Working Restoratively in Schools:
Level 2: Small Group and Classroom Applications of RP’s
Full day Workshop -
pre-requisite training: Level 1
To book this workshop please contact Bill Hansberry
Picking up where the awareness level workshop left off, the level 2 day picks up where the level 1 workshop finished and sees us moving up the continuum of restorative practice to look at using modified restorative questioning in a circle (class conference) format to help students agree on expected behaviours in a learning environment. Bill models this process in a circle and participants then group off to create their own proactive conference scripts for use back at school..
Next, Staff reflect on their experiences with using restorative pedagogy with students (since the level 1 workshop) and, through a series of collegial sharing protocols, create ‘burning questions’ to bring to larger circles circle for conversation and analysis. This exercise encourages honest straight-talk about the aspects of restorative work that is worrying staff and airs the non-discussables about restorative practices in schools. If ignored, these questions act as roadblocks to the change process.
In the afternoon, we look at and practice small group restorative conferencing, using both ‘sides’ of the restorative script to encourage reflection, understanding, responsibility taking and restoration in the wake of conflict and/or wrongdoing. Small group conferencing is a complex skill that contains many micro-skills that are uncovered by Bill in this session.
Small group conferencing is modelled by Bill (as many times as needed) in a fishbowl format and staff are then invited to head off in groups and play with a range of realistic scenarios to develop their small group conferencing skills.
At the end of this day staff report a deeper understanding of the range of ways Restorative Pedagogy can weave through their work with students.
Following this workshop, Bill will (upon request) work with the Implementation Team to plan the next 6-12 months of implementation.
The suggested next step is the Working Restoratively in Schools Mid-Implementation Day: (Keeping the ball rolling toward whole-school Implementation).
Bill will also make recommendations about Restorative Conference Facilitator Training for a selected group of staff who will share the responsibility of planning, facilitating and modeling conferencing for staff.
Circle Time training for all staff will be recommended by Bill at this stage.
