Presenter Info: Annie O’Shaughnessy, M.Ed in Mindfulness
Date: May 14, 2019 8:30 registration 9:00-3:30 light breakfast and lunch included
Includes: Resource Binder
Target Audience: All educators K-12
Although restorative practices have been used in schools in the U.S. for over 20 years, it has only recently experienced a big uptick in popularity. This is due in large part to the enthusiasm educators have brought to the movement based on the real, day-to-day benefits the practices bring to their lives. The dreaded task of “classroom management,” for example, transforms when we add structures for collaboration and processes to access student voice. Our stress decreases as we do things “with” students rather than “for” them or “to” them.
One of the most powerful things we can do to transform a school culture and climate is to shift the way we communicate that aligns with restorative principles, mindfulness, and trauma informed care. During our day together we will look at a model for restorative communication, share our own experiences, and practice what we’ve learned in real-life scenarios. Throughout the day we will explore how to use restorative communication to build relationships, respond to disruptive behavior, and collaborate in and out of the restorative circle process.
Achievable Outcomes:
- Examine and reflect on the theory and psychology that informs restorative communication.
- Learn and use the circle process to practice mindful presence and share our thoughts on restorative communication.
- Reflect on our own effective and ineffective default communication styles and those of the staff we work with.
- Explore and practice a mindfulness and trauma informed approach to restorative communication.
About our Presenter: Annie O’Shaughnessy has an M.Ed in Mindfulness for Educators, Level I & II Training in Modern Mindfulness, Level 1 & 2 Restorative Justice, CircleWork Leadership Training and Restorative Justice Summer Institute and has taught Mindfulness, Restorative Practices and Rites of Passage to K12 Educators.
Presenter Info: Annie O’Shaughnessy, M.Ed in Mindfulness
Date: May 17, 2019 8:30 registration 9:00-3:30 light breakfast and lunch included
Includes: Resource Binder
Target Audience: All educators K-12, Leaders, Behavior Coaches and Planning Room Teachers
The “Zero Tolerance” policies put into place in the 1990s to combat school violence, blossomed into rigid exclusionary discipline policies for many different student behaviors from tobacco, weapon, and drug possession to vandalism and disrespect. While suspension and expulsion rates rose, the policies did not have the intended effect of making schools safer and more supportive places to learn. In fact, as stated in Vermont’s Agency of Education resource book on restorative practices, “Trying to achieve safe school environments that promote learning through compliance and exclusion have been ineffective and such efforts have disproportionately negatively affected specific populations that are typically marginalized”.
The current popularity of restorative practices in schools has risen up out of the need for an alternative to exclusionary discipline policies. From the VT AOE guide: “Restorative approaches promote social engagement and connection (1) proactively to build community and connection (Tier I), (2) when things go wrong and relationship need repair (Tier II), and (3) when an individual needs more intensive support to feel a sense of belonging (Tier III). Research shows a clear connection between outcomes and students’ sense of connection, belonging, and being part of the school community”. This workshop explores Tier 2 processes—how to respond to harm in schools in a variety of restorative ways.
Achievable Outcomes:
- Examine how we know we are ready for Tier 2 work—when to proceed, when not to and why.
- Explore what is the right process and why—restorative “chat” or conversation, circle, conference.
- Practice and debrief all of three processes.
About our Presenter: Annie O’Shaughnessy has taught since 1990 in public, alternative and therapeutic settings. She pursued her M.Ed. in Mindfulness for Educators in 2016 and has taught in multiple settings, both workshops and classes throughout Vermont.
About our Presenter: Annie O’Shaughnessy has an M.Ed in Mindfulness for Educators, Level I & II Training in Modern Mindfulness, Level 1 & 2 Restorative Justice, CircleWork Leadership Training and Restorative Justice Summer Institute and has taught Mindfulness, Restorative Practices and Rites of Passage to K12 Educators.