Restorative practices are a series of tools that can be used to develop relationships and build community. Additionally, they may be utilized to respond to classroom incidents and/or address conflicts between members of the school community.
Examples of restorative practices include:
- Affective statements or use of virtues language to create a positive school culture
- Daily classroom circles for community building
- Restorative mediations/ impromptu meetings between student-teacher/ student-student.
- Formal community restorative conferences involving students, staff, and/or parents
- Reintegration community restorative conferences involving students, staff, and/or parents (if students receive an out-of-school suspension)
At the spirit of restorative practices is the idea that by increasing communication, empathy, and individual accountability, schools can reduce their utilize exclusionary practices such as in and out of school suspension.
Restorative practices may be initiated by staff if they see a need to address conflicts, but students may also request a restorative practice by completing a Student Support Request Form or visit the anonymous online request form the link to which will be posted on within each classroom.
Typically, individuals will be asked the following questions when a conflict occurs:
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If the individual has done harm to others:
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If the individual has been harmed by others:
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- “What happened?”
- “What were you thinking about at the time?”
- “What have you thought about since?”
- “Who has been affected by what you have done?”
- “What do you think you need to do to make things right?”
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- “What did you think when you realized what happened?”
- “What impact has the incidenthad on you and others?”
- “What has been the hardest thing for you?”
- “What do you think needs to happen to make things right?”
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If students/parents do not wish to participate in the restorative process, the student/parent may opt for a traditional disciplinary response.