How Restorative Practices Can Improve Behaviors

Third post in a series from our staff-led Institute Day.

In his presentation, Justin Penio explained current practices and policies of EGHS and provided teachers with tools to build relationships, manage classrooms, and respond to behavior issues.

Restorative practices changes the mindset of trying to control things to an environment of providing support and encouragement. When we try to maintain control, discipline becomes the focus, which can be limit-setting. Students improve behaviors more often when they are nurtured and given support.

Anticipated Outcomes:

• Prioritize relationships, community and repairing harm instead of the need to assign blame and dispense punishment  
• Encourages responsibility and accountability
• Create positive school culture, respectful relationships, effective teaching and learning

Examples of Questioning:

• What happened?
• What where you thinking at the time?
• What have you thought about since?
• Who do you think has been affected by what you did?
• What do you need to do to make things right?
• How can we make sure this doesn’t happen again? 

Goals of Restorative Practices:

• Change the behavior
• Fits with new legislation
Incorporates best practices in a school community
Aimed to reduce referrals, suspensions, and expulsions

How This Looks At EG:

• Expanded use of in-school suspension
• MORE COMMUNICATION
• Removal of certain privileges such as:
• Open lunch
• Parking
• Intramurals
• Participation in assemblies
• Computer Labs
• Homecoming events
• Outreach program activities

Teacher Take-Aways:

- Try to avoid power struggles and conflict. These won't help students find motivation to learn.

- It helped to hear/see the Dean perspective on issues that we have with kids. Explaining the methods of support, and the reasons behind them, make the issue come full circle, so the kid can come back to class in a positive manner.