How can teacher development programs incorporate restorative justice practices to promote student engagement?

1 Define restorative justice

Before introducing restorative justice practices to teachers, it is important to define what restorative justice means and why it is relevant for education. Restorative justice is not a one-size-fits-all approach, but a framework that can be adapted to different contexts and needs. It is based on four core values: respect, responsibility, relationship, and repair. These values guide the actions and decisions of all participants in a restorative process, which can involve dialogue, reflection, empathy, apology, and restitution. Restorative justice can help teachers understand the root causes of conflict, address the needs and feelings of those affected, and prevent future harm.

2 Model restorative practices

One of the best ways to teach restorative justice practices to teachers is to model them in the teacher development program itself. This means creating a safe and respectful space where teachers can share their experiences, challenges, and goals, and where they can learn from each other and from experts. It also means using restorative practices to address any issues or disagreements that may arise among the participants or the facilitators. For example, using circles, restorative questions, or peer mediation to facilitate communication, problem-solving, and feedback. By modeling restorative practices, teacher development programs can demonstrate their effectiveness and benefits for building trust and collaboration.

3 Provide practical examples

Another way to incorporate restorative justice practices into teacher development programs is to provide practical examples of how they can be applied in the classroom and the school. This can include case studies, scenarios, simulations, or videos that illustrate how restorative justice practices can be used to prevent, respond to, or resolve different situations that may occur in the school setting. For example, how to use circles to build community, how to use restorative questions to de-escalate conflict, how to use peer mediation to involve students in resolving disputes, or how to use restorative conferences to address serious incidents. Providing practical examples can help teachers see the relevance and feasibility of restorative justice practices for their own practice.

4 Support implementation and evaluation

Finally, teacher development programs can incorporate restorative justice practices by supporting teachers in implementing and evaluating them in their own classrooms and schools. This can include providing coaching, mentoring, or consultation to help teachers plan, execute, and reflect on their restorative justice initiatives. It can also include providing tools, resources, or feedback to help teachers monitor, measure, and improve their restorative justice outcomes. For example, using surveys, interviews, or observations to assess the impact of restorative justice practices on student engagement, behavior, achievement, or well-being. Supporting implementation and evaluation can help teachers sustain and enhance their restorative justice practice.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?