Circle Forum

Considering a potential investment?  How about investing in high school adolescents' growth and well-being? In this podcast episode, we're unraveling high school dynamics and the powerful impact of social and emotional learning. Can you believe the title of the research paper that sparked this conversation? "Investing in Adolescent High School Climate and Organizational Context Shapes Student Development and Educational Attainment" – a mouthful, right? But it's chock-full of insights from the University of Chicago that highlight the importance of intentionally nurturing the social and emotional development of adolescents. Stan, Shelley, and Steve share their experiences, anecdotes, and a sprinkle of humor to uncover the transformative potential of restorative practices in high schools. It's time to rethink the way we approach education and adolescent well-being! For more restorative information be sure to visit our website  www.restorative.ca

Keywords: Adolescents, High School Climate, Student Development, Student Achievement, Social and Emotional Learning, Secondary, High School Transition, Graduation Rates, Restorative Practices, Teacher-Student Communication

Welcome to another episode of our podcast, where we unravel the pressing concerns within the realm of education. In today's installment, we shine a spotlight on a topic that's sending shockwaves across the continent: the mysterious disappearance of students from classrooms. This isn't just an US phenomenon; Canadians are grappling with it too.

We kick off with a poignant story of an 11-year-old boy who felt so unsafe at school that he stopped attending altogether, leaving his mother feeling powerless. Join us as we delve into the crucial matter of school safety and its role in bringing students back. Moreover, we explore the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, where students were taught that learning from home was not only viable but sometimes preferable. How do we now convince them that returning to school is the better way? It's a conundrum that affects not only students but parents, teachers, and entire communities. Stay tuned as we unpack the layers of this complex issue.

Here’s a link to the Toronto Star article

https://www.thestar.com/news/world/united-states/millions-of-kids-are-missing-weeks-of-school-as-attendance-tanks-across-the-us/article_d01d35b2-c794-586d-ada2-9d1f92ec4f5d.html

Find out more about how a restorative questions can help resolve the mystery of student absenteeism.   Send me a note to [email protected]

Check out our free resources at www.restorative.ca

Get ready to explore the pressing issue of kindergarten absenteeism in our latest podcast episode. Shelley,Steve, and Stan  are your guides on this educational journey, as they discuss the challenges and solutions surrounding kindergarten attendance post-COVID-19. Discover why some families are hesitating to send their kids to school and how a shift from a punitive approach to a collaborative, restorative one is making a difference. Don't miss this engaging conversation that sheds light on the importance of building connections and fostering a sense of belonging in early education. Tune in now for insights that can reshape the future of education!

Read the full article “Reaching kindergarten parents is key to addressing dramatic post-pandemic rise in chronic absenteeism, panel says”

Check out restorative resources at www.restorative.ca

Keywords: Senior Kindergarten,Absenteeism,Pandemic,Early Education,Equity,Preschool,Restorative Practices,Parents,Community, Attendance

Welcome to another episode of our podcast. I'm Stan, joined by Shelley and Steve, and today we're delving into a topic that's been making headlines recently: chronic absenteeism among students. In Season 8, Episode 5, we tackle the critical issue of too many kids missing school and explore how schools can bring them back into the fold.

It's a problem that touches the heart of education, and we're here to dissect it. We'll be unraveling the suggestions from a recent news article on how to address this issue effectively. From talking directly to families to avoiding punitive responses, there's a lot to discuss. So, whether you're an educator, a parent, or simply someone interested in the dynamics of the education system, this episode is packed with insights you won't want to miss.

Here’s the link to the news article 

https://news.yahoo.com/too-many-kids-are-chronically-absent-how-can-schools-bring-them-back-153547903.html?guccounter=1

Find out more about how a restorative approach to student absenteeism can help solve the attendance puzzle.  Send me a note to [email protected]

Check out our free resources at www.restorative.ca

It’s tough to have conversations in schools today when it often feels like it’s not safe to do so. Yet we need to be able to talk together, share opinions and give each other opportunities to consider challenges to our way of thinking.  The article from Education Week “Why can’t we talk with each other any more?” evokes our conversation this week about how restorative practices can create safe spaces for a school culture which can hold opposing views. Restorative practices encourages us to slow down our thinking, to ask questions that makes one think, to discern information and to adopt an attitude of curiosity

Read the article here

https://www.edweek.org/leadership/why-cant-we-talk-to-each-other-anymore/2022/09

Find out more about how to use restorative questions to build connections with the adults on your school staff.  Send me a note to [email protected]

Check out our free resources at www.restorative.ca

Welcome to a thought-provoking episode of our podcast, where we dive deep into the intricate web of relationships within the world of education. In this episode, How Not Having a Teacher Contract Affects Relationships in School," we're exploring a topic that's been making waves in Ontario and beyond – the absence of teacher contracts.

Imagine a school where the rules of engagement between teachers, administrators, parents, and students are in flux, where uncertainty hangs in the air, and where relationships are put to the test. Our hosts, Stan, Steve, and Shelley, share their experiences from both sides of the teacher-administrator divide, shedding light on how contract disputes can cast a shadow on the school community. They discuss the innate adversarial nature that often emerges in such situations and the profound impact it has on everyone involved. So, if you've ever wondered about the ripple effect of labor disputes in education, buckle up for an eye-opening conversation that explores the importance of fostering resilient relationships, even when times get tough.

Find out more about how to use restorative practices to foster those resilient relationships on your school staff.  Send me a note to [email protected]

Check out our free resources at www.restorative.ca

“1. What do you look forward to when you come to work each day?

2. If you were to consider leaving this position, why would that be?

3. What factors may trigger a departure?” (Elizabeth Heubeck in EducationWeek) These are terrific questions to initiate meaningful conversations with staff in September and October. 

Intentionally  investing time in your teachers and your staff can help to retain them in their positions. Recruitment and retention of teaching staff after Covid-19 pandemic has become increasingly challenging. Where we vary from the author’s article is in our recommendation for an inclusive rather than exclusive Stay Interview process.  Using a Fair Process of Engagement, Explanation and Expectation Clarity (Kim and Maugborgne) builds connections around why people stay working with you in school and helps to plan for ways to increase staff retention.

Read the article here 

https://www.edweek.org/leadership/the-stay-interview-how-it-can-help-schools-hold-onto-valued-staff/2022/06

Find out more about how to use restorative questions to build connections with the adults on your school staff.  Send me a note to [email protected]

Check out our free resources at www.restorative.ca

Many schools and districts initially involved in restorative practices have let it slide.  Here’s a discussion of research which underscores the value of a relational approach to education by fostering belonging and transforming schools.  The 6 year study of 485 California middle schools shows increased student achievement, reduces suspensions and reduced disparities between groups. The recommendations include:

Read the research here

https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/impact-restorative-practices-brief

Find out more about how to use restorative practices to do just that. Send me a note to [email protected]

Check out our free resources at www.restorative.ca

“Wake up!”  Steve tells a story about how a school responded to a student with special behaviour needs.  She fell asleep in class every day.  It took staff who had made a connection with her to figure out the “why” behind the behaviour.  Many staff thought that there should be punishment because “we can’t have kids sleeping in class!”  Steve took the time to use a Fair Process to engage, explain and set the expectation clarity for the staff with a helpful amount of information.  That led to greater understanding and acceptance of what this student needed.  When faced with unusual behaviour or situations it helps to :

Slow down

Be Curious

Ask great questions.

Find out more about how to use restorative practices to do just that. Send me a note to [email protected]

Check out our free resources at www.restorative.ca

Music by Skilsel from Pixabay

It strikes us in a way that sets off a hot button reaction.  There are adults in schools, parents in the community and students in class that can set off the reaction.  Knowing and recognizing this for what it is, our reaction, can help make connections with others.  Use restorative questions as a response.  Ask something like “what do you need right now?” Consider whether it’s the timing or the location that’s setting you or someone else off.  The better the relationship with the people you work with the better your reaction to others can be.

Find out more about how to use restorative practices to build connections with community agencies. Send me a note to [email protected]

Check out our free resources at www.restorative.ca

Music by Skilsel from Pixabay