Author's posts
Jun 16
Teacher started with Circles this April: Learnings and Challenges. May 24/22
Listen now on I-Tunes Circle Forum Every teacher needs to try restorative practices in class according to our guest this week, Brooke Monks, a grade 6 teacher with the York Region District School Board in Ontario. Brooke had Steve as someone who could model circles in the classroom and coach her. Brooke reflects this week on …
Jun 15
School structures inhibit community involvement in restorative circles May 17/22
Listen now on Apple Podcasts Circle Forum Community involvement and participation in restorative circles can positively impact all people involved according to Belinda Dulin in her chapter “Restorative Practices in Community” in the book Colorizing Restorative Justice: Voicing our Realities. Shelley, Steve and Stan discuss a terrific story about 2 families at risk of eviction due …
May 13
“The land on which you stand rightfully belongs to (INSERT NAME OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES)” May 10/22
Listen now on Apple Podcasts Circle Forum Intentional use of a talking piece in restorative circles can begin to undo what Edward Valandra calls “the First Harm” in his chapter “Undoing the First Harm: Settlers in Restorative Justice” in the book Colorizing Restorative Justice: Voicing our Realities. Land acknowledgments are good and require a next step …
May 13
Black and brown boys describe adults in school as not caring about them May9/22
Listen now on Apple Podcasts Circle Forum Student voices from black and brown boys describe adults as not caring and having the attitude that “you’re not worth it!” This is the powerful and helpful language from Abdul-Malik Muhammad in his chapter contribution “The Cipher, Circle and Restorative Practices with Black and Brown Boys” in the book …
May 02
Oppression and restorative practice, are we hiding the ball? April 19/22
Listen now on Apple Podcasts Circle Forum “Hiding the ball” is the way restorative approaches are introduced in schools, according to Anita Wadhwa, contributor to the book Colorizing Restorative Justice: Voicing our Realities. In her chapter “‘What do you want, reparations? Racial microaggressions and restorative justice” , she describes oppression as “behaviours, practices, laws, beliefs, systems that …
May 01
Pay attention to the silences April 12/22
Listen now on Apple Podcasts Circle Forum Whether it’s in a classroom circle or a conversation with parents, pay attention when participants are silent. In the book Colorizing Restorative Justice: Voicing our Realities, one of the contributors, Christina Parker, writes that “power and privilege act to silence divergent and alternative perspectives, with the result that these perspectives …
Apr 05
New research on pandemic and principal stress March 8/22
Listen on I-Tunes Circle Forum It’s an understatement to say the pandemic has been stressful for everyone. This new research from the Rand Corp points out some very interesting findings (see below). Steve and Stan discuss these findings using a restorative lens. Restorative practice suggestions: Restorative practices offers the HOWTO of building and maintaining relationships in …
Apr 05
Students with special needs engaged with restorative questions March 22/22
Listen on I-Tunes Circle Forum A restorative approach to students with special needs can help teachers get to know their students and their special needs. Our guest this week is Dane Ellis from the Hastings Prince Edward District School Board in Ontario. He persisted from September to February and was successful in having a reluctant student …
Apr 05
Changes to mask mandates are opportunities to build community March 29/22
Listen on I-Tunes Circle Forum Whether you support the use of masks or not, conversations about masks in schools have been very polarized. In this podcast, Shelley, Steve and Stan start with what’s happening as schools transition away from mandatory masks and end up talking about RESPECT. How do we treat others who look different that …
Apr 05
“Your silence won’t protect you” April 5/22
Listen on I-Tunes Circle Forum The title is a quote from Barbara Sherrod, one of the contributors to the book Colorizing Restorative Justice: Voicing our Realities. Sherrod’s writing prompted us to talk more about what it’s going to take to change the narrative of stories like “these parents don’t care” when referring to black or indigenous families. …