Restorative Practices

Educators across the country are replacing punitive discipline with a restorative approach, resulting in fewer suspensions and expulsions. Learn how educators make these practices successful in their classrooms and schools.

Sort by:
Recommended
  • An Alternative to Punitive Discipline That Really Holds Students Accountable

    True restorative practices call on students to repair what they’ve damaged and earn forgiveness from those they’ve harmed.
    Jeffrey Benson
    745

    Your content has been saved!

    Go to My Saved Content.
  • An Administrator’s Strategy for Calming Disruptive Students so They Can Stay in Class

    When an administrator is called in to deal with a disruptive student, the situation is serious. This is a model for helping the student calm down so they can remain in class.
    8.1k

    Your content has been saved!

    Go to My Saved Content.
  • Weekly Circles for Students and Faculty

    See what happens when students and faculty participate in regular meetings to build trust and promote deeper learning.
    20.1k

    Your content has been saved!

    Go to My Saved Content.
  • 3 Alternatives to Assigning Detention

    Developing relationships with students to help them make positive choices requires planning and patience, but the work pays off.
    5.7k

    Your content has been saved!

    Go to My Saved Content.
  • In the multipurpose room, a large group of middle school students fill one side of the bleachers, some clapping.

    Restorative Justice: Resources for Schools

    Explore resources and case studies that demonstrate how to bring restorative justice to your school or classroom.
    17.7k

    Your content has been saved!

    Go to My Saved Content.
  • A Relationship-Driven Strategy for Addressing Challenging Behavior

    Putting relationships first can yield positive results in student success.
    4.2k

    Your content has been saved!

    Go to My Saved Content.
  • Building Community With Restorative Circles

    A technique for proactively building the skills and relationships students will need when challenges arise.
    11.9k

    Your content has been saved!

    Go to My Saved Content.
  • An Alternative to In-School Suspension

    In lieu of a more punitive approach, students use restorative practices to resolve conflicts and reflect on their behaviors.
    11.2k

    Your content has been saved!

    Go to My Saved Content.
  • Using Restorative Communication as a Classroom Management Tool

    By avoiding communication blockers, teachers can help students talk through disruptive behavior in the classroom.
    910

    Your content has been saved!

    Go to My Saved Content.
  • Using Restorative Justice to Transform School Culture

    When restorative justice is implemented on a schoolwide level, it has the potential to transform relationships between teachers and students.
    3.6k

    Your content has been saved!

    Go to My Saved Content.
  • Why Restorative Practices Benefit All Students

    Punitive discipline can be harmful and unfair—restorative practices offer hopeful solutions.
    12.4k

    Your content has been saved!

    Go to My Saved Content.
  • Justice Committee: Using Restorative Practices to Resolve Conflicts

    Students at Pittsfield Middle High School are trained to mediate conflicts between their fellow students—and between students and teachers.
    11k

    Your content has been saved!

    Go to My Saved Content.
  • A Proactive Approach to Discipline

    Restorative discipline seeks to create an environment in which problem behavior is less likely to occur.
    7.8k

    Your content has been saved!

    Go to My Saved Content.
  • Using Student Listening Circles to Promote Self-Advocacy in Middle and High School

    A practice associated with restorative justice can be used outside of that context to help students find their voice.
    285

    Your content has been saved!

    Go to My Saved Content.
  • Suspensions Don’t Teach

    Restorative practices—an alternative to punitive justice—keep kids in school, where they can learn how their behavior affects others.
    7.4k

    Your content has been saved!

    Go to My Saved Content.

Follow Edutopia

  • facebook icon
  • twitter icon
  • instagram icon
  • youtube icon
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
George Lucas Educational Foundation
Edutopia is an initiative of the George Lucas Educational Foundation.
Edutopia®, the EDU Logo™ and Lucas Education Research Logo® are trademarks or registered trademarks of the George Lucas Educational Foundation in the U.S. and other countries.