Unit 3: Facilitating Academic Circles

Lesson 1: Building Relationships through Open Communication

Lesson 2: Developing Restorative Circles

Lesson 1: Building Relationships through Open Communication

The class dynamic is one of the most important factors that can affect a circle. If students do not feel safe or welcome, they will not share with their classmates. In order to promote open communication among all members of the circle, it is necessary to have conversations and establish an environment that makes students feel supported and heard.

When first introducing circles to your class, encourage student participation by including discussions with low risk questions that allow students to get to know each other. These types of questions are not very personal, so students may feel more comfortable sharing with people they might not know well.

We will be looking closely at the type of questions that can build on relationships and promote open communication over time:

Low Emotional Risk: Use these questions exclusively when first introducing circles in order to build rapport and trust. As your class becomes more familiar with circles, you can use one low-risk question as a way to initiate the circle or as the Icebreaker.

Examples of Low Emotional Risk Questions:

What is your favorite color?

If you could be any animal, what would it be? What is something that makes you happy?

When I am sad, I …

Medium Emotional Risk: These questions provide an opportunity to get to know your students even better. There is more emotional risk and vulnerability with these questions, as students begin to share more personal information. It is important to note that some of these questions could potentially trigger students. Only begin to integrate medium risk questions after students have become more comfortable with circles and with each other.

Examples of Medium Emotional Risk Questions:

What is one thing you like about yourself? What motivates you?

If you had three wishes, what would you wish for? What is your greatest hope/fear for the future?

High Emotional Risk: These types of questions offer even deeper understanding but should not be used until there are high levels of trust and safety within the circle. These questions could trigger emotional responses from students so only use them once you have fostered deep relationships with your students and students with their peers. (Remember that if a student does open up about abuse, harm or any other reportable information, it is still the educators responsibility to report it.)

Examples of High Emotional Risk Questions:

What are you most passionate about?

What is one change you would like to make about the world? Describe a time you were outside of your comfort zone.

If you could talk to anyone in the world, living or dead, who would it be? Describe a time you were in conﬂict with a friend.

Directions: In your journal, create 2 questions for each level of emotional questioning and reflect on what makes them different from each other.

Lesson 2: Developing Restorative Circles

This is an opportunity to practice designing a Community Circle that will focus on building relationships and practicing positive communication. You will have the chance to take what you have learned from the previous units and create your own outline for a community building circle for a future class.

Prompt: You are a teacher who has just begun using circles with their class. Create a script and outline as the facilitator of a Community Building Circle. Include each of the steps in implementing a circle and include dialogue that you may use during the circle. Your class is in the beginning stages of using circles so ask 2-3 low risk questions. The format of this assignment will be a Google Slides Presentation.

Helpful Information:

Click here for an example of how to set up your Restorative Circle (https://docs.google.com/prese ntation/d/16MZdzzEA5j0oeiNmjBMO26ptT5-yFtx6e-xRII3hgmg/edit#slide=id.g2d6beb416ab_0_1210) slide deck.

Review the rubric below before submitting your slides.

Upload your circle slides here (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NWIeynnIvelg3VLNitYVBsg nnEvIuKFb?usp=share_link).

Directions: After you have submitted your slides, read through at least two other participants’ slides. Provide feedback to help your peers improve their own outlines.

Community Classroom Circle Facilitation Rubric

Criteria	5 - Excellent	4 - Proﬁcient	3 - Developing	2 - Emerging	1 - Beginning
Facilitation Script	Exceptionally articulate script demonstrating deep understanding of circle communication, with appropriate language and thoughtful prompts	Clear and professional script with appropriate communication strategies	Functional script with basic communication approaches	Script with limited communication depth	Incomplete or ineffective script
Low Emotional Risk Questions	2-3 expertly crafted questions that are inclusive, thoughtful, and promote low risk engagement	2-3 well- developed questions that encourage participant engagement	1-2 adequate questions with moderate participant potential	1-2 simplistic questions with limited engagement potential	No appropriate low-risk questions
Communication Techniques	Demonstrates advanced active listening, uses sophisticated verbal communication techniques	Strong communication skills with clear listening and engagement strategies	Basic communication skills with some effective techniques	Limited communication effectiveness	Minimal communication skills
Reﬂection and Closure	Exceptional closing that synthesizes discussion, provides meaningful reﬂection, and creates clear takeaways	Strong closing with good reﬂection and key discussion points	Adequate closing with basic reﬂection	Weak closing with minimal reﬂection	No meaningful closure