135. Restorative Practices: Building a Culture of Kindness That Lasts

October might be over, but kindness shouldn’t be. In this week’s episode, I’m sharing how restorative practices can take your school from reactive to relational — and how simple daily routines can build a culture where students feel safe, seen, and supported.

Restorative practices aren’t about punishment; they’re about connection. When we focus on building relationships first, we prevent harm — and when harm does happen, we know how to repair it with empathy and understanding.

I’ll walk you through what this looks like at each tier — from morning greetings and check-ins to community circles and peer mediation programs — so you can start building a stronger sense of belonging right where you are.

In this episode, I share:

  • Simple ways to weave restorative practices into your daily routines
  • How to use greetings, check-ins, and circles to strengthen relationships
  • What each tier of restorative practice looks like in action
  • Why reflection, not punishment, leads to lasting behavior change
  • How connection and accountability go hand in hand

If you’ve been looking for a way to take your anti-bullying work beyond October, this episode will help you do just that — one greeting, one circle, one conversation at a time.

Because when we build connection into every day, kindness becomes who we are, not just what we do. 💛

Links Mentioned:

Community Circles Beginning Bundle

Community Circles Self-Awareness Bundle

Community Circles Self-Management Bundle

Community Circles Social-Awareness Bundle

Think Sheets


Grab the Show Notes: Counselingessentials.org/podcast


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