Restorative Circles in Schools: Building Community and Enhancing Learning
By Bob Costello, Joshua Wachtel and Ted Wachtel
Book (paperback), 136 pages
Published by the IIRP
Restorative Circles in Schools: Building Community and Enhancing Learning is a practical guide to the use of circles in schools and other settings, as well as an in-depth exploration of circle processes. The book includes numerous stories about the way circles have been used in many diverse situations, discussion on the use of proactive, responsive and staff circles, and an overview of restorative practices, with particular emphasis on its relationship to circle processes.
Contents:
1. Two Stories
2. Restorative Practices
Circles, Restorative Justice and the IIRP
Social Discipline Window
The Restorative Questions
Restorative Practices Continuum
Fair Process
Psychology of Affect
A Note About Ritual
3. Proactive Circles
Why Circles?
Getting Started with Circles
Types of Circles
Talking Pieces
Check-in and Check-out
Integrating Circles with Course Content
Behavioral Expectations
Games
Other Proactive Circles
Three More Points
4. Responsive Circles
Something Happened in Class
Singling Out Students
Patterns of Behavior
On the Bus
The Baggage We Carry
Dangerous Situations
Deaths
Why Do Circles Work?
Reacting to Something Good That Happened
Restorative Punishment?
Formal Restorative Conferences
5. Staff Circles
Using Circles to Learn About Circles
Staff Meetings Using Circles
Conflicts with Teachers
Toxic Environments
Schools with Residential Facilities
Unintended Consequences
Circles with Administrators
Community Circles and Other Possibilities
Afterword
References
Resources
Join the IIRP’s Restorative Practices eForum
About the IIRP
About the Authors
