A practical guide to having brave and difficult conversations, overcoming bias and challenging stereotypes to make your secondary classroom a safe space.

A practical guide to having brave and difficult conversations, overcoming bias and challenging stereotypes to make your secondary classroom a safe space.

Now, more than ever, there is a need to have brave conversations and address the unspoken topics in what should be one of the safest spaces for children: the classroom. How then, do we create classrooms where teachers and students can have brave conversations? How do we create classroom environments where every student feels seen, heard and safe? How do we lean into the difficult conversations none of us really want to have, but our students need us to engage with? The answer is simpler than you think.

Creating Belonging in the Classroom provides practical examples of what belonging, allyship and inclusion really is. Drawing on real-life case studies and scenarios, this book breaks down the barriers that often come with tackling difficult conversations around race, religion, gender and more. This book will help you to encourage students to discuss a wide range of topics, protected characteristics and issues with nuance, critical understanding, compassion and empathy.

"One of the book’s standout strengths is its exploration of psychological safety—a crucial component in ensuring that students feel secure enough to express themselves, take risks, and engage meaningfully in their education. Zahara adeptly discusses how educators can cultivate an environment where students not only belong but thrive." - Nic Ponsford, inclusion doctoral researcher* and CEO & Founder, GEC (Global Equality Collective)

"Any student would be lucky to have Zahara Chowdhury as a teacher and now schools and educators can have the great fortune of experiencing Zahara’s insights distilled in this brilliant book. It’s a crash course in empathy and inclusivity written with such warmth and easily digestible chapters that readers should feel immediately empowered to take action. Creating Belonging in the Classroom is an essential handbook for anybody who cares about a world in which every human feels valued and no child is left behind. I’m so grateful to Zahara for writing it!" - Uju Asika, author of Bringing Up Race, Raising Boys Who Do Better and A World for Me and You

"Creating Belonging in the Classroom is an essential read for educators, school leaders, and policymakers committed to fostering truly inclusive learning environments. The book thoughtfully navigates the multifaceted nature of belonging, blending theoretical insights with practical applications that address both online and offline spaces." - Nic Ponsford, inclusion doctoral researcher* and CEO & Founder, GEC (Global Equality Collective)

"I was so impressed by Zahara’s breadth of research and her frank yet deeply empathetic writing style. It tackles everything from challenging racism and biases to creating truly inclusive and intersectional spaces in school settings." - Multi-award nominated blogger, screenwriter and creative consultant

"A particularly valuable aspect of the book is Chowdhury’s emphasis on the importance of conducting a belonging audit. She outlines a starting point and practical methods for schools to assess how effectively they are fostering belonging, offering a framework that enables institutions to start to move beyond rhetoric and towards measurable, impactful change. This is especially useful for educators and leaders looking to implement an initial evidence-based strategy rather than relying on assumptions about inclusion" - Nic Ponsford, inclusion doctoral researcher* and CEO & Founder, GEC (Global Equality Collective)

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Creating Belonging in the Classroom is both a timely and necessary contribution to educational discourse. Chowdhury’s ability to weave research, real-world examples, and actionable strategies makes this book a must-read for those serious about embedding a culture of belonging in their schools. By addressing both the online and offline dimensions of inclusion, advocating for psychological safety, and encouraging institutions to engage in reflective audits, the book provides a robust roadmap for fostering meaningful and sustainable change in education.

Highly recommended for educators, school leaders, and policymakers seeking to create learning environments where all students feel seen, valued, and included.

"This is essential reading for all educators at any level as well as for parents and caregivers. I’d recommend the book to anyone who wants to understand the concept of ‘belonging’ at a deeper level and why it matters not just for students and teachers but for society as a whole." - Multi-award nominated blogger, screenwriter and creative consultant

"Aimed at promoting inclusivity and belonging in secondary school, this book is a gem. Broken down into chapters that follow a meaningful discussion, Creating Belonging in the Classroom does not shy away from talking about the problem and how to address it. Social media, safety, vulnerability, accessible curriculums, the classroom and the school levels are all discussed in this book. As an educator and parent, I took away a lot." - NetGalley reviewer