Whether it’s in a classroom circle or a conversation with parents, pay attention when participants are silent. In the book Colorizing Restorative Justice: Voicing our Realities, one of the contributors, Christina Parker, writes that “power and privilege act to silence divergent and alternative perspectives, with the result that these perspectives remain unexamined.” Steve tells a story about the teacher who didn’t think she was having a circle meeting since it was around a carpet square.

Restorative practice suggestions:

1. Learn restorative structures then adapt them to your classroom.
2. Know your group - class or staff - and know what they need.
3. Practice circle related skills.
4. Pay attention to the silences in circles and restorative conversations.

Colorizing Restorative Justice: Voicing our Realities

Visit CircleForum for more information about the HOWTO paying attention to silences .

Download the free practical tools and restorative resources for teachers on restorative.ca

Order Steve’s book The Restorative Principal Leading in Education with Restorative Practices

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