The following are some of my notes from a Margaret Ross PLD workshop.

 

• Restorative justice is not the same as a restorative learning environment. We should have a restorative environment every day to teach students to be responsible and manage themselves; restorative justice is a response to behaviour.
• Don’t ask for “sorry” — let it be genuine if it’s going to happen.
• Clean slate every day.
• Restorative asks “who has the most power?” (looks at the big picture) – In Restorative, everyone must remain powerful.
• Make sure to notice the middle-way students, those who don’t show good or bad behaviour, who blend into walls.
• Proactive, not reactive.
• Relationships are currency, earn it, spend it.
• Consistency = being consistent with yourself too.
• Clear boundaries: 3 R’s: relationship, routine, rules.
• Glasser on Student Needs:
  • Survival — make sure students have access to food
  • Love and Belonging — make sure to give students attention proactively
  • Freedom — give students choice
  • Fun — challenge students, ZPD
  • Power — give leadership roles, give mana (no power may result in petty theft, graffiti etc.)
• Use student names a lot.
• Connect with student interests.