RESTORATIVE PRACTICES Opening up the Heart Circles and

RESTORATIVE PRACTICES Opening up the Heart Circles and corridor conferencing

Where did we ever get the crazy notion that to make people do better we first had to make them feel worse? Punishment=rather than take responsibility they blame teachers, take out frustration on peers and passively resist work

WHAT IS IT? Restoration allows for healing rather than alienation. It requires thinking about the behaviors rather than the rules themselves-working on the relationship that was harmed and includes all those impacted by the action in a collaborative process of developing a plan for change and restitution (Stutzman)

Restorative practices does not seek to negate consequences of the behavior. Instead the focus is on helping students understand the real harm done by behavior, to take responsibility for actions, and to commit to positive change (Stutzman)

BELIEFS Collaborative problem solving is necessary for buy-in and lasting change Misbehavior can become a teachable moment Empowers growth and change through seeing impact on others and repairing harm Conflict creates learning opportunities Give tools to kids Empower them- as they help with agreement

Must take responsibility for harm to engage in restorative practice 3 questions: what happened? Who takes responsibility and how repair the harm?

Philosophy Inquiry-keep asking questions-remain curious/delay judgement Focus on maintaining relationships and harm done to relationship Natural consequences not adult imposed Teaching responsibility not obedience Focus on victim, offender and community

Philosophy Restoration of dignity Shifts lens from blame /punishment to support Punishment-breaks sense of belongingness/community - it is exclusionary ANd only works if kids engaged not at-risk kids Children learn through modeling not consequences=How do we speak, regulate ourselves during discussion

Philosophy Collective responsibility--build community We communicate that when things get tough we send folks away to higher authority/to 3 rd party; we don't deal with it Restitution is 1 st party/direct person harmed 3 r's-respect, responsibility (better regulated when involved) and repair Separate person from behavior

Dialogue /learning circle vs restitution circle or corridor conferencing -not emotionally driven

Small Impromptu Conference What is happening? How do you think your behavior is affecting your classmates? What do you need to do to change your behavior or make amends?

DIALOGUE CIRCLE Procedure/Process Clockwise direction and use stick/treasured object Be respectful; speak only with stick; be honest and speak only for self; speak briefly so everyone has a chance, can pass Practice compliments and statements of appreciation Objective: Develop community, communication skills and learn about perspectives

Dialogue Circle Begin with safe questions. . . What did you do on week-end? Whose greatest positive influence? What do you do on a rainy day? What is the most silliest/courageous thing you've done? THEN: What topics do you want to learn and share? What problems are you having in school? What is/is not bullying? what is trust/who can you trust/how can you become more trustworthy

1. Conferencing Questions to respond to challenging behaviour What happened? And Prior? Who was affected and how? What were you thinking about at the time? How did you feel about it? Who has been affected by what you have done? What needs to be done to set things right or to move forward? How can we fix it? How can situations be prevented in the future? (iirp. org)

1. Conferencing Questions to respond those harmed What did you think when you realized what had happened? What impact has this had on you and others? what has been the hardest think for you? What do you think needs to happen to make things right?

Restitution Forum /Circle Form of Problem Solving Activity Hear stories of those directly involved and impact Not investigation but an empathetic understanding or perspective to gain clarification Initial private mtg with harmed to hear story, create safety plan and find out what they need to put things right Meeting with wrongdoer to gain perspective; explore motivations, explain hurt, encourage reflection, responsibility taking, and devise plan to put things right

FORUM All are invited to attend-it is voluntary Explain parameters-each speak at a time and listen ASk person who caused harm to tell story and how people affected. The victim explains how they were affected. Facilitator simply thanks each for telling their stories ASk victim supporters how they were impacted Person who caused the harm's supporters to discuss how they were impacted The facilitator does not respond to questions, but redirects to the individual or group

Forum The Agreement: Facilitator refrains from making suggestions, limiting her responses to clarification. Victim first asked what they wants. The facilitator asks questions to assist the group in specifying details of the agreement. The facilitator checks each item of the agreement with the participants and provoker asked what s/he can do to repair harm Plan of action made and agreed

Natural consequences that are relevant, respectful, related to offense and restorative

Restorative Tasks Restore, replace, repair, clean up or apologize To develop self worth- clean, repair, create food, posters, letters, help with a task, or teach a skill Increase trust- read books of trust, list people I trust Increase regulation - label emotions, calming techniques, anger mgmt. Develop friendship skills - set up cooperative activities, read books Fear of abandonment-write letters, call home, use of transitional objects

How to make a good apology Take responsibility-we all make mistakes Sincere-shifts heart State specifically what you are sorry for/a particular behaviour Write an apology note- how can I make it better?

FINAL QUESTIONS: Have both needs been addressed-both supported and re-integrated back into society/community? Does person who caused harm understand how his actions impacted other or is there help needed in terms of education, counseling? Do others need to help in making decisions re: accountability- accountability addressed to satisfaction of person harmed? --one way may be to avoid interaction

Resources Restorative Discipline for Schools (Stutzman) The Restorative Approach: Trauma –Informed Care for Children and Adolescents (Patricia Wilcox) Little book of Restorative Justice (Howard Zehr) Positive Discipline in the Classroom(Nelsen, Lott and Glen)