Restorative Practices At Schools

We want to see you in Seattle. In just two weeks!! Join us for our level 1 certification training. Yes it’s 3 days. Yes it’s worth it.
https://www.nationalcenterforrestorativejustice.com/intensives

Feeling deeply grateful for every participant who joined us in Seattle for our three-day intensive Restorative Justice training. Over the past three days, we built circles of trust, practiced courageous conversations, and leaned into the relational work that helps our schools and communities truly thrive.

I’ll be honest, I was feeling a bit anxious and apprehensive about the new school year. But this space, and the energy each of you brought, reminded me why we do this work. I’m leaving feeling more grounded, inspired, and ready to step into the year ahead with purpose.

Your openness, vulnerability, and commitment to fostering belonging will ripple far beyond these walls—into classrooms, staff rooms, and communities that need it most. Thank you for showing up for yourselves, for each other, and for the youth you serve. 🌿

Day one of the Restorative Schools Conference ✅
The space is cozy, the energy is high, and the conversations are rich. From powerful sessions to meaningful connections, it’s everything summer PD should be. Grateful to witness the impact—even from afar! 🌱✨

This is the last week to register for the Restorative Schools Conference — a powerful gathering of educators committed to transforming school culture through restorative justice.

I’ll be facilitating alongside an incredible team with the National Center for Restorative Justice, and I genuinely believe this work is more important than ever.

The world feels heavy right now, but spaces like this offer hope, connection, and a vision for what our schools can be — grounded in care, healing, and community.

📍 Portland, OR
📅 June 26–27, 2025
🔗 Register at nc4rj.com/conference

Let’s do this work together.

These are turbulent times, and it feels like everything is becoming more polarized. As educators, many of us are heartbroken that we often have to tiptoe around issues of equity, justice, and solidarity. We should be able to take a clear stance against hate and violence without another group perceiving it as a stance against them. When we avoid engaging in these important conversations, we unintentionally fuel the idea of “us versus them.”

So no, I will not shy away from discussing difficult topics with my students. I want to create space for them to express their fears and anxieties, to feel safe in asking questions, and to recognize the complexity of these issues. It’s okay to feel heartbroken over the tragic loss of life in Palestine and simultaneously empathize with Israelis awaiting the return of loved ones. Many of us feel caught in the middle, pressured into silence.

Let’s create space for honest, vulnerable conversations—because sometimes, being “okay” is simply not an option.

Thank you for this guide ✨❤️

May all our classrooms be safe places where there’s space for stories to be told. ❤️

There’s a lot of pressure to get through the curriculum and finding time to rearrange the room and facilitate or participate in community building can feel daunting or another thing to add to the pile of to-do lists. I get it. However, once it becomes routine, it is sooooo worth it.

I’ve been trying to be intentional about creating these spaces and opportunities for sharing in my classroom this year and I see the beautiful result in the ways my students show up and interact with one another. ❤️ the start of the school year was a bit chaotic with balancing class sizes and schedule changes continuing to impact students coming in and out of the classes. It took us a minute but we’re getting into a routine. Every Friday or every other Friday depending on the week, we have community building and connection on our agenda. We also circle up for small sharing opportunities that are more informal, throughout the week as a way to get our bodies moving during the 70 minute class period and just being present in each other’s company.

Great meeting this morning with Ben and Njoli discussing future trainings, dreams, and plans for this beautiful RJ community that the National Center for Restorative Justice is brining together! Excited for what’s ahead.

Be sure to sign up for the newsletter on our website to stay up to date!! ❤️

Today marked the beginning of our three-day RJ training, and it couldn’t have started on a more beautiful note! It’s a true gift to have my colleagues alongside us for the next few weeks, joined by incredible educators from other schools and organizations in our community.

These sessions are always so inspiring and invigorating, and it feels great to get our minds back in gear as we prepare for the new school year.

Community has always mattered and will always matter. 💯

But also, be sure to vote! Your voice matters too.

Sharing this opportunity sent to us by Martin Urbach:

Friends! The Circle Keepers is leading a workshop on growing Youth Led Restorative Justice cohorts in schools. I would be so grateful if you would pass the word around to your networks of educators!

The workshop will be on Saturday, 3/9, on Zoom, from 10am-3pm and will include TONS of materials, lesson plans, slide decks, and access to our WhatsApp/Slack group of RJ practicioners!

Workshop Description: In this participatory workshop, teachers and school administrators will learn how to start and/or nurture a restorative justice program based on developing strong youth-adult partnerships. You will learn how to mentor youth in becoming peer mediators as well as community service leaders.
RSVP: https://bit.ly/circlekeepersworkshop


PROPOSED AGENDA

10am-10:30am: Introduction:
An arts-based community building circle where you will get to meet other like minded educators, and explore different ways of fostering a community of care, communication and belonging.
10:30am-11am: Tier 1 Circles Workshop:
Co-creating community norms as well as reviewing RJ theory and literature as applied to school based settings.
11am-11:20am: "Freedom Dreaming" Artmaking/Journaling:
What is your vision for safety, belonging, peace and justice in schools? How can we design programs that not only center but also cherish youth' participation in this dream?
11:20am-11:35am: Open Share In Breakout Rooms:
Participants will circle up in small groups to discuss their freedom dreams.
11:35am-11:45am: Whole Group Debrief:
We will circle up for sharing and discussion
11:45am-12:30pm: Youth Participation in School Based Programs:
We will learn youth development skills and how to design community service activities in ways that position young people as leaders as opposed to tokens.
12:30pm-1:15pm: LUNCH!
Participants can do their own thing or join a breakout room of their choice (TBA by participant survey) for "lunch with a friend"
1:15pm-2:15pm: Peer Mediation Roundtables Training:
Participants will learn the protocols for training youth as peer mediators in roundtable settings as well as in whole-class circles.
2:15pm-2:45pm: Designing Systmes & Logistics for Success:
Partipants will gain access to curriculum as well as organizational forms, etc to use in their own schools.
2:45pm-3pm: Closing Circle & Next Steps:
We will have a closing circle ritual and offer some next steps we might take in our own schools in regards to youth-led restorative justice.

Growing a Youth Led Restorative Justice Program In Your School! | My Site In this participatory workshop, teachers and school administrators will learn how to start and/or nurture a restorative justice program based on developing strong youth-adult partnerships. You will learn how to mentor youth in becoming peer mediators as well as community service leaders.

Exciting news! 🎉 After numerous requests for resources on building community, fostering trust, encouraging communication, and implementing restorative practices in classrooms and school settings, I’ve finally updated tools from years of teaching and restorative justice facilitation. Yes, I pulled an all-nighter to bring you these gems! 😅 Check out our TPT store for:

✅ Restorative Practices Introductory Slides: Perfect for a glimpse into restorative practices. We recommend formal training for a comprehensive understanding.

✅ Restorative Practices Reflection Sheet: Non-evaluative questions on a handy sheet for students to reflect on actions, impact, and moving forward. Ideal for the classroom or as a space for escalated emotions.

✅ Reflection Journal: Packed with guided questions for mindfulness, goal setting, and connections. Use it weekly before community building circles or for whole-class conversations.

Stay tuned for more additions and thank you for supporting the time and effort that’s been given towards these resources! 💕

Link for our TPT store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Beyond-Brilliant-Sel-And-Restorative-Practices