The teacher walked into the room and found Charlie and Scott in a full-blown argument.

She raised her voice and told them both to have a seat.

Neither boy heard her.

She attempted to split them apart.

But that wasn’t going to happen alone.

She called the Principal in the room for help.

Both boys were immediately taken to the office and suspended.

Isn’t there a better way to deal with fighting in schools?

As an ED teacher, there is a lot of conflicts that pop up between my boys in the classroom. One way we resolve these
issues is through restorative practice.

We have talking stick talks over when a student destroys my room or when two of the boys get in arguments.

Restorative practice is an easy way to hear both sides of the story without people interrupting or getting into a more significant argument.

What is Restorative Practice? 

• Address and discuss the needs of the school community
• Resolve conflict, hold individuals and group accountable
• Repair harm and restore positive relationships
• Reduce, prevent and improve harmful behaviors
• Build healthy relationships between educators and students

Restorative practice is a process that builds healthy relationships and community in your classroom to help prevent conflict and misbehavior.

Why Restorative Practice?

Removing a child from a classroom or expelling a child from a school due to a behavioral issue is not a beneficial way to change that behavior nor build relationships. 

A zero-tolerance approach will hinder the child’s relationship with their teacher as well as their willingness to change their behavior. This type of discipline has created a school-to-prison pipeline. It has endangered educational opportunity and increasing the incarceration of the students.

Types of Restorative Practice

There are many types of restorative practice that you can try at home or in a school setting.

Restorative Justice

Restorative justice is an evidence-practice. It is used to lower suspension, explosion, and disciplinary referrals. The goal is to place value on the relationship and focus on repairing harm done. 

We want the students to work together to repair the wrongdoing that was done.

Community conferencing

It involves all participants in the conflict. This allows everyone to contribute to the conflict resolution process.

Community Service

This service allows everyone involved to provide meaningful community service to individual improvement.

Peer Juries

This process allows students who have broken the rules to go up in front of a peer jury. They will discuss what rule was broken, who was affected, and how the referred student can repair the harm they caused. Here is how a Chicago elementary school set up a peer jury.

Circle Process

The circle process provides people with the opportunity to learn social skills such as speaking and listening. In the circle, students have the chance to speak and listen in a safe environment.

Teaching concepts and discussing conflicts can also be done in the circle.

Preventative and Post-Conflict Resolution Programs

This program provides students with problem solving and self-control skills. This program walks students through the

steps of resolving a conflict peacefully and appropriately.

Peer Mediation

A peer meditation is where students can talk through and resolve conflict with other peers. This is done with the help of a student mediator. 

This method helps reduce violence in schools and build relationships.

Informal Restorative Practice

Also, restorative practice can be informal in the classroom as well. Such as… 

• Using effective statements
• Use of effective questions
• Positive environment 

These will help students…

• Reflect on how their behavior has affected others. 
• What to do to change their behavior
• Prevent the behavior from happening again. 

Restorative practice is a great way to help children learn how to resolve conflict appropriately. This helps the child become a productive and positive member of society. 

Restorative practice is changing the way schools look at discipline and social-emotional learning. 

Have you found restorative practice helpful in your child’s classroom? 

Did you know that behavior accommodations and modifications can be on your child’s IEP? We offer one-on-one special education tutoring and Free IEP services that can be done from anywhere you are! Why? Our special education experts conduct their sessions online!

Get started with a free consultation!