Restorative Practices aim to manage conflict and strengthen relationships by repairing harm. The goal is to build community. Restorative means making things right through accountability and dialogue. Good relationships are important for learning, and anything affecting relationships impacts learning. A restorative approach focuses on harm done and making things right, whereas an adversarial approach focuses on blame and punishment. Restorative Practices use respect, repairing harm, and building relationships to develop empathy and promote positive behavior change.

1. Restorative Practices
Overview
Special Thanks to:
Dr. Kim Boyd
Ms. Liz Dalzell-Wagers
Mr. Ron Hamilton
Mr. David Watson
The D49 RAMP Council
The D49 DAAC

2. THE GOAL OF RESTORATIVE
PRACTICE IN SCHOOL
COMMUNITIES
To manage conflict and tensions by
repairing harm and strengthening
relationships as a way of building
community.
- Les Davey, Director-IIRP United Kingdom

3. What Restorative
Means
• Restorative means ‘making things new again’
• What do you need to do to ‘restore’ your relationship if you
hurt somebody or make that person feel negative
emotions?
• To be ‘restorative’ you need to be accountable, not repeat
the behavior, and make things right through dialogue with
the goal of building or maintaining relationships.

4. Relationships
and Learning
Basic Concepts:
• Good relationships are the basis for learning
• Anything that affects relationships [such as inappropriate
behavior] impacts learning
• Challenging inappropriate behavior needs to be
experienced as an opportunity for learning

5. Shaping Mindset:
Growth or Fixed ?
“Learning is enhanced by challenge and is
impeded by threat.”
- Terry O’Connell, Director-Real Justice Australia
As a society, when someone does the
wrong thing, what is the typical response?

6. Blame &
Punishment
What is the first question we ask when someone does the
wrong thing?
If we ask “why”, what answers do we expect to get?
What is the problem with the “why” question?
How does blame impact learning?

7. Simple Contrast
Adversarial (Blame) approach:
“What happened, who is to blame, what
punishment or sanction is needed?”
Restorative approach:
“What happened, what harm has resulted and what
needs to happen to make things right?”

8. Adversarial
Focus is in the past
Preoccupied with blame
Deterrence linked to
punishment
Restorative
Focus in past, present & future
Emphasis on resulting harm
Deterrence linked to relationships and
personal accountability
‘Consequences [may include punishment] are an important part of Restorative Practice. This
involves dialogue and respectful challenge.’
So, what does Restorative Practice look like?
Dialogue

9. Restorative Practices Include:
• Being respectful and fair
• Repairing harm
• Restoring and building relationships
• Developing empathy
• Promoting positive behavior change
Restorative
Practice Checklist

10. THE BEST DISTRICT TO LEARN, WORK & LEADTHE BEST DISTRICT TO LEARN, WORK & LEAD
Strategy Culture Brand
Who We Are

11. THE BEST DISTRICT TO LEARN, WORK & LEADTHE BEST DISTRICT TO LEARN, WORK & LEAD
LOW
HIGH
HIGH
TO WITH
NOT FOR
Punitive
“Fixed Mindset”
(Authoritarian)
Restorative
“Growth Mindset”
(Authoritative)
Neglectful
“Fixed Mindset”
(Irresponsible)
Permissive
“Fixed Mindset”
(Paternalistic)
Accountable &
Transparent
(challenge)
Adapted from Social Discipline Window - Paul McCold and Ted Wachtel - 2000
Respectful & Caring (support)
How We Treat
Each Other

12. THE BEST DISTRICT TO LEARN, WORK & LEADTHE BEST DISTRICT TO LEARN, WORK & LEAD
Compass of
Shame
WITHDRAW
AVOID
ATTACK SELF HATE
Adapted from Nathanson’s Compass of Shame - 1992

13. THE BEST DISTRICT TO LEARN, WORK & LEADTHE BEST DISTRICT TO LEARN, WORK & LEAD
Restoration
versus Shame

14. What needs to happen for a fair process to be experienced?
Engagement:
Opportunity to have a say
Explanation:
Understand the reasons for the decision
Expectation Clarity:
Shared understanding on what is expected in terms of behavior and rules
Kim & Mauborgne, Harvard Business Review, July – August 1997
Fair Process

15. • Trust
• Commitment
• Cooperation
This enhances learning, creativity, moral development and helps build stronger
relationships
Kim & Mauborgne, Harvard Business Review, July – August 1997
What Fair
Process
Achieves

16. When challenging behavior, why would the following questions consistently
achieve “fair process”?
• What happened?
• What were you thinking at the time?
• What have you thought about since?
• Who has been affected by what you did?
• In what way?
• What do you think you need to do to make things right?
Restorative
Questions

17. Is My Practice?
Respectful (Distinguishing behavior from the person)
Fair (Engaging, with Explanations & clarify Expectations)
Restorative by repairing harm and building relationships
Does My Practice?
Develop Empathy (through reflection, insight & learning)
Enhance responsibility and accountability
Promote positive behavior change
Restorative Practice
Self-Affirmation

18. Intentional and deliberate action steps are required to enhance the Process PACE
(Performance Ascending to Continuous Excellence) of District 49’s Restorative
Practices culture:
• BOE adopts a resolution to make Restorative Practice the framework to shape
student conduct and discipline
• BOE discipline policies are revised to incorporate Restorative Practice
• Restorative Practices curriculum is delivered to D49 stakeholders
• Funding sources (grants, scholarships, etc.) are identified for IIRP training
• Professional development time is identified and scheduled for IIRP training
• The Common Discipline Matrix is revised to incorporate Restorative Practices
• Building-level discipline procedures and practices are reviewed/revised to
attain alignment with Restorative Practice philosophy
• District 49 and the Zones should support existing restorative programs (e.g.,
Capturing Kids’ Hearts, Boys’ Town, Challenge Day, etc.) while assessing and
closing restorative gaps in all district schools
The Way
Ahead

19. Questions?