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CircleUp toSupport
Circles help students prepare their minds and emotions
for learning, and reflect upon their behaviors and beliefs.
Circles foster strong relationships, which are the foundation
of effective learning environments. District 59 has a high
number of students who are experiencing poverty, major
societal stressors and fears, and trauma. Those experiences
often bring concerns about safety, cause students to see the
world in a very different way, and make transitions to and
from school increasingly difficult. The act of participating in
a circle at the beginning and end of the day in our schools
allows students to gain a sense of safety and presence in
their learning process, as well as successfully transition in
and out of potentially different settings and cultures.
Another barrier to learning in diverse settings can be
demographic divides. With both very serious and very silly
questions being asked in circles, students and teachers
uncover unexpected similarities that bring them together as
humans. The practice of student and teacher having equal
voice breaks down barriers caused by stereotypes, by fear,
and by society. Students safely learn about the experiences
of those who don’t look or sound like themselves. They find
that they hold common values with unexpected classmates.
Those shared values are the backbone upon which a
community is built. Outcomes of frequent circle discussion
are empathy, understanding, and respectful relationships. In
countless classrooms in District 59, teachers give testimony
to classroom climate and culture change as a result of
implementing circles. It becomes the norm for learners to
respect each other and function as a family, because a high
level of respect has been fostered purposefully each day.
CircleUp toTeach
Regardless of which methodology an educator subscribes to,
(peace circles, talking circles, restorative circles, community
circles, etc.) circles are rooted in the major emotional skill
competencies of self-awareness and social awareness.
Sharing about oneself demands use of self-awareness
skills such as identifying emotions, accurate self-perception,
recognizing strengths, self-confidence, and self-efficacy.
Listening to others allows for practicing social awareness
skills such as empathy, perspective-taking, appreciating
diversity, and respect for others. Each time a circle is held
a group is practicing, discussing, and/or reinforcing these
essential skills, giving opportunity to not only develop
relationship and community, but learn and refine social and
emotional skills. The benefits of regularly using circles to
increase social and emotional skill acquisition is astounding,
and that growth pervades all areas of education.
CircleUp to Improve Instruction
Circles have strong potential to build social and emotional
skills and support the emotional needs of learners, but
RestorativePractices
Restorative circles are part of a continuum of restorative
practices that range from less time intensive, informal
actions to very time intensive, formal approaches to
conflict. According to Costello, Wachtel, & Wachtel (2009),
“restorative” represents a school of thought that, “decisions
are best made and conflicts are best resolved by those
most directly involved in them” (p. 7). With student voice
and choice taking center stage, this philosophy is not only
timely, but best practice. Restorative circles are symbolic
gestures. They represent equity of voice, wholeness, and
inclusion. Circles are discussions in which participants have
equal opportunity to speak about themselves. No one is
more important than the next, and all people take ownership
and responsibility for themselves. Often circles are facilitated
by a “circle keeper” who poses a question and passes a
talking piece. The participants choose to hear each other,
seek to understand each other, and solve problems together.
Circles are unlimited in topics and purpose. In District 59,
circles have helped make daily connections and resulted in
increased learning and decreased office referrals in many
settings. Next, we will explore three purposes of circles in
the school setting: emotional support and connection, social
and emotional skill instruction, and improved instructional
practice across environments.
10
Circle
...
cont’d.