Community Building
Encouraging students to use put-ups can improve the climate in your classroom. But many put-ups are about surface qualities. (I like your shoes!) Help students craft deeper put-ups with these simple steps.
Our country is roiling over whether we welcome the refugees and immigrants who arrive at our door. The following activity may help open up discussion of this sensitive issue in your classroom. It invites students’ empathy and understanding by helping them to connect their own family's story to the...
We've been doing circles at my school as a study skills course since the start of the year. It's been challenging when students act out, not respecting the talking piece. It impacts the rest of the group and their willingness to share. Do you have any suggestions of how to handle disruptive behavior...
In this activity students think about ways to be kind, and create a wall or bulletin board of art and writing to remind each other of the power of kindness and how everyday actions can make a difference in the world.
This activity aims to help students create a classroom and school community that is safe, welcoming and supportive, despite some turmoil in the outside world.
In this activity, students share their feelings about the election, have a listening circle, and then participate in a community-building activity.
We've been doing circles at my school as a study skills course since the start of the year. It's been challenging when students pass, pass, and pass again. This passing seems to get contagious at times. Do you think it would work to tell students that they can't pass for more than a go round or two...
The 2016 election has caused anxiety among many students, as well as a surge in bullying and harassment in many schools. We provide suggestions for supporting students and strengthening your classroom community in these challenging times.
Our students do circles once a week on our special Friday schedule. I haven't run any of them because I am teaching at that time. I've seen them done very well, but in some circles students simply cannot be managed. We also have "responsibility time," when we can request to speak with a child after...
Many educators come to our Restore360 trainings interested in new ways to handle disciplinary issues in school. They may have found the punitive approach doesn’t work particularly well and want to limit suspensions, which can be harmful to our young people. They’ve been told that restorative circles...