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Hello!

I am Amy Chotzen

Restorative Justice Specialist

achotzen@pps.net

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Big Picture- Last Year

Getting Comfortable Talking about Race
Black History Month at Maplewood
Restorative Justice and Repairing Harm

Big Picture- This year

Microaggressions- understanding as staff
Microaggressions- teaching to students
Restorative Justice and Repairing Harm

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1-5 Check-In

How are you feeling right now?

How often do you notice microaggressions occuring in your life?

How often do you notice microaggressions occuring at Maplewood?

How comfortable are you stepping in and calling out a microaggression?

Feedback for me: How did the lessons for students land? How was the student response?

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How Are Microaggressions Different Than Just Being Unkind?

Can be subtle, unintentional (implicit bias)
Directed towards a marginalized group or about a marginalized trait
Incessant
Cumulative

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Link to Harvard Implicit Bias Test

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Identity Markers Reflection

Microaggressions are often brought up in the context of race, but can happen with any marginalized group or trait (non-dominant culture)

Groups of 4

Share one thing that surprised you.
Share how your identity markers might impact how you show up and your perception in the classroom.

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Proactive steps to combat microaggressions

Discuss microaggressions and their impact with students
Name microaggressions in books / lessons
Celebrate difference!

Ask students “why is diversity important?
How can we celebrate diversity at school?”

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What can you do to combat microaggressions? (In your life)

Be constantly vigilant of your own biases
Seek out interaction with people who differ from you
Don't be defensive.
Listen to understand and believe
Be an ally

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What can you do to combat microaggressions?

(As an educator)

Name it. “That felt like a microaggression”Or
Ask student to clarify. “What did you mean by that?”
Discuss the IMPACT, not the INTENT
If students need, have a conversation to REPAIR the harm
If something is pervasive, discuss whole group

Focus on the wrong, not the wrongdoer

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Restorative Mindset Shift

Traditional Approach	Restorative Approach
School rules violated	People and relationships harmed
Justice focused on establishing guilt	Justice focused on needs and obligations
Accountability=punishment	Accountability=understanding impact, repairing harm
Justice directed at person who caused harm, people who experienced harm ignored	Person who caused harm, person who experienced harm, and school all have direct roles in justice process
Rules and intent outweigh whether outcome is positive or negative (Intent determines the severity of the punishment)	Person who caused harm is responsible for harmful behavior, repairing harm and working toward positive outcomes
No opportunity for remorse or amends	Opportunity given for amends or expression of remorse

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Use the Restorative Questions

What happened?

What can be done to make things better?

What will keep things better?

Who was affected or impacted?

How can others support you?

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