What can a Circle practice do for our community, and what do we want it to look like?

Have you ever tried to get your grade-school child to eat breakfast when they are still upset that they broke their favorite toy? Get your middle school student to concentrate on homework when they are fuming over an altercation with a peer? Most of us parents and teachers have learned that we must acknowledge what they are feeling before we can successfully move on to anything else. Tending to our children’s emotional and social health is not just sound parenting or teaching, but it even creates more room for academic growth.

“In schools, the use of restorative practices (including Circles) has been shown to reliably reduce misbehavior, bullying, violence and crime among students and improve the overall climate for learning. Everyone who finds themselves in positions of authority — from parents, teachers and police to administrators and government officials — can benefit from learning about restorative practices.” from The International Institute for Restorative Practices website (www.iirp.edu)

Responsive Classroom? Restorative Justice? Circles? While the language of Restorative Practices may be somewhat new and foreign to many of us; ancient and indigenous cultures all over the world have employed Circle practices for many thousands of years. At home and in the classroom, Circle practices can create more resilient kids and communities. Preparing students to become more conscientious members of the Curley community and ultimately citizens of the world.

Interested in learning more about Circle practices? Share feedback from past experiences with restorative practices? Helping to figure out what it might look like for our school in 2014 and beyond? Please come to our first meeting of other interested parents, teachers, and staff THIS Friday, January 17th at 11:30 AM in the school library. Interested students will be invited to future meetings. Can’t make the meeting? Contact Curley teacher Linda Solomon-Key.