Summary of Circle Forward: Building a Restorative School Community, by Carolyn Boyes-Watson and Kay Pranis

Transform your school into a compassionate community with insights from 'Circle Forward.' Discover practical strategies for restorative practices today!

Welcome to the magical world of restorative practices in schools, where we learn that creating a "restorative school community" doesn't involve a field of daisies and singing birds, but rather a structured approach to resolving conflict and promoting compassion among students. That's right, folks! Circle Forward is your ultimate guide to keeping the peace-without needing to hire a battalion of juvenile delinquents to enact "restorative justice" through chaos.

First off, let's unpack what "restorative school community" actually means. Picture a place where conflicts are defiantly faced, rather than ignored like that pile of laundry in your room. The authors, Carolyn Boyes-Watson and Kay Pranis, take us through the steps of transforming the typical school environment into a harmonious utopia where feelings matter and everyone's invited to chime in. Spoiler alert: this approach actually works better than just scolding children and sending them to detention.

The book kicks off with a comprehensive introduction to restorative justice-not to be confused with your regular justice, which involves courts, judges, and a hefty amount of paperwork (and let's face it, no one wants to deal with that). Instead, restorative justice emphasizes repairing harm and restoring relationships, like a heartfelt apology after stepping on your friend's foot during a heated game of dodgeball.

Now, what's a "circle," you ask? No, not the one you drew in math class when you thought about lunch. In restorative practices, "circles" are methods of discussion that include everyone's voices. Think of it as a group therapy session without the awkward silences. Circles enable students and teachers to come together to discuss issues openly, share feelings, and usually laugh about how ridiculous life can be. This book provides plenty of tooling to master your inner facilitator-yes, that's right, your new calling may be leading groups like a pro.

As we dive deeper, Boyes-Watson and Pranis introduce us to various activities and strategies that can be employed in classrooms and school communities. They emphasize the importance of setting up the right environment-like making sure you have snacks at a party; who wants to talk about feelings on an empty stomach? It's all about creating trust! The authors sprinkle in anecdotes and real-life examples that demonstrate how this approach works wonders, especially when things go sideways (and let's be real, when don't they?).

Of course, they don't shy away from addressing the naysayers-the ones who think restorative practices are merely fluffy nonsense with no backbone. To those souls, they respond with solid evidence and research illustrating that when schools embrace restorative practices, astonishingly, they often see a drop in disciplinary issues. Shocker, right?

Throughout the pages, prepare for witty insights and a plethora of tips on convincing your school to hop on this restorative bandwagon. They're aiming for a full-throttle overhaul, where punitive measures take a back seat to building community. So, yes, this isn't just for the "troubled" kids! It's for everyone who yearns for a more connected, empathetic school environment.

In conclusion, Circle Forward isn't your average educational read-it's a manifesto for potentially changing school cultures from chaotic to compassionate. By the time you finish, you might just feel inspired to lead a circle of your own, armed with snacks, a talking piece (because obviously, everyone must hold it), and an arsenal of restorative practices.

So buckle up, educators, administrators, and curious readers: it's time to make school less about the rules and more about the relationships. Who knew being a full-on peacemaker could have its perks?

Maddie Page

Classics, bestsellers, and guilty pleasures-none are safe from my sarcastic recaps. I turn heavy reads into lighthearted summaries you can actually enjoy. Warning: may cause random outbursts of laughter while pretending to study literature.