A Simple Restorative Circle Template You Can Use Today

A welcoming circle builds connection by creating space for every voice to be heard without pressure or interruption.

A circle is one of the simplest ways to build community. You sit together. You listen. You speak one at a time. And over time, you create trust. A circle invites people to make space for connection. Whether you’re leading a school team or working directly with youth, this restorative circle template for educators gives you the support you need to start strong and build community with care.

This guide breaks down each part of a restorative circle and includes sample prompts rooted in the approach taught by Creative Praxis. You’ll find practical steps and language you can use right away to begin building trust and addressing conflict without shame or punishment.

What Is a Restorative Circle?

At Creative Praxis, restorative practices are not just methods of addressing conflict, but a way of being. A restorative circle focuses on connection and accountability, not blame. It creates room for honesty, for harm to be addressed, and for healing to begin. This restorative circle template for educators centers culturally relevant practices that build safety, trust, and relationship between students, staff, and community members.

Step-by-Step: How to Run a Restorative Circle

Preparing a calm, open space without barriers allows participants to feel grounded before entering the circle.

1. Prepare the Space

Set the tone before people enter the room. Choose a space that feels open and grounded. Arrange chairs in a circle, with no table between. If possible, keep distractions minimal. You’re creating a container where people can be seen and heard.

Optional additions:

• A talking piece (like a soft object) that is passed around when speaking

• A visual center point (like a cloth or candle) to ground attention

• Sensory objects for those who need a moment of pause

Let people know that participation is by invitation, not force. Everyone’s voice matters, but no one is pressured to share. You may invite a brief somatic exercise to help participants arrive in their bodies before speaking.

2. Open the Circle

Begin with a grounding moment. This could be a deep breath, a stretch, or a moment of quiet. Then, welcome the group and clearly explain the purpose of the circle.

You might say:

“This circle is a space to connect, to listen, and to speak with care. We’re here to share honestly and hear each other without judgment.”

Review community agreements. These may include:

• Speak from the ‘I’

• Listen without interrupting

• Step up, step back

• What’s said here stays here

• No fixing or saving others

These agreements set the tone for safety and trust.

3. Introduce the First Round

Starting with low-stakes prompts helps participants relax and settle into the rhythm of the circle.

Start with a low-stakes question to help participants settle into the space. This round sets the rhythm and builds comfort. Use a talking piece and speak in order, moving clockwise.

Sample questions:

• What’s something that made you smile recently?

• What helps you feel calm when things feel hard?

• What do you want people to know about you today?

This part of the restorative circle template for educators helps open the space with presence and authenticity.

4. Move into the Heart of the Circle

Once the group is settled, introduce the focus of the circle. This could be community-building, addressing a harm, or preparing for a challenge ahead.

Use clear, open-ended prompts. Examples include:

• What’s something you’ve been carrying that you’d like to let go of?

• When have you felt seen or supported in this group?

• Has there been a time you felt hurt or misunderstood here? What do you need now?

Keep the circle grounded. If emotions rise, pause and take a breath. Let the group hold what comes up with care and compassion.

Creative Praxis offers training in restorative practices in Philadelphia, which includes culturally relevant tools for de-escalation and conflict repair skills that can be applied directly in this stage of the circle.

5. Invite a Round of Reflection or Repair

As the conversation comes to a close, create space for reflection. This might involve asking:

• What are you taking with you from today?

• What is one thing you’d like to commit to doing differently?

• What support do you need moving forward?

If harm was addressed, now is the time for repair. This may include:

• Acknowledgment of harm

• Apologies

• Offers of support or action steps

Creative Praxis’s restorative justice workshops for schools guide educators in using these tools to shift from punishment to repair.

6. Close the Circle

Always end with care. Bring the group back together with gratitude, affirmation, or shared breath.

Sample closing:

“Thank you for showing up with honesty and care. Everything shared here stays in this space unless we agree otherwise. We leave this circle with shared respect.”

You can also invite one-word check-outs:

• “One word for how you feel now?”

• “One word for what you need today?”

This reinforces the connection and gives people a soft landing.

Sample Restorative Circle Template for Educators

A structured template gives facilitators the confidence to guide meaningful discussions and support emotional safety.

Here’s a simplified version you can follow during your first few circles:

1. Set the space: Chairs in a circle, quiet setting

2. Welcome and agreements: Review the purpose and norms

3. Opening round: “What’s something that brought you peace this week?”

4. Main round: “When have you felt left out or unseen? What would have helped?”

5. Repair or reflection: “What would support look like for you today?”

6. Closing: One-word checkout + gratitude

This format supports emotional safety and gives participants the structure they need to engage with honesty and care.

When used consistently, this restorative circle template builds stronger relationships and helps shift the culture of your learning environment.

Creative Praxis Builds Community Through Restorative Practice

At Creative Praxis, we believe every educator has the power to build learning spaces rooted in trust, accountability, and healing. Through our restorative practices training in Philadelphia, we work closely with teachers, school leaders, and youth workers to support stronger classroom relationships and practical, culturally grounded responses to conflict.

If you're committed to creating schools that support healing from the inside out, we’re here for you. Our work extends beyond the circle, with services including restorative justice workshops, trauma-informed classroom management, and conflict resolution training for schools. These offerings help reduce stress, foster collaboration, and support efforts toward burnout prevention for educators.

Let’s build something better, together. Contact Creative Praxis today to bring restorative practices into your classroom or organization.