RESTORATIVE PRACTICES IN SCHOOLS
After several years of hoping, planning and relationship building, LRC has embarked on an exciting three year project to bring restorative principles and practices to schools in Lamoille and its surrounding counties. Orleans Southwest, Lamoille North, and Lamoille South supervisory unions will receive training and professional development in restorative practices for school administration and staff . Each supervisory union will implement a customized plan based on their own specific needs and goals. The foundation of each plan lies the shared belief that schools will benefit by moving away from punitive methods, toward restorative practices.
Use of restorative approaches in schools impacts multiple facets of a school community. On the back-end, it can offer a more equitable and respectful alternative for dealing with disciplinary infractions. On the front end, and perhaps more importantly, restorative approaches are strategies to create a culture of connectivity where everyone in the school community feels valued and can thrive, making the need for action on the back-end far less likely.
First steps include interactive in-service training for all school staff. Then, restorative teams at each school will support their fellow teachers and staff in utilizing restorative practices and problem solve around implementation barriers they encounter. As staff and administrators gain confidence in utilizing restorative approaches, they will begin to consistently implement restorative concepts into their interactions with students. As the school year unfolds, parents will be introduced to restorative approaches at school functions.
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OSSU RP in Schools
Restorative Practices is about interacting with people in a way that promotes inclusion rather than exclusion. To successfully implement restorative practices in schools a foundation of trust, respect, and responsibility must be established. During this course, participants will explore the current research and trends surrounding restorative practices in schools, develop circles for community building and classroom discussion, discuss the challenges of implementing restorative practices to address harm and work on creating an implementation plan for your school and classroom.
Upon completion of this course, participants will have:
- Discussed the foundational concepts of restorative practices and their application in schools.
- Reviewed research and case studies from restorative schools
- Created circles for community building and processing academic subjects
- Explored using circles to address harm
- Discussed key topics in restorative practices such as safety, facilitating a tough discussion, and trusting in the process.
- Practiced using restorative process with peers and students
- Found places in implement restorative practices in their work
- Reflected on personal teaching and facilitation styles and its application with restorative practices
Content Outline:
Module 1 – Intro to Restorative Practices in Schools
Module 2 – How to implement RP in Schools/Strength assessments
Module 3 – Service Learning – Strength Assessments/Needs Assessment
Module 4 – Tier 1 Practices/community building
Module 5 – When Circles Go Wrong: Problem Solving
Module 6 – Service Learning – Tier 1 in the classroom
Module 7 – Tier 2 Practices
Module 8 – Service Learning- Tier 2 in Action
Module 9 – Tier 3 Practices
Module 10 – Service Learning – Tier 3 in Action