a-school-counse_1768853274 (1).pdfRestorative justice is an approach that focuses on:
Repairing harm rather than punishing
Teaching skills instead of assigning consequences alone
Restoring relationships
Helping students understand:
What happened
Who was impacted
What they can do to make it right
Instead of:
“You broke the rule — go sit in the office.”
You might see:
“Let’s talk about what happened and how we can fix this together.”
It’s preventative, supportive, and instructional — not punitive.
Students sitting in a circle (on the rug, chairs, or floor)
Everyone can see each other
Often there is a talking piece (a ball, feather, or object)
Only the person holding the talking piece speaks
The facilitator (teacher, counselor, or administrator) guides the conversation
Two Types of Circles in Elementary:
This is used to build relationships and classroom culture.
Example prompts:
“Share one thing that made you smile today.”
“What helps you feel safe at school?”
“What does being a kind Hawk look like?”
Purpose:
Build trust
Teach listening
Practice empathy
Prevent conflict before it happens
Used when something happened — for example:
Hurt feelings
Exclusion
Name-calling
Pushing
Friendship problems
Typical guiding questions (kid-friendly):
The facilitator might ask:
For the student who caused harm:
What happened?
What were you thinking at the time?
Who do you think was affected?
What could you do to make things better?
For the student who was harmed:
How did this make you feel?
What do you need to feel better or safe?
For the group/class:
How can we help?
What should we do differently next time?
💛 Example: Restorative Circle in Action
Let’s say a student pushed someone in line.
Instead of punishment, the teacher might say:
“We’re going to have a short restorative circle to talk about what happened and make a plan.”
In the circle:
The student explains what happened
The other student shares how it felt
The class listens
Together they agree on a solution, such as:
An apology
Helping that student later
A plan for safer hands in line
The goal is learning + repairing, not shaming.
You should notice:
Calm voices
Students being heard
Fewer power struggles
More problem-solving
Stronger relationships
Clear expectations
A caring classroom climate