Term
Summer 2025
Capstone
Capstone Project
Degree Name
MAT
Facilitator(s)
Karen Moroz
Content Expert
Terry Gluek
Abstract
The purpose of my capstone project was to explore and help answer the research question of How does the use of Restorative Circles during instruction impact student engagement and agency? Through a Literature Review, professional experiences, and personal beliefs around teaching, this capstone project is inspired by Restorative Practices, specifically Restorative Circles, and how they build community in the classroom. The project helps educators in creating a classroom community that limits disruptive behaviors which is supported by personal educator experience, along with scholarly studies that found student engagement is impacted by personal relationships with their teacher and peers. When students feel safe within their classroom environment, unwanted behaviors decrease, and engagement grows. The capstone project is a Teacher Toolkit that helps guide school staff when implementing Restorative Circles with their students. The associated Toolkit is designed to be used quickly and in the moment. Each Circle is one page long and provides a quick overview of when to use the Circle, prompts to ask during the Circle, and how to close the Circle. The Toolkit also provides background information on RPs and Circles. Key influences include Barrasso, M. M. (2020), Boyes-Watson, C., Pranis, K., & Riestenberg, N. (2020) and Evanovich, L. L., Martinez, S., Kern, L., & Haynes, R. D. (2020).
Project Type
Teaching Toolkit
Keywords
Community Building, Motivation, Reflective Practice, Teachers/ Teaching
Recommended Citation
Smith, Sydney, "How Does the use of Restorative Circles During Instruction Impact Student Engagement and Agency?" (2025). School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects. 1140.
https://digitalcommons.hamline.edu/hse_cp/1140
dc_type
text
dc_publisher
DigitalCommons@Hamline
dc_format
application/pdf
dc_source
School of Education Student Capstone Projects