Hector Molina (530)

What is “Climate” It’s our inner-baramoter of safety and belonging It’s based on our “gut” feeling Everyone can feel it It influences how we behave and whether or not we chose to engage (And we an consciously influence it…

Activity 1 Get with a partner Person with longest hair starts(T1) T1 tells partner their full name T1 tells them history behind his/her name Be ready to share information Extension: Where born, Kinder talks to mom/dad about why they were given that name

What creates “Safety” SAFETY Familiarity Trust Connectedness

Three Things To Teaching Success Welcomed ? Safe ? Included ?

School Climate The Inside-Out Approach Relationship Focused Student Centered Formative/Restorative Focusing on changing social norms

Positive School Climate Impact Increase student retention and academic achievement Renews focus on teaching and learning Decrease bullying Decrease fighting Decrease antisocial behavior Engenders trust and sense of safety

Positive School Climate Characteristics Students, staff members and parents feel – and are – safe, included and accepted. All members of the school community demonstrate respect, fairness and kindness in their interactions, and build healthy relationships that are free from discrimination and harassment. Students are encouraged and given support to be positive leaders and role models in their school community; for example, by speaking up about issues such as bullying. Students, principals, staff members, parents and community members engage in open and ongoing dialogue. All partners are actively engaged. Principles of equity and inclusive education are embedded across the curriculum. Strategies for bullying prevention and intervention and awareness-raising are reinforced for students and staff. The learning environment, instructional materials, and teaching and assessment strategies reflect the diversity of all learners. Every student is inspired and given support to succeed in an environment of high expectations.

Strategies to Enhance School Climate Build Relationships Minimize and manage conflicts Prevent bullying and victimization Support Adults Promote autonomy

Definition of Restorative Justice Restorative Justice is a process to involve, to the extent possible, those who have a stake in a specific offense and to collectively identify and address harms, needs, obligations, in order to heal and put things as right as possible.” Howard Zehr, 2002

Restorative discipline Recognizes the purpose of the misbehavior Addresses the needs of those harmed Works to put things right Aims to improve the future Seeks to heal Uses the collaborative process

Misbehavior defined as breaking school rules or letting the school down. Misbehavior defined as harm (emotional/ mental/physical) done to one person/group by another. Focus is on what happened and establishing blame or guilt. Focus on problem-solving by expressing feelings and needs and exploring how to address problems in the future. Adversarial relationship and process. Includes an authority figure with the power to decide on penalty, in conflict with wrongdoer. Dialogue and negotiation, with everyone involved in the communication and cooperation with each other. Imposition of pain or unpleasantness to punish and deter/prevent. Restitution as a means of restoring both parties, the goal being reconciliation and acknowledging responsibility for choices. Attention to rules and adherence to due process. Attention to relationships and achievement of a mutually desired outcome. Conflict/wrongdoing represented as impersonal and abstract; individual versus school. Conflict/wrongdoing recognized as interpersonal conflicts with opportunity for learning. One social injury compounded by another.Focus on repair of social injury/damage. School community as spectators, represented by member of staff dealing with the situation; those directly affected uninvolved and powerless. School community involved in facilitating restoration; those affected taken into consideration; empowerment. Accountability defined in terms of receiving punishment. Accountability defined as understanding impact of actions, taking responsibility for choices, and suggesting ways to repair harm. Punitive vs. Restorative

Creating Supportive Rules with Students Invite students to reflect Invite students to collaboratively brainstorm Frame the rules in the positive Condense the list to a few global rules Celebrate, share, and display rules Refer to the rules to hold students/staff accountable Encourage students to hold the community accountable for the rules Revisit the rules periodiocally

Increasing Parent Involvement Make it easy for parents to participate Locate some meetings and activities off-site Offer classes and workshops for parents based on their interests Offer opportunities for community to “cross-pollinate” Be creative with event scheduling Implement programs that help parents and children process anger constructively Encourage resource sharing Send reliable, timely communication to parents and school staff Make lasting connections Make your school a multi-service site