Deepen Your Practice
Regular circle practice provides a way to build relationships and practice social emotional learning skills. When the learning environment is disrupted, it provides a practice to reach for. Disruptions can come from within the school or classroom like when frustration spills over into harm. Or it can come from outside the school when harm in the community affects feelings of emotional or physical safety.
Circle practice can provide a way to help students and staff express their feelings, hear other people’s feelings, and take time to reflect on the supports in the community. The School Climate Center has gathered resources for Responding to Trauma and Tragedy, including “How to Talk About Traumatic Events and Tragedies” and “Resources for Schools on Students and Suicide.” Several circle outlines for discussing sadness and loss are included, along with links to local and national resources.
Build Your Knowledge
The National Association of Community and Restorative Justice (NACRJ) is holding the 8th NACRJ Conference July 7-9, 2022, in Chicago, with Pre-Conference workshops July 6, 2022. You can learn more about the conference and even sign-up here.
Retrieve Your Learnings
The Little Book of Race and Restorative Justice offers a review of the roots of restorative justice in Chapter 2 Ubuntu: The Indigenous Ethos of Restorative Justice. The chapter starts with an image of the Sankofa bird, which “looks backward to bring forth the seed of a new future.” Ubuntu means “a person is a person through their relationships.” Here are some prompts for a circle on the seeds of a new future:
- Share a seed of wisdom that you carry with you. How did you find that seed?
- Who has been a bird of knowledge for you in your life, flying in or soaring high?
- What person or persons affirm your past, your present or your future?
- What right small seed of action can you plant each day?
Consider what talking piece you will bring to ignite conversation. If the circle practice will be held in person, plan for a center piece that is welcoming. Invite a few people to join you in circle to reflect upon the past and the future.
Resources
The PACER Center – Champions for Children with Disabilities has gathered resources for schools to engage in, including a student activity kit, ideas for actions to take to prevent bullying and promote inclusion and unity.
For further information, contact:
Nancy Riestenberg
Minnesota Department of Education
651-582-8433