This workshop will explore how Restorative Practice is a fundamental change in how to respond to student behavior and rule violations and is viewed as an alternative to traditional school discipline. Participants will review the principles of Restorative Practice, and how they are designed to gain a better understanding as to what happened, why it happened, and how the harm to the relationship can be repaired. The restorative approach, within a school setting, attempts to shift the emphasis from managing behavior to focusing on building relationships.
Also, Restorative Circles are a strategy used to amplify students’ voices for building the school’s or classroom’s community through authentic dialogue to strengthen relationships, and proactively assist students in developing interpersonal skills they need to respond to conflict, with the goal of repairing any harm done.