Example Responsive Circle #1: For school site that has low morale (poor school culture) amongst staff community.
Script
Welcome: Greetings everyone! Thank you for requesting a circle to help create a safe, caring space for authentic dialogue and sharing in relation to the current school climate here at xx.
Review Guidelines: Before any circle begins it’s critical to review the circle guidelines to support the circle being a safe space to share. The circle is a container that can hold as much or as little as people feel comfortable sharing.
Point to the poster and read the Circle Guidelines:
- Respect the talking piece
- Speak from the heart: share only your experiences, perspectives, feelings-not those of others
- Listen from the heart: let go of stories that make it hard to hear one another, be open and non-judgmental
- Trust you will know what to say: no need to rehearse
- Say just enough: be considerate of the time when sharing
Ask: Are these guidelines something we can all agree to?
Is there anything missing from this list that we need to add?
(this may be a good time to bring up confidentiality)
Circle Round #1: Please introduce you name and take 1 minute to share what or who inspired you to become an educator?
Circle Round #2: In general, how are you feeling about the current state of the school culture and how are you impacted by it?
Circle Round #3: What has been hardest for you?
Circle Round #4: What do you think needs to happen to make things as right as possible moving forward?
Closing Round # 5: In closing, please state one commitment you can make right now to support the building of a positive school culture here at xx school.
Thank you all for your participation.
Responsive Circle #2 Follow up: Script
For school that has low morale and poor school culture amongst staff community.
Welcome: Greetings everyone! It was wonderful to hear that many of you requested another circle to help create a safe, caring space for authentic dialogue and sharing. Thank you all for coming together this afternoon to continue the important work of strengthening your school community.
Review Guidelines: Before any circle begins it’s critical to review the circle guidelines to support the circle being a safe space to share. The circle is a container that can hold as much or as little as people feel comfortable sharing.
Point to the poster and read the Circle Guidelines:
- Respect the talking piece
- Speak from the heart: share only your experiences, perspectives, feelings-not those of others
- Listen from the heart: let go of stories that make it hard to hear one another, be open and non-judgmental
- Trust you will know what to say: no need to rehearse
- Say just enough: be considerate of the time when sharing
Ask: Are these guidelines something we can all agree to?
Is there anything missing from this list that we need to add?
(this may be a good time to bring up confidentiality)
Say: Thank you. My role today will be to ensure that the guidelines are being followed in addition to participating in the circle rounds.
Circle Round #1:
For our first circle round, please share what you appreciate about one POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP that you have with either a student, colleague, or parent/family member within our school community?
- Ask for a volunteer to start and have them state what direction they will pass the talking piece before they answer.
Circle Round #2:
Since the last circle we had, how are you feeling about the current state of the school culture and how are you impacted by it?
- Ask for a volunteer to start and have them state what direction they will pass the talking piece before they answer.
Circle Round #3:
What has been hardest for you?
- Ask for a volunteer to start and have them state what direction they will pass the talking piece before they answer.
Circle Round #4:
During the last circle, each of us shared one commitment we wanted to make to support a more positive school climate, please reflect on the commitment you made and share how you are doing with it.
- Ask for a volunteer to start and have them state what direction they will pass the talking piece before they answer.
Circle Round #5:
What do you think needs to happen to make things as right as possible moving forward?
- Ask for a volunteer to start and have them state what direction they will pass the talking piece before they answer.
Final Round #6:
Are there any additional commitments you would personally like to make to continue supporting a positive school climate in our school community?
- Ask for a volunteer to start and have them state what direction they will pass the talking piece before they answer.
Closing: I’d like to thank everyone for your participation in this circle.