Apologizing is a good topic for discussion early in the school year.

It can be a good segue into discussions about empathy, point of view, forgiveness, or learning from mistakes depending on where your students take it.

“Sorry”, by Trudy Ludwig, is an excellent book to introduce the discussion.

 

Discussion points can include:

    • Real vs Fake Apologies

    • Is there more to an apology than the word “sorry”?

    • What are some criteria that an apology should have in order to be authentic?

    • Do people have to forgive someone right away when an apology happens?

Below is a sample of an “Apologizing” anchor co-created and posted in the classroom:

Sorry! Teaching Why and How to Apologize - Social Emotional Workshop

Students how to apologize is simple when you focus on the underlying skills and steps students need to go through. Teach them to apologize meaningfully, provide them with practice opportunities without judgment, and you will see them internalize this powerful social-emotional skill.
Restorative Practice is an approach that follows the “make it right” philosophy rather than the punitive consequencing model. Click on MAKE IT RIGHT to take you to the Restorative Practices page.