Restorative practice is a future focussed method of dealing with conflict in a positive way. It’s a values based philosophy that guides the way we act in all interactions with others. There is an emphasis on problem solving and making amends. It separates the behaviour from the person. It aims to deal with conflict without shaming or blaming.

We will work on the teaching emotional literacy from now to midterm.

1) – Language of emotion and emotional ranges

Explicitly teach the language of emotion and language to match different points on the range of emotion

  e.g. Annoyed-  irritated, frustrated, impatient, aggravated

For younger children – they could identify their range of emotion on a scale  e.g. 1 = a little bit annoyed and 5 = very annoyed.

2) – I Statements

We need to help the children to link their emotion to a need or a want.

e.g. Instead of a child saying- “He left me out of the game”, we teach will them to say, “ I felt sad when I was left out of the game. I would like to be included.”

The teacher can model ‘I Statements’ in the classroom. 

e.g. Instead of “Can you please stop talking?”, the teacher says, “ I feel frustrated when people are talking when I am speaking because I have a need to make sure that everyone can hear and knows what to do”.

These I statements link a feeling to a need and also states what the person needs or would like to happen. They remove the shaming and blaming and they are non–confrontational.

3) – Making Amends

We will work on teaching the children to take accountability for their actions and coming up with appropriate amends. Just simply saying “sorry” is not an amends. An amends requires more thought  on the part of the child.

4) – Seperating the behaviour from the person

A key aspect of restorative practice is that we separate the behaviour from the person.

e.g.: A child playing roughly during the soccer game … Rather than saying “ You are playing too roughly- you are getting time off yard”,

we will say “I know you are a great boy/girl but that behaviour is too rough on yard. I have a need to keep everyone safe.

So step out for a few minutes and when you are ready to move safely let me know and I will be delighted to let you back into the game.”

Expressing feelings

Connect feelings with needs