09:00):
“You’ve done great work. Now let’s look at the three affirmations you began in prompt 6. Which one feels most powerful to you right now?”
Pause for selection.
Follow-up Prompts:
• “How does saying this affirmation make you feel?”
• “When during your day could you repeat it to yourself?”

Adaptation Tip: If they hesitate, suggest combining parts of two affirmations into a new one.

6. Summary & Closing (Approx. 1 minute)

Teacher (09:00–10:00):
“What is one key takeaway about belonging that you want to remember from today’s talk? And which affirmation will you use to remind yourself of that?”
Pause for response.
Closing Statement:
“Thank you for sharing so openly today. You’ve taken important steps in understanding your sense of belonging. Keep your affirmations visible—on your desk or in your phone—and remember, you are valued here.”

End of Guided Reflection Script

Positive Affirmation Maker

Use this tool to craft personalized statements that boost your sense of belonging and self-worth. Follow the steps below and refer to the examples. When you’re done, choose three affirmations to repeat daily.

1. Identify Your Theme

Decide what area you want to strengthen:
• Belonging
• Confidence
• Resilience

2. Choose a Positive Starter

Pick one of the following sentence beginnings:
• “I am …”
• “I belong because …”
• “My presence matters when …”

3. Add Your Personal Detail

Complete the sentence with a specific, true statement about yourself. Aim for vivid language.

Examples:

• “I am capable of making friends when I share my ideas.”
• “I belong because my kindness creates connections.”
• “My presence matters when I offer a listening ear to someone who needs it.”

4. Fill-In-the-Blank Templates

Use these prompts to write three affirmations.

1. I am ________________________________________________.
   
   
   
   
2. I belong because ___________________________________.
   
   
   
   
3. My presence matters when I ____________________________.
   
   
   
   

5. Usage Tips

• Repeat each affirmation 3–5 times in the morning or before a challenging moment.
  
• Write them on sticky notes and place them on your mirror or desk.
  
• Say them aloud with confidence—feel the words in your body.
  
• Review and revise monthly as you grow and discover new strengths.

Keep this Positive Affirmation Maker handy to refresh your statements anytime you need a belonging boost!