Restorative Circles
Restorative Practices focus on the importance of building and maintaining positive relationships and repairing those relationships if and when harm occurs. This is accomplished through the use of Restorative Circles.
NOTE: During COVID-19, Restorative Practice Circles have been adjusted to include 6 feet between students and shared talking pieces are not used.
RESTORATIVE PRACTICE CIRCLES
What are restorative circles? Restorative Circles are a restorative practice that can be used proactively, to develop relationships and build community or they can be used to respond to wrongdoing, conflict and problems. The same format for dialogue is used for every circle so that over time, trust is built between participants. Participants sit in a circle and follow guidelines for the discussion. These circles can be used in the classroom or at home for building stronger positive relationships and for resolving conflict. Below are examples of two different kinds of circles:
Community Building Circles- At Cheektowaga-Sloan, the middle and high school students meet with the same group of students and an adult advisor(s) on a regular basis. This time is built into the students' daily or weekly schedule. At the elementary schools, circles are built into daily morning meetings. The use of the circle helps the participants gain a deeper understanding of each other. As the numbers of meetings increase, so should to the level of trust between participants. Students and adults alike will be able to gain new perspective on another's point of view. It is a safe place, where a parameter of respect is set so that participants can speak without fear or judgement.
Responsive/Conferencing Circles- Circles can be used as a tool to facilitate conversations within the school, at home, or in other community settings when things go wrong. These circles are facilitated by adults that are trained in Restorative Practices. This could include anything from a misunderstanding between peers to something more serious like damaging property. During this conference, the behavior is addressed by discussing what happened, was there harm, and how can we repair the harm that has taken place. This responsive circle is used in conjunction with the District's Code of Conduct. By using circles in this way, the parties that are involved can see how their actions impact others and have the opportunity to to learn from their mistakes.
General Circle Format
Every time a circle takes place, it is important to follow the format with fidelity.
Participants meet and sit in a circle ideally with no furniture in the way, to promote an open space for dialogue.
Opening- To create a sacred space where everyone will come together to share. The facilitator will set a positive tone as we enter the circle process. A poem could be read, a quote or a guided moment of mindfulness.
Guidelines or Values- Participants will identify and agree upon shared values for the circle. Some examples are: respect, trustworthiness, courage, and kindness. The facilitator poses questions such as: "Are there other guidelines you would like to add?" and "Can we all agree to these values or guidelines?"
Introduction to the Talking Piece- A talking piece is used to give everyone in the circle a chance to speak or the right to pass. Only the one who has the talking piece is speaking to give the other participants the opportunity to actively listen. A talking piece can be a sacred or meaningful object that holds meaning to the person introducing it or is relevant to the topic that will be discussed. The talking piece is passed around the circle during discussion rounds.
Check-in- A check-in is used to encourage members of the circle to share how they are feeling. This can be a physical, mental or emotional feeling of the moment. Check-ins can be worded such as "On a scale of 1 to 10, where are you at emotionally today?" or "name a word that describes how you are feeling."
Discussion Rounds- Choosing an appropriate topic for the group contributes to the success of the discussion. Questions are posed to the group that allow individuals to speak from their own point of view. After an initial question that allows participants to tell a story, the next rounds of discussion can focus on a topic or issue that may fall in one of the following categories: community building, celebrations, a general check-in, or a current event.
Check out- This is done to encourage participants to share how they are feeling now as the circle is ending. This can be done with a word describing their feelings, a number or a comment about the circle process.
Closing- A closing is done with intention and allows the participants to transition back into the rest of their day while acknowledging the work that was done. A poem, quote, guided meditation or breathing exercise are great tools to use for the closing of a circle.
Videos of Restorative Practice in Action