The Starts and Stumbles of Restorative Justice in Education: Where Do We Go from Here?
Summary: This policy brief reviews the current state of implementation of Restorative Justice In Education (RJE) and makes several recommendations for schools, researchers, and policy makers. The authors focus on the importance of a principle-based, comprehensive, and equity-based approach, consideration for the development of contextually sensitive, strategic, and long-term implementation plans and practices, and that follow-up research examines change as a result of the program over a three to five year period of time.
Source: Gregory, A., & Evans, K.R. (2020). The Starts and Stumbles of Restorative Justice in Education: Where Do We Go from Here? Boulder, CO: National Education Policy Center.
Creating a Learning Environment Where All Kids Feel Valued
Summary: This article suggests five steps that will help you increase the feeling of belonging in your classroom. The lesson plan that is offered will help students understand and appreciate differences in themselves and in their classmates. These steps help to build a positive culture and climate in the classrooms.
Source: Shana V. White, Edutopia, October 9, 2019
Assigned Cafeteria Seating Can Improve School Culture
Summary: This article reports on a potential benefits of assigned cafeteria seating. The practice in two schools in Wisconsin is felt to help students develop social-emotional skills.
Source: Shawna De La Rosa, Education DIVE, October 25, 2019
5 Communities Receive $30K in Grants Supporting SEL
Summary: This article shares the results of the America’s Promise “How Learning Happens” Program. The grant awards are meant to support SEL efforts both within and outside of schools by bringing a community focus to the work done in SEL.
Source: Shawna De La Rosa Education DIVE, September 20, 2019
The Role of Emotion Co-Regulation in Discipline
Summary: This article focuses on the importance of using SEL skills when dealing with behavioral problems – particularly for those students suffering from ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences). The author underscores the importance that “Discipline ideally is not something we do to students—it should be a quality we want to develop within them.”
Source: Lori Desautels, Edutopia, October 15, 2019
DC Elementary School Transforms Culture with Alternative Discipline
Summary: When Langley Elementary, a Title I school in Washington, D.C., implemented the Conscious Discipline approach, its school culture improved significantly and suspension rates dropped, EdSurge reports, noting that the “top-to-bottom” reforms took around three years to yield positive results.
Source: Shawna De La Rosa, Education DIVE, October 16, 2019
5 Effective Ways to Help Students Reduce Stress and Anxiety
Summary: This article address the problem of student stress and anxiety and how this affects classroom behavior. The author has implemented SEL strategies to help students (and himself) deal with stress.
Source: Brent Modak, eSchool News, June 19, 2019
Restorative Justice Programs Struggling Due to Lack of Funds
Summary: Some school districts are cutting restorative justice programs because of budget constraints. The Oakland (CA) Unified School District is a prime example. The primary need for funding is teacher training since research has shown the program to be more effective when teachers are properly trained to lead the sessions.
Source: Shawna de la Rosa, Education DIVE, July 2, 2019
Student Suspensions Plummeted in this New Jersey School District. Here’s How They Did it.
Summary: This article presents the story of how the Morris School District (Morristown, NJ) used a system of restorative justice to dramatically change their approach to discipline issues.
Source: Hannan Aderly, North Jersey Record, June 25, 2019
Here’s Why Raising ‘Good’ Kids is Just Good Enough…
Summary: This article from NBC’s Parent Toolkit, suggests ways to raise socially responsible kids. These include acts of helpfulness and kindness as well as good problem-solving skills. A final suggestion is that parents need need to model these traits for their children.
Source: Maurice Elias, NBC Parent Toolkit, April 2, 2019
