Belonging, then, is not a mood, it is an emergent quality that depends on knowledge. When we share the knowledge of those around us, we belong. When we share the words, terms and structures of thought of those we meet, we can hold our own and feel a sense of being in the right place. Belonging is the point at which a child’s linguistic resources meet the school’s expectations and fit well enough for them to feel they are part of something both meaningful and purposeful.