With Zach Mercurio Ph.D.
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET, November 6, 2025
It’s hard for students to care if they don’t feel cared for. Mattering—the experience of knowing you are valued and that you add value—is a powerful driver of motivation and engagement. Yet, in an era of reduced face-to-face connection and weaker social ties, many students report feeling unseen, unheard, and undervalued. When that happens, they often disengage.
The good news: research shows that educators can intentionally create “moments of mattering” by noticing students, affirming their worth, and showing them how they make a difference.
In this webinar, Zach Mercurio, a researcher, facilitator, and author, will share the science of mattering and practical ways to build a culture of significance in the classroom and beyond.
You’ll learn to:
- Define mattering and understand its role in motivation, engagement, and retention
- Distinguish between belonging, inclusion, and mattering—and why all three are essential
- Identify barriers that prevent students from feeling valued and explore ways to overcome them
- Optimize everyday interactions so students feel truly seen, heard, and valued