Restorative PracticesRestorative Practices

Amy O’ConnorWilkes University

What Are Restorative Practices?What Are Restorative Practices?

• Based on the principle that students are happier and more productive when authority does things with them rather than to them.

• Encourages the expression of emotion through conversation when conflict arises.

• Focuses on restoring and building

relationships between members of the school community.

How To Implement Restorative How To Implement Restorative PracticesPractices

• Have students get in circles to have “check in” and “check out” sharing sessions to build a class community.

• Rather than scold a misbehaving child, discuss his or her behavior using restorative questions.

• For incidents between students, have them get in a circle together and discuss their individual thoughts and feelings using restorative questions.

Restorative Questions for Restorative Questions for Challenging BehaviorChallenging Behavior

• What happened?• What were you thinking at

the time?• What have you thought

about since?• Who has been affected by

what you have done? In what way?• What do you think you need to do to make

things right?

Restorative Questions for Restorative Questions for Those HarmedThose Harmed

• What did you think when you realized what had happened?

• What impact has this incident has on you and others?

• What has been the hardest thing for you?

• What do you think needs to happen to make things right?

What Are The Results Of Using What Are The Results Of Using Restorative Practices?Restorative Practices?

• Students will learn to empathize with each other

• Less student-student conflict• Less student-teacher conflict• Less discipline referrals• A greater sense of school community

ResourcesResources

• http://www.flickr.com/photos/katerha/4295397307/• http://www.flickr.com/photos/amtaylorphotography/

5830455306/• http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevendepolo/4605621

230/• http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevendepolo/4605621

230/• http://www.flickr.com/photos/dukejeffrie/50458662/• http://www.iirp.edu/whatisrp.php