Author's posts
Oct 16
Building connections with students complicated by the pandemic – podcast Oct. 5/21
Listen to podcast now Join our guest this week, Brendan Hyatt, Director of The Northwest Catholic District School Board in Ontario as we discuss how the pandemic has amplified student absenteeism. Restorative practices suggestions:Get to know your learners before you take any actions. Start with your attendance data and get to know the story there. …
Sep 16
How restorative practices helped student attendance Sept. 28/21
Circle Forum Podcast Circle conversations are essential student attendance and engagement and need to involve everyone impacted by student absenteeism. Looking for patterns in student tardiness can help address student engagement by simply asking the students. Restorative practices suggestions: When in doubt about student engagement, have a circle and ask the students themselves. Is the …
Sep 16
Challenging power dynamics in restorative practices Sept. 21/21
Circle Forum Podcast The article below by Lyubansky & Shpungin really challenged us in our practices. It’s not an easy read nor is the topic comfortable. It is important to reflect on the power dynamics in our classrooms, meeting rooms and school districts. Restorative practices suggestions: Reflect on your practice by asking who has been …
Sep 16
Use circles to make space for BIPOC students’ voices Sept. 14/21
Circle Forum podcast As a teacher of English as a Second Language in Windsor, Ontario, Amina Abdulle views the needs of newcomer students holistically. It’s vital for educators to create a safe space for students to be themselves, to help students build connections and to empower them to make mistakes in learning a new language. …
Sep 16
Daily circles improved student attendance for students with special needs Sept. 7/21
Season 2 Circle Forum podcast Restorative Practice conversations about student attendance and engagement Teaching students with developmental delays and mild intellectual disabilities, Soukaine Berri, a teacher in Windsor, Ontario, uses daily circles to engage her class. In our podcast this week she says that before circles there were “lots of instances where they were getting …
Aug 15
Podcast on Practical tips on starting with restorative practices
Our guest, Sue Howard, discusses what she’s learned from using a whole school approach. Practical suggestions include: listen to the teacher’s issues and concerns for the classroom, be patient with the restorative process, it takes some time be consistent look for your own support network to keep up your practice Order Steve’s book The Restorative …
Aug 15
“Coach me once per week” – Gallup (Circle Forum podcast August 17/21)
In a recent Gallup article, Jim Clifton writes that based on over 100 million employee interviews, the most engaged teams find the difference is “just the manager.” In school terms, we talk about how principals as managers can make a difference by being a restorative coach. It takes an intentional casual approach to conversations, connections …
Aug 15
BIPOC students don’t receive informal mentoring at school – podcast August 24
The problem presented in the Education Week article (see link below) is that white teachers don’t set up informal mentoring with black or Latino students. BIPOC students are missing out on trusted caring adult relationships. “It isn’t that you have to have all the answers. It was the fact that they (students) trusted that they …
Aug 15
Marginalized students’ attendance rates dropping in the pandemic – Season 1 Final Podcast August 31
BIPOC students are absent from school at higher rates than white students. As one high school student recounted “I feel like a ghost at school. I don’t even know if the teacher knows my name.” (Shelley) According to Attendance Works (see link below), “it requires nurturing feelings of belonging to school in the spring for …
Jan 28
Students with special education needs require coaching on strategies to keep them motivated and showing up for class in remote learning
“Guiding Special Education Students to Stay on Track for Success in Hybrid Classrooms”