Artful Approach to Exploring Identity and Fostering Belonging Book Group
Artful Approach to Exploring Identity and Fostering Belonging Book Group
SESSION 1: October 20, 2026 | 3:15pm - 5:00pm
SESSION 2: December 1, 2026 | 3:15pm - 4:30pm
SESSION 3: January 5, 2027 | 3:15pm - 4:30pm
SESSION 4: March 2, 2027 | 3:15pm - 4:30pm
SESSION 5: March 23, 2027 | 3:15pm - 4:30pm
SESSION 6: April 20, 2027 | 3:15pm - 4:30pm
SESSION 7: May 4, 2027 | 3:15pm - 4:30pm
SESSION 8: May 18, 2027 | 3:15pm - 5:00pm
Do you work at an independent school outside of California? Click here for a discount on our non-member registration!
ABOUT THIS ONLINE BOOK CLUB
The Artful Approach Book Group is for educators looking for sustained time to reflect, create, exchange ideas, learn in community, and explore how to foster connection, belonging, and joy in classrooms and communities today and every day.
This eight-session book group offers participants the chance to explore The Artful Approach to Exploring Identity and Fostering Belonging alongside its authors, Rebecca Bellingham and Veronica Scott. Created in response to a growing call for ongoing professional learning that is both meaningful and practical, each session will be thoughtfully shaped around the educators who join us, making room for the unique questions, contexts, and interests that emerge across the cohort.
This will be a low-pressure learning community, with no required homework between sessions: just come ready to read, reflect, and participate.
Following the arc of the book, from self-reflection to classroom practice, we’ll explore how the arts can offer powerful pathways to community and belonging. Participants will also have the chance to experience the artful approach firsthand. Rather than simply discussing chapters, participants will experience the ideas through picture books, poems, pop culture, conversation, reflection, and creative projects designed to spark new possibilities for both students and educators.
Across the series, we’ll blend time-tested practices with fresh, creative projects that participants can adapt thoughtfully to their own classrooms and communities. They’ll experiment with low-stakes, accessible arts-based practices that require no artistic expertise and leave with new texts, resources, and strategies for integrating literature, poetry, art, and reflection in ways that help students feel seen, valued, and ready to thrive.
This program cohort is an inclusive space for educators and leaders from preschool through grade 6. Classroom teachers, DEIB leaders, instructional coaches, and directors of teaching and learning are encouraged to join us!
Participants Will:
- Discover how to use an artful approach to foster connection and belonging for all students
- Reflect on their own identities, experiences, and practices to support more culturally responsive learning environments
- Develop a repertoire of artful reflections that educators can use to support, sustain, and uplift themselves when they need it most
- Create mentor texts, workshop ideas, and receive personalized feedback about lesson plans to support both literacy development and identity exploration
All participants will receive a copy of The Artful Approach to Exploring Identity and Fostering Belonging
ABOUT THE FACILITATORS
Veronica Scott and Rebecca Bellingham are the authors of The Artful Approach to Exploring Identity and Fostering Belonging, and The Artful Read Aloud. They bring their experience as K-8 educators, school leaders, and artists to offer a creative and engaging approach to professional development and student leadership. They met leading literacy and DEIB professional development at Francis Parker in San Diego.
Most recently, they’ve worked with schools and organizations like Learning for Justice (formerly Teaching Tolerance), Polytechnic School, High Tech High Elementary, Columbia University Teachers College, Horizons National, Shady Hill’s Teacher Training Center, San Diego Unified School District, and the WNET Media Group. As teaching artists, Veronica and Rebecca lean into the power of picture books, poetry, and pop culture to inspire young people and empower educators. You can learn more about their work here.
Cancellation Policy
Life happens. We understand that there will be times when you cannot attend a workshop that you have registered and paid for. We strive to be as helpful and flexible as possible when things out of your control happen. Please visit our FAQ page for detailed information about our cancellation policy and answers to frequently asked questions about enrollment and membership.