Restorative Circles Overview

Adapted fromStudy Guide:

The Restorative Practices Handbook forTeachers, Disciplinarians and Administrators

Authors: Bob Costello, Joshua Wachtel, and Ted Wachtelcompiled by Cheryl Bowman

Restorative means…

• adults doing things with students rather than to or for them

• believing in students• treating students with respect• developing good relationships• restoring a sense of community

Typical vs. Affective StatementsTypical

• Stop teasing Sandy.

• Talking during class is inappropriate.

• You shouldn’t do that.

• Sit down and be quiet.

• I don’t want to see you fighting with him.

Affective• It makes me

uncomfortable when I hear you teasing Sandy

• I am frustrated that you aren’t listening to me.

• I feel sad when you say something like that to John.

• I get angry when you talk and joke during my lectures.

• I was shocked to see you hurt Pete.

Affective Questions…

• foster a process of reflection by asking questions that get wayward youth to think about their behavior and how it impacted others

• shift responsibility from teacher’s instinct to constantly correct students and places it on students whose behaviors are problematic

Restorative QuestionsWhen Challenging Behavior

• What happened?• What were you thinking at

the time?• What have you thought

about since?• Who has been affected by

what you have done? In what way have they been affected?

• What do you think you need to do to make things right?

To Help Those Affected

• What did you think when you realized what had happened?

• What impact has this incident had on you and others?

• What has been the hardest thing for you?

• What do you think needs to happen to make things right?

Small impromptu conferences can…

• be held in a class, on a field trip, in the lunchroom, in the hallway….

• bring everyone together and resolve the problem quickly

• actively engage students in expressing their feelings

• keep problems from escalating

Teacher as facilitator

• What was your part in what happened?• What can you each do to make it better?• What is one thing each of you will do differently

now to make sure this does not happen again?• Which one of you can come by my classroom at

the end of school to let me know how it went?• Tomorrow, I want you both to let me know how

the rest of the day was.

CirclesCircles can…• be used to deal with

behavior problems• be effective as proactive

process for building and setting class norms

• become a regular part of class

• enhance communication• build a sense of community

and connectedness

Teachers use circles to…• check in with students at

start of day• help students with planning• set classroom norms• set ground rules for projects

and activities• set academic goals and

monitoring progress• engage students in

academic learning• deal with serious problems,

teasing, bullying• check out/summarize end

of day

Tips for running circles…

• Set clear topics and goals for outcomes• Set positive tone, be upbeat, use humor• Keep the focus• Make students your allies (ask ahead for

volunteers to start, etc.)• Always sit in the circle and fully participate• Anticipate and overcome resistance • Empower students to solve own problems• Be creative

Proactively use circles

• to avoid potential problems• to prepare for field trips• anytime there is potential for inappropriate

behavior

“Raising consciousness reduces impulsivity.”

“Go Around”

• simplest, easiest technique to manage • a “talking piece” designates speaker • pass symbolic object around circle • no interrupting speaker• only teacher may interact with speaker or ask

clarifying question• waiting for turn builds patience

Restorative Practices & Discipline

Example of how to defuse a fight• Safety comes first • Get assurances youth will not hurt self or others• 1:1 ask what happened, what was affect on

others• Youth apologize & develop plan to stop fighting• Youth describe what they will do differently• They return to class• Teacher holds a circle to publicly address

situation and support youth and their plan