What Is A “Restorative Approach”?

Have you ever cut someone out of your life after they said or did something that upset you—without really talking with them about it first? I know I have. I remember a situation at work when someone made a snarky comment about our team’s social worker. It caught me off guard, and I froze because it was unexpected and upsetting. Later, I convinced myself it wasn’t worth confronting. Truthfully, I probably just wanted to avoid an uncomfortable conversation. But something shifted after that. I found myself avoiding her, and pretty much cold-shouldering her. Looking back, I’m sure it negatively impacted the collaboration between our teams. We all suffered because of that. 

Many people that we’ve trained or coached have shared a similar experience—whether with a family member, a friend, a neighbor, or especially at work, where stress levels run high, and we’re around the same people all day. It’s a recipe for rifts.

Restorative Practices Training changes your mindset about situations like these in two ways. 

Instead of brushing things under the rug and letting resentment quietly build, a restorative approach focuses on restoring relationships through mutual discussion. It encourages addressing issues head-on, not with blame or defensiveness, but with empathy and accountability. 

But even more importantly, a restorative approach means using practices to build relationships and community, build engagement and ownership, and create environments that are warm yet demanding so that harm is less likely to occur AND so that when something does go wrong, you have the social capital to repair things. 

Restorative Practices provide the explicit tools to support that approach: 

Build relationships and community through circles, fair process, accountability & support, and effective language.

Address conflicts, have hard conversations, and repair harm using affective statements, restorative questions, curbside conversations, circles, and conferences. 

Understanding the Restorative Approach in Schools

Schools have long relied on traditional disciplinary approaches that focus on punishment to maintain order and deter misbehavior. While this method might address immediate disruptions, it often falls short when it comes to addressing root causes, fostering accountability, or preventing harm through building meaningful relationships. A restorative approach flips this script. Rather than centering on punishment, it prioritizes repairing harm, restoring relationships, and fostering a sense of community that holds the bar high and provides the support to get them there. You probably know lots of teachers and leaders like this- the warm demanders.

The differences between a traditional versus restorative approach are significant. A traditional approach operates on a top-down model where authority figures enforce compliance through rules and consequences. The goal is to deter negative behaviors, but often at the cost of exclusion—students are removed from the classroom through suspensions or expulsions, which not only leads to disconnection and distrust but leads to missed academic time. On the other hand, a restorative approach is collaborative, involving all parties affected by a conflict in the process of finding a solution. It emphasizes reflection, empathy, and accountability, encouraging students to take ownership of their actions and make amends in meaningful ways. As opposed to simply disciplining the student for getting an infraction, this approach also provides time, attention, and support to the student harmed. 

For instance, in a traditional model, a student who disrupts class might face automatic consequences, such as being sent to the office or suspended. There’s little to no opportunity for the student to explain their actions, reflect on their behavior, repair the harm caused, or have a conversation with the student or teacher impacted. In contrast, a restorative approach might include a restorative conversation where the student is guided to understand the impact of their actions on others, identify what led to the behavior, and collaborate on ways to make things right. This process not only addresses the behavior but also strengthens relationships and trust among students and staff.

By prioritizing relationships and creating opportunities for connection, the restorative approach helps schools move away from cycles of punishment and toward a culture where conflicts are resolved constructively, harm is repaired, and everyone feels supported and included. 

This doesn’t mean that traditional discipline or consequences are abandoned! It’s not one or the other. Restorative practices can be used alongside a disciplinary response. 

What Does Restorative Practices Training Entail?

Restorative practices training equips administrators, educators, staff, students, and even families with the tools, strategies, and mindset to apply a restorative approach effectively. At Collaborative School Culture (CSC), our training covers:

Philosophy and Mindset: Understanding the core principles of restorative justice in schools and how they differ from traditional punitive approaches.

Key Tools and Strategies: Training includes practical strategies like restorative conversation scripts for students, affective statements, and structured processes like restorative circles.

Practical Application: Educators practice communication strategies, including how to start a restorative conversation with a student or colleague, and how to address real-life scenarios.

Integration into Systems: Participants learn how to embed Restorative Practices into PBIS frameworks, behavioral flowcharts, and school-wide procedures.

Our training is special because we have many years of experience deeply implementing Restorative Practices in classrooms, in specialized settings, in school buildings, and across large districts. People that attend our trainings tell us how much they appreciate the applicable examples..it makes a difference. 

What Are the 5 Steps of Restorative Practices?

Restorative Practices follow a simple yet powerful five-step framework to guide educators in addressing harm and building relationships: 

Calm Self: 

Pause and breathe. Before engaging, manage your emotions so you can respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively.

Calm Other: 

De-escalate the situation by helping the other person feel heard and validated using strategies to regulate and relate.

Reflect: 

Consider the root causes of the conflict, the feelings involved, and the impact on all parties. Reflection allows for a deeper understanding of what’s needed.

Repair: 

Collaborate to repair the harm. This might involve using restorative questions to guide the conversation or determining appropriate amends.

Plan: 

Develop a clear path forward including adjustments to prevent future issues and provide the support needed for everyone involved.

What Are Some Examples of Restorative Practices in Schools? 

Examples of Restorative Practices range from proactive community-building routines to structured responses for repairing harm. These practices are not just used by staff but by students. They can be used to strengthen staff culture too. 

Some examples of Restorative Practices or Restorative Justice in schools:

Circles: 

Circles can be used for various purposes, such as community building, academic discussions, check-ins, or responsive conversations to address harm. For instance, a teacher might use a responsive circle to set norms and expectations at the start of the year, allowing students to share their wishes and engage in agreements. 

Restorative Conversations: 

These slightly structured conversations use Restorative Questions to guide students or colleagues through reflecting on their actions, understanding their impact, and deciding on steps to make amends.

Peer Mediation: 

Trained student mediators help their peers resolve conflicts, promoting accountability and empathy.

Classroom Re-Entry Plans: 

After a suspension or removal, students participate in restorative conversations to reintegrate into the classroom community.

By embedding these practices into existing frameworks like PBIS or classroom management protocols, schools create a consistent, supportive environment that encourages accountability and collaboration.

The Importance of Relevant Restorative Practices Training

The success of a restorative approach starts with (and depends on) high-quality, relevant training tailored to the needs of educators and schools. Implementing Restorative Practices requires more than just understanding the concepts and tools—it’s about practicing and modeling these strategies in real-world contexts.

Merely attending a “sit & get” training or watching asynchronous videos on Restorative Practices is unlikely to lead to meaningful change. Implementation research as explored in Implementation Research: A Synthesis of the Literature by Fixsen et al., highlights that without practice, role play, and ongoing support like modeling and coaching, new practices often fail to take hold in schools. For instance, studies suggest that without consistent modeling, coaching, and feedback, implementation rates remain as low as 14%. Training that involves active participation, role-playing, and ongoing support significantly improves the likelihood of success.

At CSC, our training sessions are designed to be practical and engaging, helping educators feel confident and equipped to integrate restorative practices into their daily routines

Adopting a restorative approach isn’t just about fixing problems—it’s about creating a culture where relationships thrive, conflicts are addressed constructively, and staff and students feel a sense of belonging and accountability. Whether you’re just starting or looking to deepen your restorative practices, CSC can guide you every step of the way. 

Contact us to learn more about our training options and resources to help get your school started!