Restorative Classroom

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Recommended: Social emotional learning theory

"Teachers are the engine that drives social and emotional learning" (Schonert-Reichl, 2017, p. 137). In a restorative classroom, children and the relationships they form with their teachers and peers play an integral part. Together with their teacher, they create a set of guidelines where all agree to be held accountable. When dealing with student behavior, it is important to remember that the relationships you create with students are what encourage them to want to follow the rules (Boynton, & Boynton, 2005). Teaching is centered around relationships. Classroom management is essential in order to provide an effective learning environment. A well-run classroom has expectations and procedures where learning is always taking place. When …show more content…

A revealing study showed that teachers who did not buy into an SEL curriculum worsened the SEL development of their students (Schonert-Reichl & Zakrzewski, 2014). We need to ensure that teachers are offering communication, character building and emotional skills along with the academics to prepare children for life after high school and this begins in the early years. When children enter school without the SEL skills they need, they will struggle to learn academics but many early childhood educators claim that they do not have adequate training to help children develop these skills (McClelland, Tomminey, Schmitt, & Duncan, R. 2017). Once a supportive and caring environment is understood and created, children will be able to feel successful because "children who feel comfortable with their teachers and peers are more willing to grapple with challenging material and persist at difficult learning tasks" (Schonert-Reichl, 2017, p. 139). When used in conjunction, social emotional learning and restorative practices can help to create a safe and supportive climate where students are ready to take on the challenges of academics. "For years, schools have taught SEL skills with varying levels of intentionality. But today, more and more districts are supporting SEL as a focused strategy - not only for improving school climate and student engagement but also for improving student …show more content…

Empathy is one of the most important skills that can be practiced in the classroom and it can be done through social stories, proactive circles, setting positive examples and playtime. When children become aware of self and how they relate to others, they begin to develop friendships, manage and express emotions and learn how to deal with challenges which enable them to build a foundation that will continue to develop as they grow. "As preschoolers' social interactions increase in frequency and complexity, they must comprehend emotionally difficult social situations, set prosocial goals, and determine effective ways to solve differences with peers" (Denham, Bassett, Zinser & Wyatt, 2014, p. 6). As students learn to empathize, they develop respect for others, appreciate diversity and understand social and ethical norms which enable them to develop strong connections with friends and adults allowing them to thrive in a learning environment. Empathy is a part of human development that can be taught but when empathy is not modeled at home, it is up to educators to model and teach these prosocial behaviors because although studies have shown that children are born with the ability to be empathetic, it takes time and practice for it to develop (Sack,

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