Some schools have used Restorative Practice to completely transform their schools’ culture. Restorative Practice incorporates ‘Restorative Justice’ which can be used as an alternative to ‘Punitive Justice’ as a way to encourage pupils to take responsibility for their behaviour and repair the damage caused by their actions. Beyond this though, it focusses on creating an environment where pupils learn empathy, consideration, emotional intelligence and self-awareness whilst nurturing connection and strong relationships. In doing so, the root causes of challenging behaviour are addressed and intrinsic motivation to act out of care for one another is cultivated. To find out more please see our Restorative Practice articles at www.trackitlights.com/resources. Some schools have used Restorative Practice to completely transform their schools’ culture. Restorative Practice incorporates ‘Restorative Justice’ which can be used as an alternative to ‘Punitive Justice’ as a way to encourage pupils to take responsibility for their behaviour and repair the damage caused by their actions. Beyond this though, Restorative Practice focusses on creating an environment where pupils learn empathy, consideration, emotional intelligence and self- awareness whilst nurturing connection and strong relationships. In doing so, the root causes of conflict and challenging behaviour are addressed and intrinsic motivation to act out of care for one another is cultivated. To find out more please see our Restorative Practice articles at www.trackitlights.com/resources.
Think Sheet
If you are thinking, “This is great but how am I supposed to have the time to do it”, the ‘Think Sheet’ is a way you can get some Restorative Practice into your lessons, even when you don’t have time to sit with your pupils and talk them through the process yourself. If a pupil does need some time to reflect, this ‘Think Sheet’ is a great activity to give them. For younger pupils, a member of staff or an older pupil in the school might have to help.
50 Circle Time Questions and Games
Circle time at the beginning and the end of the week is a corner stone of Restorative Practice and is key to creating a school culture that nurtures a restorative ethos. Please view our ‘Making circle time effective’ article and use our ‘50 Circle Time Questions and Games’ for inspiration.
Circle Time Lessons Plans for KS1-KS4
These age appropriate lesson plans will help you visualise how to run a successful circle time that your pupils will look forward to each week. These lesson plans are meant for inspiration only, and we encourage you to start slowly and work your way up to these ideas, designing your circle time to meet the needs of your pupils. Remember that sharing anything in front of peers is effectively public speaking and at first it is very intimidating for your pupils. Start with asking very simple questions before getting onto sharing personal information.
Needs and Feelings Card
Rather than identifying who is to blame, Restorative Practice focusses on what needs and feelings were driving the behaviour and what affect did the behaviour have on other people’s needs and feelings. Print out the ‘Needs and Feelings’ card (double sided) and cut down the middle so you get two cards per page – needs on the front and feelings on the back. In one to one or group reflection, give the cards to your pupils as a tool to help them answer restorative questions.
The ‘Listening Wheel’
The ‘Listening Wheel’ is a valuable tool in counselling and therapy, but it is equally relevant in Restorative Practice. The model explains different ways to let your pupils know you are listening to them and they have been heard and understood.
Martin Luther King PowerPoint and Worksheet
This lesson plan is an example of how to build Restorative Practice into the curriculum. This lesson is for inspiration only and may not be appropriate for all. Use the PowerPoint presentation to explain a bit about the American Civil Rights movement and the significance of Martin Luther King. Give out the worksheet and then have a class discussion. If your pupils have never talked about their own needs and feelings in school before, this lesson can be an introduction to Restorative Practice that is less personal than them diving straight into sharing their own emotions.