Restorative Practices At Schools

May all our classrooms be safe places where there’s space for stories to be told. ❤️

There’s a lot of pressure to get through the curriculum and finding time to rearrange the room and facilitate or participate in community building can feel daunting or another thing to add to the pile of to-do lists. I get it. However, once it becomes routine, it is sooooo worth it.

I’ve been trying to be intentional about creating these spaces and opportunities for sharing in my classroom this year and I see the beautiful result in the ways my students show up and interact with one another. ❤️ the start of the school year was a bit chaotic with balancing class sizes and schedule changes continuing to impact students coming in and out of the classes. It took us a minute but we’re getting into a routine. Every Friday or every other Friday depending on the week, we have community building and connection on our agenda. We also circle up for small sharing opportunities that are more informal, throughout the week as a way to get our bodies moving during the 70 minute class period and just being present in each other’s company.

Sharing this opportunity sent to us by Martin Urbach:

Friends! The Circle Keepers is leading a workshop on growing Youth Led Restorative Justice cohorts in schools. I would be so grateful if you would pass the word around to your networks of educators!

The workshop will be on Saturday, 3/9, on Zoom, from 10am-3pm and will include TONS of materials, lesson plans, slide decks, and access to our WhatsApp/Slack group of RJ practicioners!

Workshop Description: In this participatory workshop, teachers and school administrators will learn how to start and/or nurture a restorative justice program based on developing strong youth-adult partnerships. You will learn how to mentor youth in becoming peer mediators as well as community service leaders.
RSVP: https://bit.ly/circlekeepersworkshop


PROPOSED AGENDA

10am-10:30am: Introduction:
An arts-based community building circle where you will get to meet other like minded educators, and explore different ways of fostering a community of care, communication and belonging.
10:30am-11am: Tier 1 Circles Workshop:
Co-creating community norms as well as reviewing RJ theory and literature as applied to school based settings.
11am-11:20am: "Freedom Dreaming" Artmaking/Journaling:
What is your vision for safety, belonging, peace and justice in schools? How can we design programs that not only center but also cherish youth' participation in this dream?
11:20am-11:35am: Open Share In Breakout Rooms:
Participants will circle up in small groups to discuss their freedom dreams.
11:35am-11:45am: Whole Group Debrief:
We will circle up for sharing and discussion
11:45am-12:30pm: Youth Participation in School Based Programs:
We will learn youth development skills and how to design community service activities in ways that position young people as leaders as opposed to tokens.
12:30pm-1:15pm: LUNCH!
Participants can do their own thing or join a breakout room of their choice (TBA by participant survey) for "lunch with a friend"
1:15pm-2:15pm: Peer Mediation Roundtables Training:
Participants will learn the protocols for training youth as peer mediators in roundtable settings as well as in whole-class circles.
2:15pm-2:45pm: Designing Systmes & Logistics for Success:
Partipants will gain access to curriculum as well as organizational forms, etc to use in their own schools.
2:45pm-3pm: Closing Circle & Next Steps:
We will have a closing circle ritual and offer some next steps we might take in our own schools in regards to youth-led restorative justice.

Growing a Youth Led Restorative Justice Program In Your School! | My Site In this participatory workshop, teachers and school administrators will learn how to start and/or nurture a restorative justice program based on developing strong youth-adult partnerships. You will learn how to mentor youth in becoming peer mediators as well as community service leaders.