ELA Professional Learning Community

Norms & Expectations for meetings were cultivated using a Peacemaking Circle, which is an indiginous practice dating back hundreds of years. In this circle, all participants contribute their needs and is heard by the rest of the group. The group, collectively, must agree on what the norms & expectations are with the mindset of "Can I live with this?", not " Do I like this?" (p. 12). With this shift, we recognize that everyone has different needs that we may not prefer, but can live with adhereing to. The last discussion point is, "How will we hold ourselves accountable?" and to agree as a group what should be said or done when someone is not adhering to the Circle's agreement.

Circle Keeper's Handbook by Kay Pranis, edutopia

Further research on creating group norms can be found:

• "How to Create Group Norms that Make Your Team Stronger"