Prompts for Restorative Circle Dialogues
What happened and what were you thinking at the time of the incident? Who have you spoken to about this situation since?
Who has been affected by what happened and why?
What about this situation has been the most difficult for you?
What do you think needs to be done to make things right?
Who do you respect and why?
When do you feel most uncomfortable?
How do you feel about the statement “treat others how you want to be treated?”
What changes would you like to see here at school or in the community that would make you feel more valued? What can you do to promote that change?
Sample Circle Process
Round 1: You can use one of the above prompts or feel free to create your own to get started. The talking piece is passed to the student that volunteers to go first.
Round 2: We are going to discuss what happened, so I’ve asked ______________ and ____________ to share their understanding of the event.
Round 3: We are going to discuss who has been affected by what happened and address any harm that may have occurred as a result.
Round 4: Now it is important to ask students what are they personally willing to do to repair the harm and move forward from this situation. (The circle keeper can write down suggestions on post it paper).
Round 5: can consist of you the teacher summarizing what the agreements are to move forward and remind students of their accountability promise. Congratulate everyone for their courage and participation and you could either end the session with hugs, high fives or fist bumps.
Alternative Teaching Strategy to promote dialogue within the circle:
There are times when you may want to provide some alternative approaches to generating discourse within the circle and here is a activity that my students truly enjoy. Students get to talk about themes that impact them such as friendship, family, growing up, injustice or beauty.
Sample Lesson 2
Paired Text Strategy/ Music and Poetry Integration
Objective: To determine a theme of paired text using excerpts of musical lyrics and a poem, being able to cite text evidence from both text to draw individual conclusions,
Materials:
- Access to Youtube
- Lyrics from song God’s Plan by Drake
- Copy of poem Still I Rise by Maya Angelou
- Student Journals
Song/Poetry excerpts.
Task #1 Compare the lines from both Drake and Maya Angelou and determine the overarching theme citing evidence from both excerpts. Include how this theme applies to your attitude about achieving your personal goals.
Drake:
I been movin' calm, don't start no trouble with me
Tryna keep it peaceful is a struggle for me
Maya Angelou
You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.
Task #2 Compare the lines from both Drake and Maya Angelou and determine the overarching theme citing evidence from both excerpts. Include how this theme applies to your attitude about achieving your personal goals.
Drake:
I don’t wanna die for them to miss me
Guess I see the things that they wishin' on me
Hope I got some brothers that outlive me
Maya Angelou
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
Task #3 Compare the lines from both Drake and Maya Angelou and determine the overarching theme citing evidence from both excerpts. Include how this theme applies to your attitude about achieving your personal goals.
Drake:
I go hard on Southside G, ay, wait
Maya Angelou
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
Closing Reflection:
Our encounters, particularly those that bring us memories of abuse or harm confines our desire to share with one another. Hopefully, the Restorative Justice Peace Circle will give us the opportunity to have authentic discourse that allows us to heal those wounds. Peace Circle may ultimately be our winning ticket to success.
Ms. Ponder’s students on field experience Chicago Bulls Game Source: Chicago Public Schools
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