Embedded Files
Goal
Goal
Staff understand the core principles of restorative practices and are able to implement them into their classrooms and interactions with students and adults.
Please note: The Positive School-Wide Engagement Team is available to support as a partner or to lead professional development for schools working on this strategy.
Why it's important
Why it's important
- MPS has significant disparities in discipline rates among white students and students of color.
- Many punitive and shame-inducing discipline approaches have been shown to be ineffective. Exclusionary practices like suspension have been linked to an increased likelihood of incarceration.
- The use of Restorative Practices has been shown to create and restore relationships, ensure equity of voice and choice, improve human behavior, strengthen civil society, provide effective leadership, repair harm, reduce crime, violence and bullying.
- A restorative mindset allows educators to honor different ways of being and thinking in the classroom, allowing you to teach holistically and see students as whole people.
Steps
Steps
Resources
Resources
Before you begin, reflect on where your staff is entering this process. Consider if your staff needs any other to support to set the foundation for deep self-reflection and for talking explicitly about race. (For more resources see Exploration and Strategy 1: Self-awareness and Identity)
Consider using on of these introductory activities to help frame the ongoing work staff will be doing throughout the year.
Ask staff to reflect on where they are starting using the Core Assumptions worksheet
Below are core practices/ concepts to introduce to staff. You will likely want to break these into separate professional learning sessions. Below you will find a definition and case study of each practice and a facilitation guide for how you could introduce this to staff. If you need additional support on this step reach out to the Positive School-Wide Engagement Team.
1. Definition/Case Study Social Discipline Window
2. Definition/Case Study: Fair Process
Resource for all, and future skills: This handout of 11 Essential Elements provides information that can be used in implementation and reflection.
Reflect as individuals: Previous, Current, Future - Two examples can be found here.
Reflect as a school: Has the overall environment in the school been affected? One way to measure this is to use this form to gather data, and then reflect on ways to improve.
Staff identify what they need to move forward
Ask staff to put their learnings into practice. Staff could focus on one of the four practice each month or choose a specific goal area.
(The District PSWE Team is available to facilitate and model leading circles. )
Situational Circle Videos: (all videos sourced from the International Institute for Restorative Practices, all rights reserved)
- Aaron Passes
- Baltimore riot reaction from kindergartners
- Check-in circle
- Course content circle
- Feedback circle
- Get-to-know-you circle
- Non-sequential circle
- Staff leadership circle
Progress Monitoring
Progress Monitoring
Progress monitoring is a the way your team will continually cycle through planning, implementing and evaluating your strategies as you go. For each of the activities listed above, have your team take the time to think through these questions before, during and after.
Planning Questions before you do an activity/step with staff:
- How will we know if this activity/step is successful?
- What training, resources or other support will staff need beforehand?
Implementation Questions as you prepare to implement the activity/step:
- What contextual factors may impact how this activity goes? (Recent events, time of year, other demands) How will we address them?
- What resistance are we anticipating? How will we address it?
Evaluation Questions to reflect on after you complete an activity/step:
- What percentage of staff participated in the activity?
- What went well? What could have gone better?
- Did staff find the activity valuable? Why or why not?
- What percentage of staff were able to apply their learning?
Support
Support
The Positive Schoolwide Engagement Team is available to support as a thought partner for schools on this strategy.
Additional Resources
Additional Resources
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