Integrating Restorative Practices into our work can feel overwhelming. This is especially true when our energy is waning and challenges like online bullying, verbal conflicts, physical altercations, and disengagement feel intractable. It’s in these exact moments, though, that restorative practices become not just relevant, but essential. Restorative practices offer a way to pause, connect, and repair. Rather than reacting to behavior, restorative practices help educators and students proactively build strong relationships, and a healthy culture, within the classroom and across the school. Research shows that exposure to restorative practices improves students’ academic achievement and reduces both the likelihood and length of suspensions, noting especially strong effects for Black and Latina/o/e students (Darling Hammond, 2003). The Integrated Curriculum weaves restorative practices into academic tasks, like collaborative projects or engaging in dialogue with those who hold different perspectives.