Restorative Practices
What is Restorative Practices in Education?
Restorative Practices refer to a proactive, relationship-based approach to building community and addressing harm within the classroom setting. These practices emphasize open dialogue, mutual respect, and collaborative problem-solving to foster a positive, inclusive environment for students and educators. By utilizing restorative techniques such as circle processes and restorative conferences, educators aim to repair relationships, encourage accountability, and create an atmosphere where all voices are heard and valued. This approach not only helps prevent conflict but also promotes social-emotional learning and strengthens the overall classroom climate.
What is Mr. D’s Experience with Restorative Practices?
Mr. D has a strong, hands-on connection with restorative practices that spans both his teaching and leadership roles. Over the years, he has successfully integrated restorative practices into his teaching, coaching, and professional development work across various school districts nationwide.
In his role as a Restorative Practices Facilitator at a middle school in NE Kansas (2015-2019), Mr. D was instrumental in leading post-conflict circles with students, as well as facilitating restorative circles involving students and teachers to repair relationships and address interpersonal conflicts in the classroom. During that time, fights were reduced by more than 50%, office referrals a full 66%, and suspensions over 50%.
Finally, Mr. D was interviewed as part of an episode focused on restorative practices in Kansas schools for the PBS show Religion and Ethics News Weekly.
What can Teach With Mr. D offer?
Teach With Mr. D offers restorative justice workshops designed to support elementary, middle, and high schools in creating stronger, more connected learning communities. With over 20 years in education, including classroom teaching, instructional coaching, and professional development facilitation, I bring both deep experience and practical strategies for integrating restorative practices into daily school life.
Mr. D holds a Master of Education in Restorative Justice in Education from Eastern Mennonite University and have spent the past decade helping schools transform their approaches to discipline, classroom management, and student relationships. His work has included facilitating community-building circles, conflict resolution circles, training teachers and administrators in restorative practices, and presenting nationally on restorative approaches to school culture and climate.
Some of the workshop offerings Teach With Mr. D provides include:
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Introduction to Restorative Practices: Building a foundation for restorative classrooms and school communities.
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Community-Building Circles: Practical strategies to strengthen student voice, trust, and connection.
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Restorative Responses to Conflict: Tools for addressing harm and repairing relationships.
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Sustaining Restorative Practices: Supporting staff through professional learning communities and coaching.
Workshops can vary in length from two hours to two or three days, depending on the needs of your school or district. Each session is interactive, research-based, and tailored to equip educators with strategies they can implement right away.
I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how restorative justice practices can benefit your students, staff, and school community. Please feel free to contact me teachwithmrd@gmail.com
Recommended Reading
It would be a good idea for you to do some reading before contacting for training. You should do a book study on one or more of the following books:
Justice on Both Sides: Transforming Education Through Restorative Justice by Maisha T Winn
Circle in the Square: Building Community and Repairing Harm in School by Nancy Riestenberg
Better Than Carrots or Sticks: Restorative Practices for Positive Classroom Management by Dominique Smith, Douglas Fisher & Nancy Frey.
These are just some personal favorites. You can see even more suggested reading at Restorative Solutions.
Supports PBIS, RTI, PLC’s and other fine programs.
If schools were permitted to have just one training, this is the one!
This training will help to raise test scores for your students, decrease discipline challenges, and improve classroom rapport. You will learn how to meet students where they are and lead them where they need to be, capture attention, and promote deeper learning.