Circle
A classroom or group of students can use a circle to “check in”, set expectations, recognize fun or helpful peer experiences and share feelings about the school day. Teachers and students can be trained to use techniques to encourage others to speak openly, honestly, and with respect – this is social and emotional learning. The circle structure can be adapted to a wide range of needs - everything from setting ground rules, defining agreements and values, to addressing disruptive behavior, or processing a difficult event.
Restorative Conference
This process is used for more impactful incidents, or reoccurring patterns of behavior. The conference is a facilitated conversation that is confidential and voluntary with two main parts. First, the person who caused harm must listen as the impacted people describe what they have experienced, and the person who caused harm is given a chance to speak about how they will be accountable for these actions. The second part of the conversation is focused on helping the impacted people and the person who
caused harm agree on a plan that can make things right as much as possible and work to prevent further incidents. This will often include a written agreement that may also be tied to the school’s “traditional” disciplinary measures.
Before the restorative conference, we hold separate confidential meetings with each of the involved parties so we can get everyone's input about what happened and why, as well as ideas to repair the harm. For example, a bullying incident will require separate conversations with the families of each student involved, as well as any teachers or staff who were directly impacted.