Education consultant and author Zahara Chowdhury joins Becky Dawson to discuss the essential role of belonging in education. This episode explores how fostering a sense of community and validation for every student's identity is the foundation for academic and pastoral success. Zahara shares practical insights on diversity, equity, and inclusion (EDI), moving beyond "fitting in" to creating spaces where students and staff feel safe, seen, and heard.

The discussion delves into the power of appreciative inquiry, a strength-based approach that focuses on what is working well within a school rather than defaulting to a deficit model. Zahara emphasizes the importance of authenticity and "being real" with students to build deep rapport. From navigating the complexities of social media to the simple power of a smile, this conversation offers a roadmap for leaders and teachers to cultivate a genuine culture of belonging.

• Distinguish Between Fitting In and Belonging: Understand that true belonging allows students to remain themselves while being part of a community, rather than forcing them to change to fit a mold.
• Utilize Appreciative Inquiry: Improve EDI by centralizing and scaling what is already working in your classroom or school, rather than only focusing on barriers and deficits.
• The Power of "Being Real": Students value truth and authenticity; building rapport often starts with being honest about expectations and school realities.
• Foster Equitable Belonging: Recognize that every student has a different lived experience and may need different "belonging bites" or communication styles to feel included.
• Middle Leadership as the Pillar: Senior leaders should focus on supporting the relationship between middle managers and teachers to sustain a healthy school culture.
• Incorporate Simple Acts of Kindness: Small interactions like smiling and saying hello are powerful, low-barrier tools for nurturing a sense of belonging among both staff and students.

Zahara recommends the book "Bringing Up Race: How to Raise a Kind Child in a Prejudiced World" by Uju Asika for its deep dive into lived experiences and practical advice on navigating multicultural and multilingual identities. You can also find more of Zahara's work in her book, "Creating Belonging in the Classroom".

Don't forget to follow us on your podcast platform and give us a rating and review to help more educators find these crucial conversations. Share your thoughts, comments, questions, or brilliant work by emailing the team at teamwellbeing@twinkl.co.uk.

• 00:00 - Introduction: Meet Zahara Chowdhury, EDI consultant and author.
• 02:33 - Defining Belonging: Why it is essential for student success and school culture.
• 05:34 - Fitting In vs. Belonging: Insights from Brene Brown on the pressure to conform.
• 09:24 - Equitable Belonging: Using the school uniform analogy to understand individuality.
• 10:57 - Innovation in the Classroom: How a sense of belonging leads to student engagement and success.
• 14:10 - "Tell Us the Truth": What students taught Zahara about authenticity and rapport.
• 18:44 - Navigating Social Media: The challenge of multiple "versions of truth" for teenagers.
• 20:34 - Appreciative Inquiry in EDI: Focusing on success stories to drive school-wide change.
• 25:11 - Multilingualism vs. EAL: Reframing language skills from a deficit to a strength.
• 28:10 - Collective Learning: Building a team environment in the classroom.
• 31:10 - Kindness as a Strategy: Simple interactions that foster community.
• 32:40 - Advice for Leaders: Walking the corridors and supporting middle leadership.
• 37:30 - Sharing is Caring: A recommendation for "Bringing Up Race" by Uju Asika.

Educational consultant and author Karl Pupé joins Becky Dawson to explore the secrets behind effective classroom leadership. Karl shares his journey from a "school terrorist" to an SEMH specialist, offering a masterclass in building trust and managing behavior through relationships. This episode dives deep into the "Action Hero" approach to teaching, prioritizing teacher wellbeing and human connection over rigid curriculum delivery

• The "Maslow before Bloom" Philosophy: Why establishing a safe, caring relationship is the prerequisite for any academic learning
• Trust Mountain: A breakdown of the four types of student behavior—Disruptor, Compliant, Reflective, and Engaged—and how to move students up the mountain
• The Leadership Zone: Finding the balance between "Authority" and "Warmth" while avoiding the pitfalls of being a "Dictator," "Doormat," or "Yo-yo" teacher
• Teacher Wellbeing as Co-regulation: Understanding how a teacher’s emotional state acts as the "bellwether" for the entire class
• Whole-School Consistency: The importance of crystal-clear, simple rules that every staff member upholds to prevent students from "bending" the system

• Prioritize Connection: No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care; relationships are the "North Star" of behavior management
• Read the Room: Use "two-minute check-ins" at the door to gauge student temperatures and catch potential issues before they escalate
• The Student Triangle: Effective teachers understand the three pillars of a student's life: their personality, their home environment, and their school experience
• Establish a Social Contract: Build a classroom culture from day one by making respect explicit and involving students in the "unwritten rules" of the room
• Seek the "Trusted Adult": If you're struggling with a student, find the one person in school they trust (a coach, TA, or cleaner) and use that bridge to build your own rapport

• Karl Pupé recommends visiting Young Minds for mental health resources and exploring the Boxall Profile to understand childhood attachment and practical psychology
• To learn more about Karl’s "Action Hero" framework, visit actionheroteacher.com or follow his daily "bite-sized brilliance" on LinkedIn

• 00:00 - Introduction - Meet Karl Pupé, author of The Action Hero Teacher
• 01:17 - The Action Hero Origin - How a "school terrorist" became an educational consultant
• 07:06 - Maslow Before Bloom - Debunking the myth that curriculum comes before relationships
• 10:12 - Teacher Wellbeing & Co-regulation - Why you are the "emotional bellwether" of your class
• 14:49 - The Burnout Crisis - Addressing why 40,000 teachers are leaving the profession
• 17:37 - Trust Mountain - Identifying the four levels of classroom behavior
• 22:56 - The Leadership Zone - Balancing authority and warmth in your teaching style.
• 24:27 - Styles to Avoid - The Dictator, the Doormat, and the Yo-yo teacher
• 27:18 - Whole-School Approach - Why "crystal clear" rules beat complex policies
• 30:57 - Practical Psychology - Why behavior leadership is a learnable skill
• 33:56 - The Two-Minute Check-in - A simple habit to build trust.
• 37:05 - The Student Triangle - Seeing the whole child beyond the desk.
• 43:04 - The Social Contract - Advice for new teachers on establishing culture

47:33 - Sharing is Caring - Recommended resources for trauma-informed practice