Curated resources to help schools adopt and integrate restorative approaches throughout their organizations
Recommended Books
- Evans, K., & Vaandering, D. (2022) The Little Book of Restorative Justice in Education: Fostering Responsibility, Healing and Hope in Schools. Revised Edition. Good Books.
- Amstutz, L. S., & Mullet, J. H. (2015). The little book of restorative discipline for schools: Teaching responsibility; creating caring climates. Good Books.
- Wachtel, T. (2013). Defining Restorative. International Institute for Restorative Practices.
- Mirsky, L., (2011, May 26). Restorative practices: Whole-School change to build safer, saner school communities. IIRP News.
- Hansberry, B.(2016) A Practical Introduction to Restorative Practice in Schools: Theory, Skills and Guidance. Jessica Kingsley Publishers
- Zehr, H. (2015) Changing Lenses: Restorative Justice for Our Times. 25th Anniversary Edition. Herald Press.
- Braithwaite, J. (1989) Crime, Shame and Reintegration. Cambridge University Press
Quick Video Intros
- Video: Introduction to Restorative Approaches by Luke Roberts of Resolve Consultants
- Introduction to Restorative Justice by School Talk DC
- What is Restorative Practices in Schools? 5 Minute Description By Laura Mooiman
- Restorative Justice Initiative (2017) There's More Than One Side to Every Story, YouTube video New York City Schools explains restorative approaches and why they use them in NYC Public Schools
- Restorative Resources--Restorative Justice in Schools overview of RA in Santa Rosa CA schools and youth-serving community
Introductory Articles
- Skiba, R. J. & Losen, D. J. (Winter 2015-2016). From reaction to prevention: turning the page on school discipline. American Educator.
- Restorative Practices Working Group. (2014, March) Restorative Practices: Fostering healthy relationships and promoting positive discipline in schools. Advancement Project, American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association, and Scott Foundation for Public Education
- Klevan, S. (2021, October) Building Positive School Climate Through Restorative Practices Research Brief; Learning Policy Institute
- Fong, L., & Kugbo, L. (2018, June 9). Schools Resolve Conflicts By Getting Kids To Talk Things Out. PBS News Hour Weekend. This video highlights the positive impact some New York City Schools are seeing with restorative justice. (7:46 minutes)
Tool Kits/Useful Guides
- Public Counsel. (2017) Fix School Discipline: Toolkit for educators.
- Restorative Practice Consortium, Ontario, Canada; Restorative Practice Resource Project: Tools and Successful Practices for Restorative Schools comprehensive manual with tools for every aspect of restorative approaches in schools by Canada's IIRP affiliate
- We Are Teachers Staff, What Teachers Need to Know About Restorative Justice, published Sept. 22, 2022 on WeAreTeachers.com
- Webinar: Grochal, B. S., & Drew, C., (2020, December 15). MSDE and C-DRUM restorative approaches collaborative launch. YouTube. MSDE announces the collaboration with C-DRUM in promoting restorative approaches in Maryland schools.
Quick Views
- Restorative Resources. (2013, April 19). Restorative justice in schools. YouTube. School suspensions and RJ have different messages and focus. Video about building relationships, teachers talking, mixed with facts in power point. High School students talking about their experiences and the different outcomes – focus on healing and accountability. (10:46 minutes).
- The “Why” of Restorative Practices in Spokane Public Schools by Spokane Public Schools
- Restorative Justice Initiative (2017) What is Your Vision for Restorative Justice in 20 Years? YouTube Video interviews RJ Practitioners in New York City Schools
- Restrictions on Suspending Students From School Show Evidence of Being Effective
Studies/Reports
- Gardner, T. W. (2016) Discipline Over Punishment: Successes and Struggles with Restorative Justice in Schools. Rowman & Littlefield
- Smith, D., Fisher, D., Frey, N. (2015) Better Than Carrots or Sticks: Restorative Practices for Positive Classroom Management. ASCD.
- Saufler, C. (2011). School climate, the brain and connection to school [Conference paper].
- Tull, A. (2014, February 24). Maryland schools using conflict resolution to curb bullying, suspensions. WAMU 88.5.
Books & Webinar
- Maynard, N., & Weinstein, B. (2019) Hacking School Discipline: 9 Ways to Create a Culture of Empathy and Responsibility Using Restorative Justice. International Institute for Restorative Practices.
- Webinar: Grochal, B. S., & Drew, C. (2021, April 14). Why Restorative Approaches? YouTube. (1 hour 30 minutes). The program highlights the reasoning "Why Restorative Approaches" makes sense for Maryland schools today. The discussion considers brain research, special needs students, alignment with tiered systems of supports and SEL, and disproportionality.
- Riestenberg, N. (2008). Applying the framework: Positive youth development and restorative practices. Journal of Youth Development, 3(1).
Maryland's Historic Move to Adopt Restorative Approaches in Education
- Maryland School to Prison Pipeline Commission Final Report
- Maryland School to Prison Pipeline Commission Background Readings that helped inform their findings
- Maryland Law HB 1287 established the School to Prison Pipeline Commission and offers definitions
- Maryland School to Prison Pipeline Commission Members
- Webpage: International Institute for Restorative Practices School Resources—Integrating Related Evidence-Based Strategies
- Webpage: International Institue for Restorative Practices School Resources—From the Media
- Fronius, T., Darling-Hammond, S.. Persson, H., Guckenburg, S., Hurley,N., Petrosino, A. (2019, March) Restorative Justice in US Schools: An Updated Research Review; WestEd Justice & Prevention Research Center
- Phillips, D.,Hutchison, J., Martin, A., Castle, S., Johnson A.,The Tulsa SEED Study Team# (2022) First do no harm: How teachers support or undermine children’s self-regulation Study on early childhood self-regulation response to punitive discipline; Early Childhood Research Quarterly
- Gomez,J., Rucinski, C., Higgins-D’Alessandro, A. (2021)Promising pathways from school restorative practices to educational equity, Journal of MoralEducation, 50:4, 452-470, DOI: 10.1080/03057240.2020.1793742
- Schertzing, N. (2022, Sept. 27) Comments for RA in Education Panel Discussion Hosted by University of Maryland School of Social Work includes live links to various studies
Baltimore City, Maryland
- Open Society Institute -Baltimore Restorative Practices in Baltimore City Public Schools
- Open Society Institute-Baltimore & Baltimore City Public Schools. (2018). Baltimore City Public Schools restorative practices report.
- Baltimore City Public Schools. (2018). School climate. Vimeo. This video highlights Baltimore County Public School's work in introducing restorative practices in their school communities. (3:09 minutes)
Oakland, California
- Oakland Unified School District Brief Whole-School Restorative Justice Implementation Guide (2 pages)
- Oakland Unified School District's Discipline Matrix which integrate restorative approaches
Lansing, Michigan
Nation-wide Examples
- Office of Social & Emotional Learning at Chicago Public Schools (July 18, 2014) A Restorative Approach to Discipline Office of Social & Emotional Learning at Chicago Public Schools. YouTube. A video featuring educators and students’ experiences with restorative discipline and the culture change it has fostered in their schools (5:02 minutes).
- Take Note/ How Kansas City Schools are Using a Restorative Justice Approach to Discipline by Kansas City PBS
- Mendel, R., Back-to-School Action Guide: Rengaging Students and Closing the School-to-Prison Pipeline (2021) The Sentencing Project
- Alameda County Health Care Services Agency School Health Services Coalition. (2011). Restorative justice: A working guide for our schools.
Elementary
- Kreite, R. (2002) The Morning Meeting Book. Northeast Foundation for Children, Inc
- Powhatan Elementary (2017, February 16) Restorative Practice with Ms. Healy’s Class. YouTube. This video shows first graders running and participating in circle to address an issue between classmates.
- Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) Restorative Justice Elementary Tool Kit
- Central Michigan Restorative Justice. (2009, July 21). Restorative Justice: It’s Elementary. YouTube. This video contrasts a punitive approach to a restorative approach at the elementary level in Lansing, Michigan, with an emphasis on developing social emotional skills. (5:23 minutes).
Special Education
- Thorsborne, M., & Burnett, N. (2015) Restorative Practice and Special Needs: A Practical Guide to Working Restoratively with Young People. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
- Article: Laird, L. (2019, July 24). Students of color with disabilities are being pushed into the school-to-prison pipeline, study finds. ABA Journal.
Secondary
- Lieber, C.M. (2009) Getting Classroom Management Right: Guided Discipline and Personalized Support in Secondary Schools. Engaging Schools.
- Restorative Justice at Oakland’s Fremont High by EdSource
- Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) Peer Restorative justice Program Guide
- International Institute for Restorative Practices Graduate School. (2009, June 25). The transformation of West Philadelphia High School: A story of hope. YouTube. Teachers and students talk about their experiences and the great results using RJ circles. This video includes interviews with staff and students of West Philadelphia High School, which was on Pennsylvania's "Persistently Dangerous Schools" list for six years, but has improved immensely, due to strong administrative leadership and the implementation of restorative practices. (9:04 minutes).
- Freeman, C. (2011, May 27). Introducing restorative justice for Oakland youth.YouTube.
The nonprofit organization Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth underscores the shift from punitive to restorative in this segment focused on urban high school youth at McClymonds High School in Oakland. (7:40 minutes). - Wide Angle Productions. (n.d.). Second chances: school profiles. Vimeo. A video highlighting the successful implementaiton of restorative practices in Baltimore's City Springs Elementary-Middle School. (10:43 minutes).
- International Institute for Restorative Practices Graduate School. (2009, May 6). From hostility to harmony. A group of teenage girls in Albany, New York, had recently fought each other in a violent brawl. The International Institute for Restorative Practices videotaped a facilitated restorative circle involving the girls (friends since childhood), their family members and supporters. This short film telescopes the remarkable transformation that takes place as all individuals in the circle are given a chance to freely express their feelings about what happened between them. (4:30 minutes).
- Central Michigan Restorative Justice. (2008, September 8). Restorative justice introduction. YouTube. Overview of the circle. When a high school football player in Lansing, Michigan finds himself in a serious conflict, restorative conferencing provides a mechanism all concerned to address accountability, empathy, respect and justice. (5:45 minutes).
Higher Ed
- Karp, D., & Armour, M. (2019) The Little Book of Restorative Justice for Colleges and Universities: Repairing Harm and Rebuilding Trust in Response to Student Misconduct. 2nd Edition. Good Books.
- Miller, N. for RJ at MSU. (June 2, 2011) Restorative Justice at Michigan State University. Vimeo. A video sharing the experiences and stories of students and Residence Life professionals describing restorative justice and how they apply it at MSU (6:45 Minutes).
- Robin McNair: My Restorative Journey to Becoming a Restorative Educator
- Robin McNair & Dana Coles: Restorative Approaches Transforming Systems and Lives
- Robin McNair & Alontae Elliott: Restorative Approaches as a Catalyst for Change in the Classroom
- Robin McNair & Dwanna Nicole: Restorative Relationships Create Community in Schools and Homes
- Robin McNair & Kathy Rockefeller: Criminal Justice to Restorative Justice
Guidance from Marg Thorsborne, Australia
- Webinar: Thorsborne, M. & C-DRUM. (2021, February 23). The stickiness factor: Embedding restorative practices in school communities. YouTube. International expert Marg Thorsborne discusses the challenges of committing to and sustaining a schoolwide restorative climate.
- Thorsborne, M., & Blood, P. (2013) Implementing Restorative Practices in Schools. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
- Blood, P., & Thorsborne, M. (2005). The challenge of culture change: Embedding restorative practice in schools [Conference paper].
- Thorsborne, M. (n.d.). The Restorative School Survey [Worksheet]. For use in the implementation of the whole-school approach to restorative practices.
- Thorsborne, M., Riestenberg, N., & McCluskey, G. (2018) Getting More Out of Restorative Practice in Schools: Practical Approaches to Improve Wellbeing and Strengthen Community Engagement. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Baltimore-Area Experts
- Webinar: Grochal, B. S., & Drew, C. (2021, April 28). Engaging leadership, building infrastructure to support restorative approaches. YouTube. The one hour virtual chat provides local school system and school leaders with information regarding what is needed to build infrastructure to support restorative approaches in Maryland schools
- Abramson, L., Grochal, B. S., Johnson, T., & Rockefeller, K. (n.d.). Implementing Restorative Practices (RP) in Schools (implementation science guidelines) [Tipsheet].
- Open Society Institute-Baltimore. (2020, September). Restorative practices in Baltimore City schools: research updates and implementation guide.
- Eisenberg, D. T., Smith, A. W., Webber, K., & Hornbeck, M. (2020, November 18). Building a restorative school district: A discussion of lessons from recent research. YouTube. Featuring C-DRUM's Deborah Thompson Eisenberg and Anastasia Watson Smith along with Karen Webber, Director of Education and Youth Development, Open Society Institute-Baltimore, and Matt Hornbeck, Principal, Hampstead Hill Academy.
- Webinar: McNair, R., & C-DRUM. (2021, March 30). The restorative classroom and beyond. YouTube. With Robin McNair, restorative approaches coordinator for Prince George's County Public Schools.
Minnesota Resources
- Riestenberg, N. (2012). Circle in the square: Building community and repairing harm in school. 1st edition. Living Justice.
- MN DoEd Restorative Planning Guiding Questions, Curiosities and Commitments for Implementation PDF(3)
- MN Dept. of Ed. Webpage with resources for Implementing Restorative Practices
- MN Department of Education Restorative Practices School Implementation Guidance (January 3, 2020). This 15-page document offers schools a systematic approach for integrating restorative approaches throughout learning communities to grow a restorative mindset, build community and repair relationships
- Brown, M.A. (2018) Creating Restorative Schools: Setting Schools Up to Succeed. Living Justice Press.
International Institute for Restorative Practices
- Costello, B., Wachtel, J., & Wachtel, T. (2019) The Restorative Practices Handbook for Teachers, Disciplinarians and Administrators. 2nd Edition. International Institute for Restorative Practices.
- Costello, B., Wachtel, J., & Wachtel, T. (2009). The Restorative practices handbook: For teachers, disciplinarians and administrators. International Institute for Restorative Practices
- International Institute for Restorative Practices. (2014). Improving school climate, evidence from schools implementing restorative practices.
- International Institute for Restorative Practices Restorative Questions Cards
- Webpage: International Institue for Restorative Practices School Resources from various states
- WebPage: International Institue for Restorative Practices' School Resources—Guides for Implementation webpage
Tools from C-DRUM
- Restorative Practices Planning: What Approach Fits Your School/District?
- C-DRUM. (2014). Restorative Practices Initial Planning Questions [Worksheet].
- Restorative Practices SWOT Planning.
- C-DRUM. (June 7, 2022). Restorative Approaches Landscape Summary [PDF Slides]. Restorative Approaches Collaborative.
- Restorative Resources.com Educator Toolkit features a variety of resources organized by type of use
- Baltimore Community Schools Implementation Guide
- Davis, Matt; Restorative Justice Resources for Schools, Updated October 29, 2015, Article published by Edutopia.com, Useful online resources for integrating RA into school practices and culture.
- Restifo, Dianah; Best Restorative Justice Practices and Sites for Educators: Best practices, resources, guides, sites, and more for implementing restorative justice in schools, published August 24, 2021, on Tech & Learning Tools and Ideas to Transform Education
- Webinar: Yusem, D., Restorative Practices to Build and Maintain Classroom Culture in a Virtual World (2021)
- Pointer, L., McGoey, K., & Farrar, H. (2020) The Little Book of Restorative Teaching Tools: Games, Activities and Simulations for Understanding Restorative Justice. Good Books
- McCammon, B. (2020) Restorative Practices at School: An Educator’s Guided Workbook to Nurture Professional Wellness, Support Student Growth and Build Engaged Classroom Communities. Ulysses Press.
- Thorsborne, M. (n.d.). How restorative am I? [Worksheet].
- Mikaelsen, B. (2001) Touching Spirit Bear. Harper Collins. Is a great adventure young adult novel written around one youth's restorative justice experience
- Mikaelsen, B. (2008) Ghost of Spirit Bear. Harper Collins contiunes the story of a youth after he returns from his restorative justice experience and reenters his high school