Author's posts
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. …
Jan 17
Student engagement: what are the structures that inhibit or enhance in district, school, classroom? Season 3 focus Jan4/22
Listen on I-Tunes Circle Forum A new year and a new season of Circle Forum starts with our guest, Amina Abdulle , teacher consultant for equity and Co-Founder:Black Staff Equity Alliance with the Greater Essex County District School Board in Ontario. This season’s focus will be on structures that enhance or inhibit student engagement in our …
Jan 17
Good intentions can have a harmful impact so listen first when confronted Jan 11/21
Listen on I-Tunes Circle Forum Know your students and let them know you care. Sound advice whether it in-person or remote learning according to our guest this week, Cathy Abrahams, President of the Ontario Public School Board Association and Trustee with the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board. Language matters and can inhibit student engagement. Cathy …
Jan 17
Changing the structure of conversations engages parents, even the frustrated ones! Jan 17/22
Listen on I-Tunes Circle Forum In these traumatic and pandemic times, there are many conversations to be had with frustrated parents. How school leaders structure the conversations can make all the difference. A restorative mindset allows leaders and school staff to prepare for the inevitable difficult conversations with parents, ask non-blaming questions during the conversation and …
Dec 16
3 key predictors of secondary completion apparent in elementary data, Canadian study shows – Dec.21/21
Listen on I-Tunes Circle Forum Our guest this week is Robert Brown, a researcher on the Canadian study Redefining Risk: Human rights and elementary school factors predicting post-secondary access. Look for these risk indicators early:A single year of elementary education with 10% absenteeism rate or higher. A suspension for an elementary student Attending an aggregated special needs …