Circle Forum

For Season 6 of CircleForum, we’re going to be taking a closer look at the research on things that work to improve student attendance and how that fits with restorative practices.

“Students reporting "moderate" and "negative" climate in their schools were more likely to attend schools with higher chronic absence rates than students reporting that their school had "positive" climate. Likewise, "climate challenged" schools had significantly higher chronic absence rates than "marginal climate" schools. These results suggest that school climate shares an important relation with chronic absence among adolescent students attending urban schools.” Journal of School Psychology, 2017, “How school climate relates to chronic absence: A multi–level latent profile analysis”

Using restorative circles all over the school classrooms, staffrooms,and boardrooms is an effective way to develop the positive relationships needed to improve school climate and student attendance.

Find our more about how circles in your school can impact student attendance and send me a note to [email protected]

Check out our free resources at www.restorative.ca

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In this fourth of 4 conversations about the complex solutions required to address student attendance issues, Shelley, Steve and Stan end where schools need to start, with the attendance data. The article published in October 2022 by Dr. Jess Whitley of the University of Ottawa and Dr. Beth Saggers Queensland University of Technology is called“School attendance problems are complex, and our solutions need to be as well.”

1:48 Look for patterns in the data.

2:48 Story of a group of students who were always late first period of the day.

4:05 Flag the concerns early.

4:15 A call about attendance leads to a conversation.

5:55 Each person in school plays a role in student attendance..

6:51 Decide who has a connection with a family in order to make the call.

8:02 “My kid won’t come out of their bedroom!”

8:35 Communication within school important when dealing with data.

9:45 Look at suspension data too.

10:04 There’s research showing indicators by Grade 4 of which students will graduate

10:56 Set an intention to focus on students at risk of not attending.

Need a consult on ways to use your attendance data, send me a note to [email protected]

Check out our free resources at www.restorative.ca

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Link to the full article “School attendance problems are complex, and our solutions need to be as well

Canadian Research referenced Redefining Risk: Human Rights and Elementary School Factors Predicting Post-Secondary Access

Music by DaddysMusic from Pixabay

Shelley, Steve and Stan continue part 3 of their discussion about an article published in October 2022 by Dr. Jess Whitley of the University of Ottawa and Dr. Beth Saggers Queensland University of Technology. It’s called“School attendance problems are complex, and our solutions need to be as well.” Restorative leadership is the lens through which we see and discuss this complex concern. School climate impacts attendance and this is something school staff can work on.

School climate is about the staff and the families

Parents’ experiences of school can be a challenging factor

Parents are a tremendous resource for schools

Parents as ambassadors for the school

When you meet with families, consider starting with the parents

Think about the kinds of questions you ask in meetings and then listen openly

Shelley checks out of Parent Council - a story

Circles allow every student a voice in setting the climate

Schools can do something about school climate that impacts attendance

Parents included and started a cartooning club - a story

Need a consult on relational approaches to academics and well-being, send me a note to [email protected]

Check out our free resources at www.restorative.ca

Subscribe to our podcast on Youtube Circleforum

Link to the full article “School attendance problems are complex, and our solutions need to be as well

Music by DaddysMusic from Pixabay

Shelley, Steve and Stan continue part 2 of their discussion about an article published in October 2022 by Dr. Jess Whitley of the University of Ottawa and Dr. Beth Saggers Queensland University of Technology. It’s called“School attendance problems are complex, and our solutions need to be as well.” Restorative leadership is the lens through which we see and discuss this complex concern.  We are starting this week with “Building Relationships”

1:12 Students need someone to welcome them to school daily

1:44 Purposeful relationship building is part of restorative practices

2:03 Learn how to support intentional conversations

2:38 Make opportunities for relationship building

3:04 Mentors will select students like themselves not necessarily students on the margins

3:55 CYW will often seek out kids on the margins

4:43 Students immersed in restorative practices will develop relationships with adults

5:10 Doesn’t have to be the homeroom teacher to build connections

6:24 Ask the students who they feel most connected to

Need a consult on relational approaches to academics and well-being, send me a note to [email protected]

Check out our free resources at www.restorative.ca

Subscribe to our podcast on Youtube Circleforum

Link to the full article “School attendance problems are complex, and our solutions need to be as well

Music by DaddysMusic from Pixabay

Shelley, Steve and Stan discuss an article published in October 2022 by Dr. Jess Whitley of the University of Ottawa and Dr. Beth Saggers Queensland University of Technology. It’s called“School attendance problems are complex, and our solutions need to be as well.” Restorative leadership is the lens through which we see and discuss this complex concern.  We are starting this week with “Academics and Well-Being.”

2:09 Differentiate student well being in activities like extra curricular

3:12 It’s not JUST academics or JUST well-being

4:10 Math as a social activity (see video link below)

5:08 Circles in Grade 3/4 classroom built community well-being

6:04 Needs of whole child informs small group formation by teacher

7:10 How to build a healthy team

7:19 Employers are looking for individuals who can work in teams

7:44 Creative groupings of students helps academics and well-bing

Need a consult on relational approaches to academics and well-being, send me a note to [email protected]

Check out our free resources at www.restorative.ca

Subscribe to our podcast on Youtube Circleforum

Link to the full article “School attendance problems are complex, and our solutions need to be as well

Article referenced in podcast How to teach Math as a social activity

Music by DaddysMusic from Pixabay

“Knowing your WHY makes your HOW more impactful as you work in your purpose”Michael Jr. With the busyness of day to day work in schools, educators seldom take much time to consider and reflect on their WHY. Knowing your WHY fits well into a restorative mindset.

2:58 My WHY makes my job my calling

4:39 People looking for purpose and meaning

5:27 An example of WHY “I know people can change”

6:37 Example of WHY “There’s more to school than academics”

7:43 Whole child developed in restorative practices

9:27 Take a moment to reflect on your WHY

11:05 Teachers feel a high level of control without the corresponding support needed to be working WITH others

12:24 Fear of making mistakes prevents realization of your WHY

13:18 Start with strengths and ask “What made you get into this business?”

15:20 Staff agenda topic - why did you get into education?

16:45 Check in go around questions - What’s something you’re planning? Celebrating? Have learned?

18:31 Ask others “When you were a kid, what did you used to say you wanted to be when you grew up?”

Need a consult on restorative leadership, send me a note to [email protected]

Check out our free resources at www.restorative.ca

Subscribe to our podcast on Youtube Circleforum

Music by DaddysMusic from Pixabay

Connections between students and the adults at school has a big impact on school safety particularly on the trust levels needed to report a concern. Safety also depends on the adult to adult trust in the building.

2:35Create a community culture of caring

3:08Kids can build empathy through restorative practices skills

3:49Build rapport with students

4:43Be present with students to build trust

5:49Clear expectations up front builds trust

7:03Learn about the hobbies and interests of students AND adults

9:04Listen without blame or judgment

9:34Staff to staff connections impacts school safety

10:43Each person can have a helpful bit of information to contribute

11:13The stronger the relational connections, the more likely there’ll be reporting of a safety concern

12:08Restorative leaders create opportunities for conversations

12:49A story - principal sets up intentional time for staff connections

13:49End of the day provides for casual staff connections

15:25Light questions in group conversation at end of the day builds relationships between the adults

16:39Everyone needs a best friend at school

Need a consult on restorative leadership, send me a note to [email protected]

Check out our free resources at www.restorative.ca

Subscribe to our podcast on Youtube Circleforum

Music by DaddysMusic from Pixabay

A settler bias and a colonial attitude are so much a part of white educators’ lives that even the questions asked can illustrate the ongoing nature of colonialism. It’s important for us as white educators to think through or be reminded of how our language can impact others.

2:22 the question itself shows white educator bias

3:33 It’s about learning not about education

4:44 System pressure to get indigenous students to school

5:41 Need to be trauma informed

6:00 No single response to any trauma

7:00 Trauma informed question like “what’s happened to you?” Is a restorative question

7:35 White educators will make mistakes and need to learn from the mistakes

8:50 Trigger warnings can inform possible responses to topics in meetings or in class study

9:54 Supporters of the stories about residential schools remain open and vulnerable to listening

12:19 school structure isn’t working so what can we do

17:04 Late starting meeting upsets white superintendent

18:24 That’s not how we (settlers) do business!

19:58 Ease into the reason for the meeting of the conversation by focusing on relationships first

20:18 Biggest gift you can give is your time and attention

Need a consult on restorative leadership, send me a note to [email protected]

Check out our free resources at www.restorative.ca

Subscribe to our podcast on Youtube Circleforum

Music by DaddysMusic from Pixabay

Leaders can learn from staff or students who miss the mark and fail at a new endeavour. Seeing the patterns of behaviour creates the opportunity to ask great questions and listen for staff and student strengths.

Awareness of something not working right is a restorative moment and can improve a student's experience of school.

2:17 Kids just weren’t showing up after lunch.

2:57 discipline referrals just keep coming

6:04 Enthusiasm is contagious when tapping into staff strengths

8:36 Just ask the kids and their parents

12:02 Don’t comment on everything you hear as if it’s another life lesson

13:48 Choice within boundaries

14:40 Give staff chance to fail

16:57 Student refused to participate in track and field

18:32 Listen for the possibilities

Need a consult on restorative leadership, send me a note to [email protected]

Check out our free resources at www.restorative.ca

Subscribe to our podcast on Youtube Circleforum

Music by DaddysMusic from Pixabay

Leaders are regularly involved in resolving conflicts and neglect the connected social justice aspects. Each situation presents leaders with the opportunity to listen for understanding and the opportunity to deal with a structure or policy that is unfair or unjust. It’s not easy yet it starts with listening.

2:02 What is social justice anyway?

4:49 Hold a mirror up to yourself.

5:13 On speed dial just to fix the conflict

5:40 Student just stopped coming to school

7:25 Restorative leadership is participatory

8:29 NIMBY story

10:06. Fair process

11:08.Do you have permission to even raise the social justice issue?

12:26 Duck and wear beige

17:42 Help me to understand what you mean by…

Need a consult on restorative leadership, send me a note to [email protected]

Check out our free resources at www.restorative.ca

Subscribe to our podcast on Youtube Circleforum

Music by DaddysMusic from Pixabay