Brian's Blog

As educators, we constantly seek methods to cultivate environments where students feel valued, respected, and supported. Over the years, restorative justice has emerged as an approach that addresses disciplinary issues and promotes a culture of care, empathy, and mutual respect. This article reflects on my experiences with restorative justice in education, highlighting its strengths, benefits, and connections to positive behaviour theories such as positive behaviour in schools (PBIS). I'll discuss the role of traditional disciplinary measures, like time-out, detention, and suspension, within a restorative framework. However, my stance is that these should be employed as a final option when there is no room for relationship coaching or the other strategies prove unsuccessful in achieving positive behavioural outcomes. I am going to preface this article and state that it is informed by my Christian perspective. I am committed to fostering a learning environment where students are enc...

In our role as educators, we constantly strive to equip students with the skills they need to excel not only academically but also in all facets of life. One such crucial skill is critical thinking, which enables individuals to analyse information, evaluate arguments, and make informed decisions. This skill is fundamental for success in today's complex and rapidly changing world (Facione, 2011). The purpose of this blog post is to demonstrate the significance of critical thinking and the transformative influence of visible thinking routines in nurturing this vital skill. The post aims to advocate for a shift in practices towards a more student-centred approach, enhancing student learning and promoting lifelong learning. This approach encourages students to become curious, reflective, and independent thinkers (Brookhart, 2017). Early in my teaching career, I was introduced to the work of Ron Ritchhart, Mark Church, and Karin Morrison (2011) through Harvard University's Project Z...

As I write this post on creating safe learning spaces and behavioural management, I want to acknowledge that this topic has come at a personally challenging time for me. This week, I've experienced a wide range of emotions, from celebrating my daughter's 18th birthday to mourning the passing of my wife's grandmother and attending my brother-in-law's wedding. These personal experiences have highlighted the wide spectrum of emotions that life brings, giving me a deeper understanding of the joys, struggles and challenges many of our students face daily. It reinforces for me the critical importance of effective understanding, practicing empathy, displaying an attitude of patience and support within our school communities as we develop safe learning spaces and behavioural management practices. In schools, creating a safe and secure learning environment is not just an optional add on, it's the very foundation upon which the educational trust rests. As educators, we unders...