Spring City-Wide Workshop: Restorative Communication and Conflict Resolution

Date: April 21 and 22,  2025 (Two Day Session)

Location: TBD

Target Audience: Administrators, Teachers, School Staff, Behavioral Support

Description: While restorative practices are often associated with formal circles and conferences that occur a few times a week or as needed, restorative communication can be utilized daily to build relationships and resolve conflicts and serve as the foundation for creating a restorative culture of care and respect. This two-day workshop will help educators and youth workers recognize how the language used in difficult or disciplinary conversations can sometimes undermine intended outcomes, contradict core values, and create disconnection with youth, peers, and colleagues. We will focus on specific communication skills that are essential and to the typical restorative questions and conflict-resolution processes.

By using a restorative de-escalation process, participants will learn how intentional connection and other techniques reduce conflict and harm. Participants will leave with practical tools and strategies to build transformative relationships with students.

Workshop Objectives:

• Responsive Circle Process:  Review the parts of the responsive circle process from identifying participants to facilitating conversations and writing agreements.
• Reasons for Conflict: Reflect on reasons for conflict that are not obvious and identify ways to use restorative communication to recognize causes that are beneath the surface.
• Use of Restorative Communication: Practice and evaluate your understanding of when and how to effectively and intentionally employ restorative communication to de-escalate conflict.
• Agreement Writing:  Engage in the process of helping students or staff participate in writing agreements to prevent conflict from recurring.

PLUs Awarded: 6

PLU Registration Link: https://osse.pl.powerschool.com/ia/empari/learning2/registration/presentRegistrationDetails/10836

RDC Registration Link: https://bit.ly/SY24_25CYRegister

PLUs
DC Public School and DC Public Charter School employees who are interested in receiving 6 PLUs for full participation in this course are asked to register for this course through OSSE’s new learning management system (LMS) platform. Educators can follow the instructions here to activate their account. Staff will only be able to receive 6 PLU’s by registering through the system. If you have issues or questions regarding the OSSE LMS registration, please contact Jessica Dulay via email at [email protected].

Accommodations
We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. Please indicate any reasonable accommodations that will allow you to participate in this event at least 3-5 days prior to start. Email us at [email protected] with any questions.