From Skeptic to Circle Keeper: A Real Teacher’s First Step into Restorative Practices

This blog post was crafted in collaboration with ChatGPT4o.

Mrs. Kline had been teaching third grade for eight years. She ran a tight ship. Her classroom was organized, her lessons well-paced, and she had a sixth sense for when behavior was about to spiral. But lately, things had been different. More emotional outbursts. More shut-downs. Less connection.

When her school started offering training on restorative practices—specifically, community-building circles—Mrs. Kline was curious, but skeptical. “I already do morning meetings,” she thought. “Do I really need another thing to manage?”

Her colleagues raved about circles. “It’s changed the way my students talk to each other,” one said. Another added, “They solve problems on their own now!” Mrs. Kline wasn’t so sure. Still, when her principal offered release time to try a few, she agreed.

Her first circle felt awkward. A few kids wouldn’t share. Others joked too much. But she kept going—once a week at first, then twice. Weeks passed before she saw a shift. One Monday, a quiet student opened up about missing his dad. Instead of teasing, the class responded with empathy. Mrs. Kline blinked back tears.

By November, she noticed fewer discipline referrals. The students handled group work better. One day, after a disagreement at recess, a student asked, “Can we circle up about it?”

Mrs. Kline wasn’t sure the moment she believed in circles. It was a slow, quiet unfolding. But by winter break, it was clear: circles weren’t just about behavior. They were about belonging. They gave every student a voice, not just the loudest ones. And they gave her a new way to lead—not just from the front of the room, but from within the circle.

If you’re on the fence, start small. Try this circle prompt tomorrow:
"What’s something you’ve learned about yourself this year (or summer or semester, etc)?"
No perfect script, no need to fix anyone’s problems—it’s about showing up and truly just listening to your students and encouraging them to listen with their hearts as well.

Sometimes, the biggest breakthroughs start in a circle.