Restorative Practices for Educators
Learning Format
This online experience is tailored for teachers, administrators and other school staff and includes the following:
- You will participate in a 4.5-hour synchronous video conference session (with 30 min. of break time built in) for each of the two days of training
- Pre-work includes readings, handouts, videos and other resources. There will be approximately 2 hours of pre-work for each day of synchronous instruction.
The one-day Introduction to Restorative Practices provides a construct to strengthen relationships and repair harm in a way that builds community. This framework workshop emphasizes proactive strategies for building strong relationships, engaging students, and addressing incidents of hurt/harm.
The one-day Using Circles Effectively provides an opportunity for educators and staff to develop skills to facilitate both community building circles and responsive circles to address conflict.
Facilitating Restorative Conferences
This 2-Day Restorative Conference Training is focused on providing participants with tools/strategies to address conflicts such as bullying, vandalism and other serious infractions. You will learn all the steps required to conduct a formal Restorative Conference.
Learning Format
This online experience is tailored for teachers, administrators and other school staff and includes the following:
- On two successive days (either two days in a row or split up, preferably with no more than a week in between) you will participate in a 4.5 hour synchronous video conference session (with 30 min. of break time built in)
- Pre-work includes readings, handouts, videos and other resources. There will be approximately 2 hours of pre-work for each day of synchronous instruction.
Professional Learning Communities
An intensive online experience designed for teachers, school counselors and paraprofessionals who have participated in Basic Restorative Practices* professional development. The essential theme of this learning can be customized, based on school/school board priorities. We have developed and delivered learning experiences focused on RP implementation planning at the school level; re-entry post COVID 19 planning and putting theory into practice for school leaders. However, the design of the learning experience – seven live sessions over six weeks that engage participants in opportunities to practice the full range of restorative practices, learn from fellow practitioners and deepen their professional practice – can be successfully applied to site specific restorative practices goal.
Facilitating Listening Circles
Help your community gain a shared understanding of collective harms.
Our communities need opportunities to process the personal and collective impact of emotionally charged events. From the effects of COVID and racism to natural disasters and sexual abuse, we seek healthy forums in which to express our feelings and truly hear one another.
With roots in indigenous cultures around the world, listening circles provide people an opportunity to speak and listen to each other in an atmosphere of safety, decorum and equality.
Listening circles emphasize storytelling for cultivating empathy. To help people gain a shared sense of understanding and emotional connection, these circles can be used in communities, workplaces, schools, organizations, neighborhoods, universities and families.
During this event, you will participate in a listening circle on a current topic. Regardless of the topic you choose, you will learn to facilitate listening circles for any topic your community requires.
Learning Format
This highly interactive experience interweaves learning, practice and reflection. The online learning environment, led by two experienced instructors, incorporates individual pre-work, live Zoom sessions and threaded discussions.
- Begin your learning with videos, readings and reflection questions to familiarize yourself with listening circles and prepare to listen empathically. (1 hour of individual preparation.)
- Experience a listening circle and explore the role of the facilitator, as well as barriers to listening, in preparation to facilitate your own circle. (4.5-hour live Zoom session, breaks included.)
- Apply your learning, ask questions and reflect on your experience. (Participants have 2 weeks to implement a listening circle and engage in threaded discussions.)
- Debrief and learn from others’ experiences so you will feel prepared to implement circles in a variety of contexts. (2.5-hour live Zoom session, breaks included.)
This professional development learning experience is open to anyone, regardless of your prior familiarity with restorative practices.