All CRC Training and Support Services are custom designed to meet the needs of your school and staff. Following are six basic training offerings which provide a foundation upon which we build your workshops.
School-wide Overview Workshops on Restorative Justice in Education (RJE)
Creating Safe and Welcoming Schools
A school-wide introduction to Restorative Practices. Half or full day.
Sets the tone for the year and offers some practical tools with which to begin
Exploring Restorative Practices
Variety of short, 2 – 4 hour workshops focused on various aspects of RJE
Creating Healthy Learning Cultures
What Is Restorative Justice In Education (RJE)?
Three or four day Foundations of Restorative Practice workshop
Includes: philosophy of RJE, Restorative Language in dealing with discipline, Introduction to Restorative Circles
Includes planning time for participants to address implementation
What Is More Effective Than Punishment? A Restorative Language Workshop
Two or three day workshop on Restorative Language
Addresses: difference between consequences and punishment, effect of punitive culture on learning brain
Provides: practical tools to teach accountability and responsibility for harmful behavior
Circle Training Workshops
Community Building Circles
Three day Introduction to the foundations and structure of the Circle process
These circles are for building community, discussion, planning, teaching and for support
Using Circles to Repair Harm
Two to three day workshop building on previous Circle experience
Addresses how to effectively use Circle process to address and resolve serious conflict and harm.
During the summer of 2016, I attended a three-day Restorative Practice workshop facilitated by Mary Skillings. I left that three-day experience feeling rejuvenated and empowered. I decided I was going to remove the tables from my room and we were going to sit and learn in Circle in my classroom. Every day I start by ringing the chimes, reading a short story and passing the talking piece. My high school students check in with how they are feeling that period and answer a question of the day. The sense of community we have co-created has been amazing and students report that they are getting to know their classmates and me way better than in classrooms that do not use Circle.
Mary’s workshop inspired me to write my master’s thesis on using Circle and student engagement. I am looking forward to attending more workshops and will be encouraging my colleagues to attend as well. Teaching in Circle has completely changed my classroom in ways I never thought possible!
Jessica Stewart
Social Studies Teacher
Osseo Senior High
Osseo Area Schools | ISD 279
What I see everywhere in the world are ordinary people willing to confront despair, power, and incalculable odds in order to restore some semblance of grace, justice, and beauty to this world.
