As the school leader, my beliefs would be reflected by offering different opportunities for staff to practice reflecting on, and refining, their approach to building a safe learning environment where ALL students are welcomed regardless of where they presently are in their path of behavior development. We would engage in role playing activities that would allow everyone to feel more comfortable developing restorative questioning skills. We would touch base often and provide additional support for anyone who felt they needed it. I would include office staff, cafeteria staff (if possible), and playground supervisors. I would also open it up to any parents wishing to enhance their current parenting skills.
At staff meetings I would encourage teachers to share any triumphs during the week of how they handled situations differently then they used to, and how that led to student success. I would also encourage them to reflect on situations that could have been handled differently, or that they wish they would have handled differently. They do not have to share these situations with the rest of the staff, but they should at least reflect on them and replay them in their heads the way they wish they would have handled it, so that next time their mind, body, voice and thoughts are more prepared to handle such a situation in a more effective manner. I would also remind them that it is a work in progress and we are all in the learning process as we unlearn old, engrained ineffective behaviors and replace them with new, productive and effective habits of mind.
I would say that the concept of teaching students to "first do no harm" is currently being integrated into the culture of my school through the Leader in Me Program that we have in place, as we are in the process of becoming a Lighthouse school. We also continue to live the by PeaceBuilder Pledge on a daily basis and use the language to address different situations. Not only do we recite the PeaceBuilder Pledge, but we embrace it and use it as a guide in making conscious decisions throughout our days as we encounter different situations. I see, first-hand, how empowering it is when students, teachers, and other school staff, as well as parents, use a common language school-wide, to help guide student behavior. Everyone takes it very seriously and believes in it. It is very gratifying to hear students point out this positive behavior in storybook characters as well. When we are reading a book, in addition to whatever the focus happens to be, students can't help but to point out when a character is being a PeaceBuilder, and they justify their claim with specific evidence from the text! They also often point out when a character is displaying one, or more, of the seven habits!
This semester I commit to six things that will make my school a more positive restorative place:
* Develop a "Buddy System" with a different grade level and students get to teach the Habit of the week to the other group of students.
*When a conflict arises, I will change the current type of questions I use to the "restorative questions" format.
*Invite four different students every other week to have lunch with me. During this time together we will have circle conversations in order to "build students' habits at sharing their thinking publicly with their peers." (Loc. 908, Fisher, D., Frey, N., Pumpian, I.)
*Empower students with conflict resolution skills such as being proactive and using restorative questions with each other when conflict arises rather than waiting for an adult to intervene.
*Share with my grade level, and student-teachers at our grade level, the new restorative practices that I'm learning.
*E-mail my co-workers a few ideas about restorative practices to get them curious regarding the topic. I will include a brief description of what it is and a link to where they can find the book, in case they are interested in furthering their understanding of the subject.
Source: Fisher, D., Frey, N., and Pumpian, I., (2012). How to Create a Culture of Achievement in Your School and Classroom [Kindle Version].Retrieved from Amazon.com.