Restorative Communication: Helping Adults and Youth Learn How to Navigate Conflict

Format

Workshop

First Presenter's Institution

Moore Well-Being

First Presenter’s Email Address

drjennmoore@gmail.com

First Presenter's Brief Biography

Dr. Jenn Moore, former principal, teacher and coach, is thrilled that her career has led her to provide professional development to educators around the world who work with students at all levels, birth through graduate school. From building curricula to providing educators and caregivers with the resources they need to create psychological safety, Dr. Moore has touched many parts of education. She has primarily served students and families of color, English language learners, and families experiencing poverty. Her professional priority is the well-being of both children and adults in school communities.

Location

Ballroom D

Strand #1

Heart: Social & Emotional Skills

Strand #2

Head: Academic Achievement & Leadership

Relevance

These two strands are most relevant to the content of this workshop because healthy communication skills are necessary for healthy social and emotional development (per CASEL competencies). Once both adults and students have these communication skills, school can become a place of physical and psychological safety. When adults and children know how to have difficult conversations, then normal, everyday conflicts are navigated with ease. Everyone has the skills to engage in honest, direct, kind communication and preserve the integrity of the relationships in the community. Without these skills, schools are often challenging places, with lots of raised voices, avoidant behavior and unpredictability. Giving educators the tools to maintain healthy relationships with their students helps everyone feel more regulated and safe.

Brief Program Description

Conflict is a normal part of organizational life and knowing how to discuss the undiscussable in a regulated way is crucial to a safe and healthy culture. Restorative Language, aka Nonviolent Communication, is a pillar of trauma-informed schools that helps adults develop new communication skills that create a caring culture. The tools in this workshop are relevant to adults and children of all ages.

Summary

This session is focused on adults learning new communication skills so they can effectively co-regulate other adults and youth in various situations. Educators may have developed communication skills that do not necessarily contribute to healthy relationships over the last few years, and they may not even be aware of it. In the age of email/texting, when face-to-face communication is rushed and reduced, school staff need to focus on building connections among one another as well as with youth in educational settings so they can build healthy relationships. Knowing restorative communication strategies is key to healthy relationships, and these strategies are what this workshop provides.

This session provides participants with a simple communication framework that adults and youth can use with one another. Participants learn how to use new communication tools with colleagues, create a culture of caring and respect and how to help themselves and others express their feelings and needs in socially appropriate ways. This session gives participants strategies to speak with youth and adults in a way that is direct and caring. Conflict at school can be really tricky to navigate, and this workshop provides some ways to manage these difficult conversations (staff-staff, student-staff, staff-caregiver).

Additionally, many educators may be unaware that they are throwing up communication roadblocks. In this workshop, participants become aware of habits that may interfere with communication and ways to refocus conversations in a positive direction. Participants also have the opportunity to practice several of these new strategies in the workshop so they are ready to bring them home and use them with colleagues and children on Monday! And if participants leave with questions, they can reach out to Dr. Jenn and she will happily follow up. Additionally, every person who attends and completes the evaluation form at the end will get a free 3 hour online course in restorative communication designed to deepen their understanding of the content presented in this workshop.

Evidence

NVC/Restorative Communication is used in schools around the world. The applicability of the skills is across age levels and contexts. In ‘Building a Trauma-Informed Restorative School,” authors Brummer and Thorsborne highlight NVC as one of the six pillars that help schools successfully implement restorative practices. In general, research has found that when adults and children use the NVC framework, there is greater empathy, calm, respect and optimism in the community. The following citations are some books and studies of the positive impact of NVC on people of all different ages.

1. Stueck, M., et al. (2016). Study on Biodanza for kindergarten children: Changes in cortisol levels and emotion recognition, demonstrating the effectiveness of NVC in emotional regulation and stress reduction in young children.

2. Suarez, A., et al. (2014). The Freedom Project’s Nonviolent Communication and Mindfulness Training in Prison: Highlighting the transformative effects of NVC on communication and behavior, extrapolated to school environments.

3. Vazhappilly, J. J., & Reyes, M. E. S. (2017). Nonviolent Communication and marital relationships: Improvements in empathy and communication skills, indicating potential benefits for school settings.

4. Visakavičiūtė, E., & Bandzevičienė, R. (2019). Impact of an NVC intervention program on social behavior: Significant positive changes in participants' interactions, relevant for schools aiming to improve student behavior.

5. Wacker, R., & Dziobek, I. (2018). NVC training with health professionals: Reduced empathic distress and social stressors, suggesting similar benefits for school staff and educators.

6. Korlipara, M., & Shah, H. (2022). Study on the "Power of Words" NVC training program: Sustainable shifts in perspective and behavior among participants, highlighting its applicability in educational contexts.

7. Terepyshchyi, S., & Khomenko, H. (2019). Methodologies for applying non-violent conflict resolution in academic environments: Supporting the integration of NVC in schools to manage conflicts effectively.

8. Hart, S., & Hodson, V. K. The Compassionate Classroom: Emphasizing that NVC leads to higher levels of energy and optimism among teachers, translating into more positive and productive classroom environments.

9. BMC Health Services Research. (2023). Scoping review on NVC: Improving interpersonal relationships and reducing bullying in health work environments, suggesting similar benefits in schools for enhancing student and teacher relationships.

10. NVC NextGen. Anti-bullying programs based on NVC principles: Significant positive impacts on school culture, reducing instances of bullying and promoting a cooperative and supportive learning environment.

Learning Objective 1

Learn and practice with communication techniques and strategies that can be applied in a variety of contexts, both within and outside the school environment, enhancing their personal and professional interactions.

Learning Objective 2

Apply the tools and confidence needed to handle challenging conversations between adults, children, and mixed groups effectively and respectfully.

Learning Objective 3

Develop an understanding and appreciation of how to approach sensitive topics and conflicts in culturally appropriate ways, ensuring inclusivity and respect for diversity within the school community.

Keyword Descriptors

conflict, restorative practices, trauma, communication, regulation, relationship skills, disagreements, discipline

Presentation Year

2025

Start Date

3-3-2025 10:15 AM

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Mar 3rd, 10:15 AM

Restorative Communication: Helping Adults and Youth Learn How to Navigate Conflict

Ballroom D

Conflict is a normal part of organizational life and knowing how to discuss the undiscussable in a regulated way is crucial to a safe and healthy culture. Restorative Language, aka Nonviolent Communication, is a pillar of trauma-informed schools that helps adults develop new communication skills that create a caring culture. The tools in this workshop are relevant to adults and children of all ages.