Using a Restorative Approach to Discipline

Workshop offered by RootsConnectED at Community Roots Charter School

A large part of learning and growing stems from our choices, and children, in particular, are making choices every day. However, what do we do when the choice causes harm? We can either ostracize the child from the community by way of detention or suspension or figure out ways to separate the deed from the doer to allow for a depth of learning from these choices. In this workshop we will dive deeper into what discipline looks like, with particular emphasis on grades k-8, by using a restorative justice framework. This work will be done by considering how race, class, gender, and other intersecting identifiers affect patterns of discipline and how restorative practices can help to create whole communities. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about the fundamentals of restorative justice practices, have time to self reflect on the type of practitioner they would like to be, see an example drawn from the experience in a school and its perspective and rationale behind developing a restorative school community, and consider the implications for their own practice.