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March 2024
Ideas and Suggestions for Restorative Practitioners
Deepen Your Practice
The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Center is offering Restorative Practices (RP) trainings and skills sessions this June and August. The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) works in partnership with the Minnesota community of restorative practices trainers, Lakes Country Service Cooperative, Peacemaker Resources, Legal Rights Center, Mickelson Consulting, Riverbottom Resources, Brainerd Public Schools, Cloquet Area Alternative Education Program, Houston County Public Schools, La Crescent Public Schools, Robbinsdale School District, and Voyageurs Expeditionary Charter School to offer these trainings.
Restorative Practices Trainings in June
Restorative Practices trainings will be offered throughout the month of June in the Metro, online, and Greater Minnesota.
Register for the Metro RP in Schools and Communities, June 24-27 at Forest Elementary in Crystal.
Register for the Restorative Skills Sessions – Online, June 10-12.
Register for the Restorative Practice Trainings – Greater MN.
- June 3-6, Brainerd
- June 10-13, Bemidji and Cloquet
- June 24-27, La Crescent
To register a group, view the Frequently Asked Questions on Restorative Practices Trainings document. If you have questions about navigating the registration site, contact Jolene King at Lakes Country Service Cooperative, 218-737-6521.
Retrieve Your Learnings
The United States Department of Justice Community Relations Service (CRS) helps students to address school conflicts through its Student Problem Identification and Resolution of Issues Together (School-SPIRIT) program. The one-day or two half-day program helps schools address tension and conflict related to issues of race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, or disability. SPIRIT program benefits:
- Develops student leadership skills by empowering students to identify and address conflicts in their school
- Empowers students to solve issues in their school
- Improves collaboration between students and other members of the school community
- Brings diverse student groups together to discover commonalities and build mutual respect
For more information on the School-SPIRIT program, visit the Student Problem Identification and Resolution of Issues Together webpage.
Build Your Knowledge
March is Women’s History Month. One way to engage students and colleagues in an exploration of women’s history is through story. Rather than names and facts, the stories of the work, advocacy and creativity of women provides opportunity for discussion and further storytelling. This circle invites participants – both students and adults – to talk about women (and others) from their own personal histories. Children’s literature is a wonderful repository of stories, told often succinctly and with insight and feeling. We offer an example of a circle using the book, “The Most Beautiful Thing,” by Kao Kalia Yang, illustrated by Khoa Le. Take what you need of this outline and leave the rest!
Circle prompts – The Most Beautiful Thing
Opening: After an opening of mindful breathing to center all circle participants, share your circle community’s circle guidelines and do an introductory round of names and a connecting question. Then read the book out loud. This is an invitation to bring calmness and active listening.
Use the book as the talking piece.
Getting acquainted: What happened in the story?
Storytelling round: Share a relationship you have had with someone of a different generation.
Art activity round: The book invites connection to so many values and beliefs. One connection is to the 4th Core Assumption from Circle Forward on Living Justice Press – Circle Process Graphics and Handouts: “All human beings have gifts, and everyone is needed for what they bring.” Think of the story of a student who has a gift that is not immediately visible or that on first look, their gift is not seen as a gift. Take a piece of paper and some markers, make up a title for that student’s story, and design a book cover for the story. When everyone is done making their book cover, share your illustration and the student’s story in a circle round. Stick figures are a fine design idea!
Addressing issues round: How will you use this book or any other children's book in a circle and with whom? What theme or strand would you like to explore with others?
Sense of unity round: What is "The Most Beautiful Thing" about yourself?
Close: Re-read your favorite page of the book. Thank people for coming to circle.
Resources
9th National Conference on Community and Restorative Justice
The National Association of Community and Restorative Justice (NACRJ) will be holding the 9th National Conference on Community and Restorative Justice, July 29-August 1, 2024, in Washington, DC. Registration details can be found on the 9th National Conference on Community and Restorative Justice webpage.
Save the Dates for Restorative Practices Trainings
August 12-15, 2024
Circle Trainings and Circle to Repair Relationships Trainings will be offered in the Metro area and online.
Further Information
For further information, visit the Restorative Practices website, contact Grace Yang or Nancy Riestenberg, Minnesota Department of Education.
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