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Why Education needs Restorative Practices
Restorative Practices (RP) is the name given to the educational practice that reflects a relational approach to resolving harm and conflict. The focus of (RP) is on repairing harm and to view inappropriate actions as an opportunity for guiding, learning and teaching...
Anxiety: A Modern-Day Challenge
At some point in our lives, we all experience anxiety. Often this feeling of anxiety is not a prolonged experience that weighs people down. In many cases, it acts as an energy and emotion that can spur growth and bring about change. However, when the feeling of...
Fight. Flight. Freeze.
I am sure we have all read and heard about a child's FIGHT, FLIGHT and FREEZE responses. However, we do not hear as much being discussed about how we continue to experience these behaviours into our adult years. In the late 1960's, Dr Silvan Tomkins shared his "Affect...
PARENTS: THE PRIMARY EDUCATORS OF THEIR CHILDREN
If we were to reflect on our parenting behaviour when our children were babies and totally dependent on us, we may notice that an enormous amount of time is devoted to comforting, nurturing, feeding and talking to them. While our children are dependent on us, they get...
Managing the Classroom Environment with Confidence
When I completed my high school studies, I wanted to get into acting or take up electrical engineering and instead I fell into teaching. Quite a logical thing to do!!!! My parents even advised me to rethink my career in teaching. Teaching was never a profession I had...
Children’s Boundaries Away from Home
When my family gets together with our friends, it is quite common for us to talk about our children and in particular to talk about how a child’s behaviour changes when we are out shopping, visiting friends or in unfamiliar surroundings. There are numerous reasons why...
Build a Strong Flexible Bridge: Personal Thoughts on Teen Mental Health
Teenage Mental Health: Build a Strong Flexible Supportive Bridge In the past 16 years, I have spent time working with teenagers with trauma and mental health issues. In working with these fabulous young people, they taught me a great deal about emotional pain,...
Education Systems Should Invest in RP
Education systems should invest in Restorative Practices because: Schools are seeking relational strategies that focus on repairing relationship and promote learning from misbehaviour Schools want to adopt strategies that are respectful and dignified, which integrates...
START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR: MY 5 TIPS
The end of year school holidays cannot come quick enough for some teachers. However, as soon as the festive season is over, the “Back to School” items appear on department shelves and the mixed feelings, thoughts and emotions begin to surface. From my own experience,...