During the first preparation phase of Restorative Practices for Educators, before we start our first live Zoom session, there are several key concepts below for your review. Think of this as a flipped-classroom model where you will spend about 2 hours learning new information before we meet in our live sessions to process that information and engage in activities together.
Please watch the videos below, read the excerpts provided from The Restorative Practices Handbook, and use the questions to guide your learning. These questions are included simply to help you know where to focus your attention. Answers will not be collected.
Overview of Restorative Practices in Schools
Watch Introduction to RP, San Francisco United SD (15:27)
As you are watching, consider the following questions:
- Who are the adults involved in this process?
- How are students and adults interacting with one another?
- Is there a common language that is being used?
- What is your overall reaction to the video?
Engaging WITH Self and Others
Watch Engaging WITH Self and Others, Part 1 (3:28) and Engaging WITH Self and Others, Part 2 (10:25). Also, read this excerpt* from The Restorative Practices Handbook.
As you are watching both videos, consider the following:
- In which pane of the Engagement Window do you spend most of your time?
- How can you exercise your influence or authority in the with box?
- How can you be more restorative in your relationship with self?
- Which window allows for the best learning experience? Why?
- Think of a person in your life who is restorative. What is your relationship with that person like?
- Consider the things that keep you out of the With window and what are some strategies you can use to make your way to with?
Participatory Decision Making
Watch Introduction to Fair Process (8:59) and read this excerpt* from The Restorative Practices Handbook.
As you are watching and reading, consider the following:
- Think of a time you felt you were treated unfairly by a person in a position of authority. What pieces of Fair Process were missing? Did it impact your relationship or performance?
- When you make decisions, do you engage, giving explanations or clear expectations? If not, how would your process look different if you considered Fair Process?
- Think of a decision you are considering. How could you incorporate Fair Process into this decision?
Expressing, Sharing, and Reflecting on Emotions
Watch Expressing, Sharing, and Reflecting on Emotion (7:11).
As you are watching and reading, consider the following questions:
- Brainstorm a list of emotions that feel good and don’t feel good for 1 minute. What do you notice about your lists?
- If shame appears on your list, how do you define shame and guilt and does it serve a purpose? If so, what can we learn from the emotion of shame/guilt?
- Where do you see compass responses in your work (classroom, cafeteria, hallways), and what does it look like?
- Where do you see compass responses in your life, and what does it look like?
- What are ways to respond to emotion?
Intentionally Building, Sustaining, and Repairing Relationships
Watch Central Blueprint and Restorative Practices Continuum (5:15) and read this excerpt* from The Restorative Practices Handbook.
As you are watching and reading, consider what other practices you are already doing to build, sustain, and repair relationships.
Watch Restorative Practices Continuum, Part 1 (11:18). As you are watching, consider the following questions:
- How can these parts of the continuum be used proactively to support positive behaviors?
- What are ways and times you can experiment with using these statements and questions in order to become more comfortable?
- Think of ways you can use the affective questions in your roles.
Watch Restorative Practices Continuum, Part 2 (10:37). As you are watching, consider the following questions:
- In your life and work, what are examples of Tomkins' Blueprint, Kelly's definition of intimacy, and Nathanson's definition of community?
- How can you use the restorative practices continuum proactively in your work?
- How can you use the restorative practices continuum responsively in your work?
* The IIRP provides this content in accordance with Fair Use under U.S. copyright law (Title 17 U.S. Code, section 107). It is provided solely for individual learners' personal use for educational purposes; it may not be shared, duplicated, or otherwise redistributed. For further information, please visit the IIRP Graduate School Library.
