Agenda Attach - Rethink_Ed_SEL_and_Restorative_Practices_in_Schools 01.09.2025

       Restorative Practices in Schools: How Rethink Ed
        SEL Fosters a Positive, Healthy School Climate
    Research has shown that punitive disciplinary approaches that exclude students from their schools
    through out-of-school suspensions, expulsions, and referrals are counterproductive to creating a climate
    of safety, accountability, and fairness. On the other hand, research shows that restorative practices can
    transform student behavior and build healthier and safer school climates. In addition, restorative
    strategies have also been shown to improve relationships not only between students, educators and
    students, but also between educators themselves. Rethink Ed SEL and restorative practices share
    and promote the common goals of preventing problem behaviors, promoting positive discipline
    in schools and fostering healthy school climates through development of social and emotional
    learning (SEL) skills and constructive conflict resolution for all students and adult learners,
    including educators and support staff.

    WHAT ARE RESTORATIVE PRACTICES
    Restorative practices are processes that proactively build healthy relationships and a sense of
    community to prevent and address conflict and problem behaviors such as bullying and violence.
    According to the International Institute of Restorative Practices (IIRP), restorative practices promotes
    inclusiveness, relationship-building and problem-solving through restorative methods such as circles
    for teaching and conflict resolution to conferences that bring victims, offenders and their supporters
    together to address wrongdoing. For example, instead of punishment, a student who caused harm is
    encouraged to take responsibility for his or her behavior by addressing the individual(s) affected by the
    behavior. In order to understand how his or her behavior affected others and take actions to repair the
    relationship, the student must have SEL skills such as empathy, self-control, problem-solving and conflict
    resolution.

    THE RETHINK ED SEL STUDENT CURRICULUM
    The Rethink Ed SEL Student Curriculum is a comprehensive, research-based program for teaching social
    and emotional learning skills to all students PK-12 in both general education and special education
    classrooms. The program addresses SEL skills in 5 main categories: Awareness of Self and Others,
    Self-Management, Social Skills, Social Awareness and Self-Care. The 30 subtopics support a safe and
    positive school climate through the focus on pro-social skill acquisition as cultural competence,
    empathy, self-control, stress-management, problem solving, values and relationship building.
    These skills allow students to calm themselves, improve communication, build friendships, resolve
    conflicts respectfully, and make safe and ethical choices. Lessons and activities also address factors that
    contribute to the occurrence of bullying by taking a multi-pronged approach of meeting the learning
    needs of the bully, the bystanders and the victim. In addition, lessons in Safe and Ethical Behavior
    specifically address strategies to combat bullying and bring awareness and knowledge of the issue of
    bullying. Every lesson also comes with strategies for incorporating social and emotional learning into
    every academic area, throughout the school day and at home.




1        Rethink Ed | Social & Emotional Learning (SEL)
    THE RETHINK ED SEL TRAINING SERIES

    Research has shown that in order to effectively improve student outcomes and create a safe, inclusive
    and positive school climate, everyone must be involved. This includes educators, support staff, safety
    officers, bus drivers and families. The RethinkEd SEL Training Series consists of 30 video-based training
    modules designed to support and improve the social and emotional well-being of all adult learners as
    well as the tools needed to support the students’ social and emotional development. The self-paced
    series covers the social and emotional skills essential for promoting a positive school climate and
    effective conflict resolution.

    The topics covered in the Rethink Ed SEL Training Series mirror the topics addressed in student
    curriculum. This alignment, unique to RethinkEd SEL program, allows the teacher, school counselor or
    others implementing the student curriculum to be better prepared to teach the skills. The best teachers
    are always learners first, as they serve as role models for the social and emotional skills they want to see
    in their students.



                                       Rethink ED SEL Topics and Subtopics

       Awareness of        Self-Management          Social Skills       Social Awareness          Self-Care
       Self & Others
        Self-Knowledge         Self-Control            Fairness         Cultural Competence       Mindfulness


           Emotions         Stress Management          Respect               Empathy              Self-Efficacy


            Values                Focus               Friendship              Safe and             Optimism
                                                                          Ethical Behavior

       Wants and Needs       Problem Solving        Relationships         Support Systems       Self-Compassion


        Learning Skills        Goal Setting          Cooperation        Social Contributions     Self-Advocacy


        Growth Mindset          Resilience        Conflict Resolution       Actions and        Healthy Boundaries
                                                                           Consequences




2        Rethink Ed | Social & Emotional Learning (SEL)
    RETHINK ED SEL SUPPORTS RESTORATIVE PRACTICES
    The Rethink Ed SEL program not only shares the Restorative Practices goals of preventing problem behaviors, promoting positive discipline
    in schools and fostering healthy school climates, but our SEL program provides training in the social and emotional skills essential for both
    students and adults to make Restorative Practices truly successful.
3    Rethink Ed | Social & Emotional Learning (SEL)