Types of Circles

Community-Building Circles

Purpose: Build trust, create a sense of belonging, develop social-emotional skills.

Frequency: Weekly or bi-weekly in advisory or homeroom.

Responsive/Repair Circles

Purpose: Address harm, hear all perspectives, develop a repair plan.

When: After a conflict or incident has occurred, once all parties are calm.

Circle Structure

1. Preparation (Before the Circle)

• Set up the space — Arrange chairs in a circle with no desks in the way
• Choose a talking piece — An object that gives the holder the right to speak (e.g., a stone, feather, or small object meaningful to the group)
• Develop guiding questions — 3–5 open-ended questions that guide the conversation
• Pre-conference — For repair circles, meet individually with each participant first

2. Opening (5 minutes)

• Welcome participants and explain the circle process
• Review circle values: respect, honesty, listening, confidentiality
• Pass the talking piece for a brief check-in (e.g., "How are you feeling right now?")

3. Main Discussion (15–30 minutes)

• Ask guiding questions one at a time, passing the talking piece
• For repair circles, use the sequential model:

1. What happened? — Each person shares their perspective
2. Who was affected and how? — Understanding the impact of the harm
3. What needs to happen to make things right? — Developing a repair plan
4. How can we prevent this from happening again? — Forward-looking commitment

4. Closing (5 minutes)

• Pass the talking piece for a closing reflection
• Summarize any agreements made
• Thank participants for their honesty and vulnerability

Facilitation Tips

• Never force participation — Participants can pass when the talking piece comes to them
• Model vulnerability — Share your own feelings when appropriate
• Stay neutral — As facilitator, don't take sides or lecture
• Follow up — Check in with participants within a few days
• Document agreements — Write down repair plans and review them later