TeachWell uses Restorative Practices as the foundation of our work in order to establish group norms and agreements, which facilitate dialogue and create a trusting and supportive environment. Participants share their individual stories and make connections with their collective experience.
Restorative Practices (RP) is an emerging social science that studies how to strengthen relationships between individuals, as well as social connections within communities. Restorative practices is a set of principles and practices based on equity, inclusion, and social capital, which aims to strengthen relationships in the context of community. For example, TeachWell sessions are run as community circles for educators with established agreements for equitable dialogue and a variety of opportunities for participants to share their experiences and hear the experiences of other educators. We believe that educators need the support of their peer community in order to feel more resilient and be more effective in the classroom. Ref
“Staff come into the group tired and oftentimes, overwhelmed. Everyone took initiative to grow together and be intentional with each other. This was an incredible experience and I am proud to have been a part of it.”