“Raise your words, not voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder." -Rumi
Why Circles @ EHS?
- By implementing Circles school wide, we are working towards creating a common culture that values collaboration, risk-taking, respect, openness and honesty
- Maintaining the shape of the circle is integral to developing a sense of equality (equal seating), trust (nothing is hidden), responsibility (everyone has a role to play), facilitation (facilitate, not lecture), and connection (everyone listens to everyone else)
- Circle norms, when developed together, create a sense of shared responsibility for the classroom at all times (not just during circles)
- Developing a sense of community through Community and Academic Circles will enable us to facilitate more open dialogue in Restorative Circles and will create a more safe and inclusive space in the classroom
- Once a sense of community has been established, using Restorative Circles to problem solve issues in the classroom will foster understanding and repair harm
Goals of Community-Building Circles:
Students, Teachers, and Classroom Community
Students
- Students will develop and enhance positive and supportive connections with peers.
- Students will learn how to participate in circle dialogues, including the four circle guidelines.
- The classroom community will have established agreements about how to participate in circle.
- Community members will share a sense of responsibility for maintaining agreements and many members will do so proactively during circle time and at other times, including out-of-classroom time.
- There will be high participation by students in circle dialogues, with little or no passing.
