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a ready-to-run workshopRestorative Practices
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Restorative Practices & Circles (Workshop)

When harm happens, punishment asks what rule was broken and what the consequence is. Restorative practice asks who was affected and how we make it right. It builds community proactively and repairs relationships when things go wrong.

Key takeaway

Restorative practice repairs harm and rebuilds relationships rather than only punishing, which reduces repeat conflict and strengthens community.

Format
PLC / team meeting
Length
45 minutes
Group size
Any (works 4-40)
Who can run it
Any teacher-leader
You will need
Slides (5)Printed handoutA seating circle if possibleA timer
Aligned to
Learning Forward: Transformational ProcessesInTASC 3: Learning EnvironmentsRestorative practices framework
Share / assign

Why it works

Restorative approaches, used proactively to build community through circles and responsively to repair harm, are associated with reductions in exclusionary discipline and better climate when implemented well. The shift is from 'what consequence' to 'what harm, and how do we repair it,' which addresses the relationship, not just the rule.

The research: Research on restorative practices in schools; the IIRP framework.

The run-of-show

Choose your slot. The agenda, timings, and length update to match.

    The core activity: plan a circle and a repair conversation

    Teachers leave with a community-circle structure and a set of restorative questions for after harm.

    Build community before you need to repair itRestorative circles work because the relationships already exist. Do the proactive circles first, so the repair conversations have something to build on.

    Facilitator notes

    It is not a quick fix bolted onto punishmentRestorative language used only after the fact, with no community-building, rarely works. The proactive practice is what makes the repair real.

    Adapt it

    Participant handout

    One page for every teacher. Print it, or save it as a PDF.

    K12 Academics · Professional Learning

    Restorative Practices: circle it, repair it

    <b>Community first, repair second:</b> regular circles, then restorative questions when harm happens.

    1. My regular community circle (prompt and structure):
    2. My restorative questions after harm:
    3. How accountability and repair work together:
    4. How I build the practice proactively:
    5. My first small step:

    Make it stick

    Make circles routine:

    Common questions

    Does restorative practice mean no consequences?
    No. It adds accountability through repair. Students still own the harm; the focus is on making it right and changing behavior, not only punishment.
    Isn't this only for serious incidents?
    The biggest payoff is proactive: regular community circles that build the relationships and trust which prevent conflict in the first place.
    I don't have time for circles.
    Start small with brief check-in circles. A few minutes of community-building regularly prevents the time-consuming conflicts later.

    Go deeper

    Build it into a bigger day

    Workshop
    Building Relationships
    Workshop
    Responding to Disruption
    Workshop
    Routines & Procedures