What are Restorative Practices? 

Restorative practices is a social science that studies how to create positive school communities through relationship building and achieve social discipline through participatory learning and decision making. It is modeled after many community-centered practices that have existed in Indigenous cultures throughout the world for centuries. In essence, through relationship building, we have the power to teach the importance of community to our students while leveraging those relationships and that trust to help students hold themselves accountable when they’ve caused harm (IIRP, 2011).

Restorative practices is the embodiment of both ancient and modern wisdom about how to keep human relationships alive, free, open and constructive, especially when conflicts arise. Contemporary practices and principles of consensus building, dialogue, and dispute resolution have helped shape our understanding that restorative practices is not a fad or the latest technique (Safe Supportive Learning, 2016).

Works Cited

Autumn, S., & Guarino, K. (2016). Positive Behavioral Strategies - Restorative Practices. Safe Supportive Learning. Retrieved from https://safesupportivelearning.ed.gov/sites/default/files/OLE%201%20Restorative%20practices%203%2010%2016%20Final.pdf. International Institute for Restorative Practices. (2011). What are restorative practices? Retrieved from https://www.iirp.edu/restorative-practices/what-is-restorative-practices.