As educators, we often witness a heartbreaking transformation: the bold, hand-raising third-grader who, by middle school, begins to pull back, second-guess her voice, and look to her peers for "permission" before she speaks.

At the recent ESEA presentation, Ali Hively, founder of Rise Girl™, shared a powerful roadmap for reversing this trend by focusing on one critical foundation: belonging.

If you were unable to attend or need a refresher on how to bring these tools to your school, here is a summary of the most impactful strategies for cultivating confidence in our girls.

The "7x" Factor: Why Belonging Matters Most

Research from the CDC and the Search Institute reveals a staggering truth: Girls who feel they belong at school are seven times more likely to describe themselves as confident.

While we often focus on achievement, for girls navigating the developmental shift after 5th grade, belonging often becomes more important than achievement. Identity and peer awareness intensify during this time, and the fear of standing out grows. As educators, we are "ripple makers"—the environments we create can either serve as the "soil" for confidence to grow or a place where self-doubt takes root.

The Rise Together™ 5-Step Formula

Building a culture of confidence doesn't require a massive budget or a schedule overhaul. It starts with a simple, intentional formula:

1. Awareness (Without Judgment): Notice where your girls are struggling or thriving. Do they hesitate to answer? Are they lashing out? Simply observe without pouring "toxic energy" or judgment over the situation.

2. Intention: Decide what you want your girls to experience. Is your goal to lift up a specific group of leaders or to support those who are currently the most disconnected?

3. Vision: Mentally see the change happening in your halls. What would it look like for these girls to hold their heads a little higher or support one another in the classroom?

4. Overcome: Anticipate the obstacles—testing, snow days, and crisis situations. Decide now that these won't stop the plan; you’ll simply pick up where you left off at the next best opportunity.

5. Action: Take the smallest possible step. This might be as simple as a five-minute morning check-in or blocking out 10 minutes on a Friday for a small group.

Creating "Micro-Communities"

The ESEA presentation emphasized that confidence is built "penny by penny" through intentional micro-communities. Within these small groups (even just three girls), focus on these four pillars:

• Connection: Practice the "no wrong answers" rule to help girls reconnect with their own intuition.

• Mindset: Teach girls they have the power to choose thoughts that serve them, perhaps by starting the day with a single "power word".

• Movement: Use shared movement—like a 2-minute "Just Dance" break—to release stress and create a safe, joyful shared experience.

• Lifestyle Habits: Help them understand that 1% improvements in sleep and screen time directly impact their resilience and how they show up for school.

A Message of Support for You

We know your plates are full. The "Special Sauce" for this work is flexibility and permission. It’s about "messy action"—being willing to try something, see how it goes, and adapt.

You don't need a perfect four-hour workshop to change a girl's life. You just need the intention to meet her where she is, one small moment at a time. When we create spaces rooted in belonging, resilience and confidence naturally follow.