Connection and Content: Integrating Restorative Practices into Classroom Learning - Elk Grove Village, IL

Connection and Content: Integrating Restorative Practices into Classroom Learning is a professional development event from the International Institute for Restorative Practices (IIRP) — the world's first accredited graduate school solely focused on restorative practices. Held in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, this session helps educators move beyond using restorative practices only for behaviour management and conflict resolution, showing how to weave relational approaches into the fabric of everyday classroom instruction. The IIRP has been at the forefront of restorative practices research and training for decades, grounded in the principle that people are happier, more cooperative, more productive, and more likely to make positive changes when those in authority do things with them rather than to them or for them. Their professional development programs are delivered by experienced instructors who are skilled practitioners, adept at helping educators learn and implement restorative approaches in their specific settings. This session is designed for educators who already have some foundation in restorative practices and want to deepen their integration into academic content delivery. Participants will explore how to foster a spirit of shared ownership and responsibility within the classroom, using restorative approaches not just to address harm but to build the kind of learning community where students are genuinely engaged with content and with each other. The IIRP models restorative practices in its own instruction, creating an engaging learning environment through interactive activities, student voice and choice, and collaborative problem-solving — giving participants a lived experience of the very approaches they'll be implementing with their own students.