Restorative Circles

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 our feature Ask the Keeper, senior trainer and staff developer Marieke van Woerkom answers your questions about restorative circles and related practices in schools.  Send your questions to: keeper@morningsidecenter.org.

Much of the power of the circle process resides in the talking piece - the object that we pass in order from person to person around the circle as we invite each person to speak or to pass.

This circle activity invites students to share their feelings about gratitude and to express  gratitude for things large and small.