Circle Forum

Circle Forum

By Stan BakerEducation
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Circle Forum episodes

  • Indigenous treaties through the lens of Fair Process

    Fair process requires three E’s - Engagement, Explanation and Expectation clarity. Looking back on the process of indigenous land treaties, the fair process did not happen. It’s important to educate ourselves in order to have a better understanding of the treaties. Expectation clarity helps us move into actions of reconciliation in schools and in society.

    Restorative practice suggestions:

    1. Get to know what the 3 E’s of Fair Process stand for (see link below)
    2. Make Fair Process part of your classroom pedagogy.
    3. Be prepared for the discomfort of Fair Process.
    4. Don’t think that as a teacher you need to have all the answers for the big questions that arise in a Fair Process conversation. It’s an opportunity to model this for students.

      5. The 3 E’s of Fair Process

      Link to book by Kevin Lamoureux and Jennifer Katz Ensouling our Schools: a universally designed framework for mental health, well-being and reconciliation.  2018

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

      Visit CircleForum for more information about our online trainings in restorative practices

      Music - Scott Holmes Music - Upbeat Party

      25 min
    5. Students will attend schools that are safe, welcoming and have deeply caring environments - Part 2 of 2

      Join our guest this week,Barbara Coloroso,.  Part 2 continues the conversation with what is described as adult conflict when it’s really bullying, utter disregard for another human being. “Every adult can model caring deeply, sharing generously and helping willingly.” Barbara Coloroso

      Restorative suggestions:

      1. All students need TAO - Time, Affection, Optimism
      2. Adults in schools can’t ignore things that aren’t right.
      3. Reflect on the fact that “it’s my place to speak up about it.”
      4. Bullying situations present opportunities to learn for adults and for students.
      5. Let your responses to bullying be guided by the perspective of the victim.

        6. Free Resource from Barbara Coloroso An Essential Guide for Educators on Bullying

        Check out Barbara’s website www.kidsareworthit.com for books, articles and resources

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

        Visit CircleForum for more information about our online trainings in restorative practices

        Music - Scott Holmes Music - Upbeat Party

        23 min
      6. Why restorative practices won’t work for bullying Part 1 of 2

        Join our guest this week,Barbara Coloroso, as we discuss where NOT to use restorative practices. We consider an excellent response to an in-class bullying situation. Part 2 continues the conversation with what is described as adult conflict when it’s really bullying, utter disregard for another human being. “It’s a short walk from bullying to violence to genocide” says Coloroso. In her study of genocide, the numbers of indigenous people killed in North America and South America are numbers 1 and 2 ahead of the total deaths in the Holocaust.

        Restorative suggestions:

        1. All students need TAO - Time, Affection, Optimism.
        2. Adults in schools can’t ignore things that aren’t right.
        3. Reflect on the fact that “it’s my place to speak up about it.”
        4. Bullying situations present opportunities to learn for adults and for students.
        5. Let your responses to bullying be guided by the perspective of the victim.

          6. Free Resource from Barbara Coloroso An Essential Guide for Educators on Bullying

          Check out Barbara’s website www.kidsareworthit.com for books, articles and resources

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

          Visit CircleForum for more information about our online trainings in restorative practices

          Music - Scott Holmes Music - Upbeat Party

          29 min
        6. Unsettling settlers: a lot to talk about and a lot to undo Part 1

          Our guest this week is Dr. Edward Valandra who encouraged us to keep challenging our thinking and perspectives in restorative practices. As white facilitators, we need to consider our cultural baggage before even entering a circle conversation and listen to the perspectives of participants who are black, indigenous and persons of colour. It was such a great conversation that we had to break it into 2 separate episodes.

          Restorative practice suggestions:

          1. Chunk your learning about BIPOC perspectives in restorative practices and restorative justice.
          2. Question the status quo and structures you find yourself in with circles.
          3. Read the book Colorizing Restorative Justice. (Dr. Edward Valandra is one of the editors)
          4. Go to those spaces that are uncomfortable and you may well be surprised by the relationships you are able to develop.
          5. Find someone you can trust who can be a goto person for the challenging questions which arise from books like Colorizing Restorative Justice.

            6. Order the book Colorizing Restorative Justice, Voicing our Realities

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

            Visit CircleForum for more information about our online trainings in restorative practices

            Music - Scott Holmes Music - Upbeat Party

            28 min
          6. “If I would have known, I would have…”

            Educators who know their students’ stories will understand the risk factors that can lead to student absenteeism. A trusted caring adult can make a difference in the lives of students. The lived experience of Indigenous students and their families impacts students’ behaviours and is important for educators to learn and to know. The story of a missing and murdered Indigenous girl is referenced below ( Tina Fontaine).

            Restorative practice suggestions:

            1. Use the restorative questions.
            2. Relationships between schools and the families of students are important for everyone and especially for Indigenous students.
            3. Get to know the stories of your students and you will get to know their voices.

              4. What is the Gladue Act in the Canadian Criminal Code?

              The Restorative Practice Questions

              Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth A place where it feels like home: the story of Tina Fontaine March 2019

              Order the book Colorizing Restorative Justice, Voicing our Realities

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

              Visit CircleForum for more information about our online trainings in restorative practices

              Music - Scott Holmes Music - Upbeat Party

              24 min
            4. Canadian study shows substantial increase in extreme absenteeism during pandemic

              Our guest this week is Dr. Kelly Gallagher-McKay who was a leading researcher in a study of 700,000 Toronto area school boards which showed extreme absenteeism, students missing over 50% of school days, increased 6 fold over the pandemic last school year. Dr. Gallagher-Mckay co-authored a longitudinal study which showed 3 reliable elementary school predictors or indicators that students would not continue on to post-secondary studies: a. 10% absenteeism in even 1 year in elementary school. b. 1 suspension during elementary school. c. participating in a congregated special education services class. Student connection to school builds a sense of belonging which positively impacts attendance. Restorative practice suggestions:

              1. Ask questions about absenteeism early and don’t wait for 15 days of consecutive absence to act.
              2. Look carefully at elementary school attendance data as a predictor of secondary school attendance and completion.
              3. Ask yourself “Am I denying someone the ‘opportunity to learn” by not knowing and not acting on the predictive factors in marginalized student groups?”
              4. Focus on data that includes total absences.
              5. Student absenteeism presents opportunities for inter-agency cooperation between schools and public health.

                6. Learning through Covid-19 Report #1: Enrollment and Absenteeism (August 2021)Research Collaboration with Greater Toronto Area school boards in which Dr. Kelly Gallagher-Mckay was a writer.

                Redefining Risk: Human rights and elementary school factors predicting post-secondary access Brown, Robert and Kelly Gallagher-Mckay and Gillian Parekh Feb. 2020.

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

                Visit CircleForum for more information about our online trainings in restorative practices

                Music - Scott Holmes Music - Upbeat Party

                35 min
              6. Unsettling settlers: a lot to talk about and a lot to undo Part 2

                Our guest this week is Dr. Edward Valandra who encouraged us to keep challenging our thinking and perspectives in restorative practices. As white facilitators, we need to consider our cultural baggage before even entering a circle conversation and listen to the perspectives of participants who are black, indigenous and persons of colour. It was such a great conversation that we had to break it into 2 separate episodes.

                Restorative practice suggestions:

                1. Chunk your learning about BIPOC perspectives in restorative practices and restorative justice.
                2. Question the status quo and structures you find yourself in with circles.
                3. Read the book Colorizing Restorative Justice. (Dr. Edward Valandra is one of the editors)
                4. Go to those spaces that are uncomfortable and you may well be surprised by the relationships you are able to develop.
                5. Find someone you can trust who can be a goto person for the challenging questions which arise from books like Colorizing Restorative Justice.

                  6. Order the book Colorizing Restorative Justice, Voicing our Realities

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

                  Visit CircleForum for more information about our online trainings in restorative practices

                  Music - Scott Holmes Music - Upbeat Party

                  23 min
                6. Unsettling settlers: a lot to talk about and a lot to undo Part 1

                  Our guest this week is Dr. Edward Valandra who encouraged us to keep challenging our thinking and perspectives in restorative practices. As white facilitators, we need to consider our cultural baggage before even entering a circle conversation and listen to the perspectives of participants who are black, indigenous and persons of colour. It was such a great conversation that we had to break it into 2 separate episodes.

                  Restorative practice suggestions:

                  1. Chunk your learning about BIPOC perspectives in restorative practices and restorative justice.
                  2. Question the status quo and structures you find yourself in with circles.
                  3. Read the book Colorizing Restorative Justice. (Dr. Edward Valandra is one of the editors)
                  4. Go to those spaces that are uncomfortable and you may well be surprised by the relationships you are able to develop.
                  5. Find someone you can trust who can be a goto person for the challenging questions which arise from books like Colorizing Restorative Justice.

                    6. Order the book Colorizing Restorative Justice, Voicing our Realities

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

                    Visit CircleForum for more information about our online trainings in restorative practices

                    Music - Scott Holmes Music - Upbeat Party

                    27 min
                  6. Restorative leadership challenging in the pandemic

                    Steve tells a compelling story about what it’s like in the pandemic when leadership is NOT firm or fair. Leaders who avoid conflict or confrontation risk harm to their staff and to their students. Restorative Practices suggestions:

                    1. Build your relationships with your staff early.
                    2. Listen to understand staff strengths from previous years under previous leaders.
                    3. Use a fair process which has engagement, explanation and expectation clarity.

                      4. Link to more info on Fair Process 3 E’s - Engagement, Explanation, Expectation Clarity

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

                      Visit CircleForum for more information about our online trainings in restorative practices

                      Music - Scott Holmes Music - Upbeat Party

                      22 min
                    4. Building connections with students complicated by the pandemic

                      Join our guest this week, Brendan Hyatt, Director of The Northwest Catholic District School Board in Ontario as we discuss how the pandemic has amplified student absenteeism. Restorative practices suggestions:

                      1. Get to know your learners before you take any actions.
                      2. Start with your attendance data and get to know the story there.
                      3. Be open to listening to what families and students are saying.
                      4. Then listen to families.
                      5. Give the staff the tools and support they need to deal with attendance in the pandemic.

                        6. Here’s a link to the Social Discipline Window - TO-FOR-NOT-WITH

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

                        Visit CircleForum for more information about our online trainings in restorative practices

                        Music - Scott Holmes Music - Upbeat Party

                        24 min

                      About Circle Forum

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                      Leading a school in today’s educational landscape is both rewarding and complex. This podcast equips elementary and secondary school principals with proven strategies to tackle challenges they face…