Talking Circles for Adolescent Girls in an Urban High School: A Restorative Practices Program for Building Friendships and Developing Emotional Literacy Skills
Year: 2012
Type: dissertation
Abstract: ABSTRACT TALKING CIRCLES FOR ADOLESCENT GIRLS IN AN URBAN HIGH SCHOOL: A RESTORATIVE PRACTCES' PROGRAM FOR BUILDING FRIENDHIPS AND DEVELOPING EMOTIONAL LITERACY SKILLS by MARTHA ANN SCHUMACHER DECEMBER 2012 ADVISOR: Dr. Loraleigh Keashly MAJOR: Communication DEGREE: Doctor of Philosophy Restorative Practices and Restorative Justice programs in schools are a new and emerging field. Meeting in Circles to build community, resolve conflict, and learn interactively are core components of these programs. This ethnographic study, which took place February 2010 to December 2011, evaluates 12 small, out-of-classroom Talking Circles for 60 adolescent girls as part of a Restorative Practices program in an urban high school. The primary data source are participant observations of the weekly Talking Circles and semi-structured interviews with 31 of the students involved in the Circles. The Talking Circles were grounded in the theoretical frameworks of both the Relational Cultural Theory, which promotes growth-fostering relationships, and Restorative Justice, which promotes connection, caring and justice. Four relational themes emerged in the study: a) joy of being together and building friendships; b) feeling safe with each other; c) being free to express genuine emotions; and d) cultivating empathy. Evidence of emotional literacy development included a) improved capacity to listen; b) better management of anger and conflict situations; and c) becoming more sensitive to others. The findings demonstrate that the Talking Circle provided a safe space to nurture growth-fostering relationships as described by the Relational Cultural Theory; growth-fostering relationships supported the development of emotional literacy skills, which led to personal power; personal empowerment gave rise to self-efficacy. It appears this type of out-of-classroom Circle addresses some of the psychosocial and emotional needs of students that are not met in other school venues, and may provide a tool for addressing teen disengagement and loneliness; for working with gender-specific issues; for teaching and practicing emotional literacy skills; and for introducing the merits of respectful dialogue.
Source: Human Biology
Author: Martha Ann Schumacher
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2146436398