Restorative Practices: Beyond Circles, Morgan-Puglisi, Spring 2023

Course Number:	EDU 5515 C20
Instructor:	Meaghan Morgan-Puglisi
Location:	Online using Zoom and Canvas
Dates and Times:	February 6 – May 15, 2023 Zoom meetings on the following dates/times: Monday, 6 February 3-6pm; Monday, 13 February 3-6pm; Monday, 6 March 3-6pm; Monday, 20 March 3-6pm; Monday, 3 April 3-6pm; Monday, 24 April 3-6pm; Monday, 8 May 3-6pm; Monday, 15 May 3-7pm
Credits:	3 Graduate Credits
Tuition:	$1,195

Course Description

Restorative Practices and full school restorative approaches have been gaining support in education across the country in recent years. With new Vermont legislation promoting alternatives to exclusionary discipline set to take effect soon, educators have identified a need for intentional, sustained implementation of these practices.

This course leads educators through the underlying philosophy of Restorative Practices and how to intentionally and sustainably implement Restorative Practices in their classrooms and schools. This course draws from the International Institute for Restorative Practices’ Restorative Practice for Educators curriculum in addition to other sources and approaches to present a comprehensive understanding of Restorative Practices. We will investigate how RP blends with already established systems, such as Responsive Classroom, PBIS, SEL, and trauma-informed practice, as well as possible pitfalls and areas of resistance. Participants will create a plan for implementation in their respective contexts and work to support each other in those efforts.

Audience: Administrators, school counselors, classroom teachers, school resource officers, paraeducators, and anyone who deals with students

Course Goals & Objectives

Course Goals:

Understand and apply the frameworks of Restorative Practices to a school
Create a plan for implementing Restorative Practices in one’s setting

Course Objectives:

Identify and explain Restorative Practices and the Restorative Practices continuum
Talk through the Social Discipline Window and explain how it relates to classroom practices and organizational change
Explain Fair Process and how it relates to classroom practices and organizational change
Explain how Restorative Practices can be implemented independently of or within existing frameworks
Identify pitfalls to implementation and possible areas of resistance
Make explicit Restorative Practices and approaches that have been implicit in one’s education practice
Learn how to facilitate proactive practices (Affective Language, Affective Questioning, Impromptu conversations, and proactive circles) to build community and promote a restorative mind shift
Facilitate Proactive Circles and utilize other proactive approaches in daily interactions with staff and students

Instructor

Meaghan Morgan-Puglisi, MAT, has taught high school math for eleven years. She is a Restorative Practices trainer through the International Institute of Restorative Practices and has been utilizing circles in her classroom since 2018.

Required Texts

Required Texts are not included in the course tuition.

Costello, Bob, et al. Restorative Circles in Schools: A Practical Guide for Educators. Second Edition. International Institute for Restorative Practices, 2019.

Evans, Katherine, and Dorothy Vaandering. The Little Book of Restorative Justice in Education: Fostering Responsibility, Healing, and Hope in Schools. Good Books, 2016.

Smith, Dominique, et al. Better than Carrots or Sticks: Restorative Practices for Positive Classroom Management. ASCD, 2015.

Other articles and chapters to be provided on Google Classroom.

For additional course information

mmorganpuglisi@vtnea.org
(240) 277.7877

For additional registration information

Center for Schools Team

(802) 468-1325