Education – RJ World

Teaching and learning after Covid

If you, like me, are struggling to imagine how teaching after the pandemic will look and feel like for both students and staff, you shall not be disappointed by this year’s RJ WORLD conference. No worries- many international speakers are there to give us some support and guidance in our pondering about the “new normal”…

Mark Goodwin, from the UK, will tell us how to reconnect after this experience, the mindset teachers need, and the learning kids can do. And more importantly, the relationships that need to be built (spoiler: restorative relationships). He will equip us with practical tools that “anybody working with young people can take away and use.”

Dr Belinda Hopkins, an author from the UK, will explain how a Whole School Approach can ease the anxiety of “returning to strange new environments facing guidelines that keep people at a distance, hidden behind masks, unable to socialise.” Together with Monika Alberti, she will present a package of resources designed by UK restorative practitioners to support the mental and emotional health of the whole school community at this time of crisis.

Laura Mooiman’s presentation will also be of interest for you. Especially if you are aware that the current pandemic is not the only crises that needed, needs or will need our response. Laura is interested in creating a positive school culture that can face “(…) crises including earthquake, multiple student suicides, Napa wildfires, and student protests.” For her, the PBIS model is the answer, but more of that in her talk…!

– Excited? Secure your tickets NOW here: RJ WORLD 2020 CONFERENCE TICKETS –

Teaching and learning after Covid?!

– Excited? Secure your tickets NOW here: RJ WORLD 2020 CONFERENCE TICKETS –

The disputed concept of (school-) culture

If you’re interested to learn about Australia’s initiatives to implement Restorative Practice in schools, have a look at the Real Schools Academy, and even better: Listen to the CEO Adam Voigt tackle the question “How do we work on the culture of a school if we’re not sure what it [culture] is?” *Psssst… his book Restoring Teaching will be launched soon… You can save your copy now!!! *

Margaret Thorsborne, who has a history of experience with implementing Restorative Practice in different schools and organisations in Australia, US, UK, South East Asia and New Zealand will shed light on the concept of “deep culture change”. Her presentation might be the perfect accompaniment to Adam Voigt and his exploration of the meaning of school culture. Additionally, Margaret offers some helpful tools to assess the “readiness” for the introduction of Restorative Practice initiatives, using a relational approach. More can be found here: Ready4RP. She will also share her key findings from her experiences supporting a variety of organisations in their efforts to acquire a restorative mindset.

Tom Shaw, a teacher, researcher and senior leader from the UK, is part of developing the Restore Our Schools Project. Curated by “a restorative collective of researchers, practitioners and school leaders”, stakeholders plan together for the return to the classrooms, playgrounds and corridors of schools. He will introduce the astonishing CMCS (Carr Manor Community School) model. This model bucks several local and national trends: “It has had zero permanent exclusions for 14 years, consistently has the lowest rate of fixed term exclusions in Leeds, high staff retention and the lowest staff absence for stress in Leeds. Pupils self-report higher than city-wide measures on the annual well-being survey”. Curious to find out what’s behind this magical model? Don’t miss his talk!

Three perspectives on school culture

Culture change starts in schools: Meet the international changemakers behind the movement

„Empathy: The heart of difficult conversations”

This is the first sentence you encounter on Michelle Stowe’s Website of the initiative she runs, called Connect RP. Michelle is one of our Irish presenters at the virtual conference RJ World 2020. More than 20 speakers from 7 different countries will be sharing their experience and insights around implementing Restorative Practices sustainably in the education sector. Speakers provide insight into primary schools, secondary schools and even beyond the bounds of the classroom! Check out Michelle’s Ted Talk to get a feel for the transformative potential of a restorative connection between students and teachers.

Gail Quigley, an Australian elementary school principle with a passion for social justice states: “I believe RJ is the golden ticket to overcoming inequality the world faces today!” In her presentation, she will explain how giving the children a voice in a mostly adult dominated environment obsessed with behaviourism, is necessary to create a just society. For her, and all our presenters on the topic of schools, schools are the place where future citizens are moulded. Thus, it is CRUCIAL to start in the classroom if we aim to see more positive relationships in our communities, families, workplace, organisations and all institutions.

Anna Gregory and Terence Bevington, both from the UK, will present their book chapter in Getting More Out of Restorative Practices in Schools. Anna and Terence explore the use of Restorative Practices through the lens of peacebuilding. Both presenters understand the progression of Restorative Practice as “something to help with behaviour management through to its potential to build culture.” Their talk is for everyone interested in how creative practices such as “Theatre of the Oppressed” help to create a “(…) culture of positive space”.

If you are interested in learning more about creativity and arts in the classroom, you will also LOVE Talma Shultz’s workshop. Talma is an experienced developer and facilitator of education programmes in the US, who integrates neuroscience, psychology, pedagogy and the arts grounded in equity and inclusion. The emphasis of her presentation is how to establish “creative arts as ways of knowing and being in community through circle.”

And also, check out our other posts about the topic “RESTORATIVE SCHOOLING”:
Restorative Practice in Schools- For, or beyond behaviour management?
The disputed concept of (school-) culture
Teaching and Learning after Covid?!