Schools

Safe schools allow students to feel connected to the adults in their school and community.  The Daily Rap and Community Conferencing are evidence-based practices that provide students, teachers and administrators with effective ways to prevent and respond to school conflict and violence.  With a focus on communication and accountability, the Daily Rap and Community Conferencing help schools build a sense of connection.

• Restorative Approaches to Discipline
• What Teachers say about Daily Rap
  
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Community Conferencing

This circle dialogue brings together students and their families, school staff and administrators in response to a conflict or incident.  Everyone collectively decides how to resolve the matter and prevent it from happening again.

During the Community Conference, everyone discusses:

1. what happened
2. how everyone has been affected
3. how to resolve the matter and prevent it from happening again (written agreement).

Uses:

• Alternative to school suspension and arrest
• Student-student / teacher-student and incidents
• Fights/Assaults
• Hate crimes
• Gossiping/Bullying
• Vandalism
• Theft
• Neighborhood conflicts that spill into the school environment

Impact:

• Immediate response to incidents of harm
• Students are held accountable for their harmful behavior
• Students and adults collectively decide how to resolve things
• Reduces suspension and arrests
• Fewer suspended students roaming the neighborhoods during the day
• Prevents re-occurrences and entry into criminal justice system
• Gossiping and bullying get addressed before escalating further
• Students and families are connected to a support network
• Relationships among students, families, and school staff improve
• Everyone has an opportunity to learn and heal from the incident
• Fosters a culture of open communication and responsibility

Daily Rap for students:

Teachers become non-judgmental, non-directive facilitators of a regular dialogue circle with students.  Students have a chance to talk about the issues/incidents that concern them.   Students learn vital communication and problem-solving skills.  Relationships are strengthened within the classroom. Minor conflicts are prevented from escalating into violence.

Uses:

• Dealing with minor conflicts within the classroom
• Enhancing communication skills
• After School Programs

Impact:

• Better classroom behavior
• Creative problem-solving skills
• Fewer office referrals and suspensions
• Issues get addressed before escalating into serious incidents
• Students and teachers resolve issues
• Students and teachers support each other
• Teachers gain back valuable teaching time
• Improved communication and relationships
• Teachers get to know their students and each other better
• Students respect for each other and staff increases
• Students participate in more school activities & events

Daily Rap for teachers and staff:

Regular dialogue circle that provides teachers and school staff a chance to build communication, share strategies, behavioral techniques and to boost morale.

Uses:

• Peer support
• Peer consultation
• Minor conflicts
• Discussing policies and procedures
• During Staff Meetings
• Professional Development

Impact:

• Accountability
• Building morale
• Team building