The planning tool
- 600,000+ possible circle combinations
- Color-coded parts and a 10-step process
- QR codes to downloadable planning sheets
CircleCraft™ Relationship Circles Design Guide - Free Companion Self-Paced Course
Sale price$0.00Regular price
$49.97
FREE Self-Paced Course
✔️ 1-hour self-paced course
✔️ Includes a basic RJ 101 Training
✔️ Mini Intro to Roots of RJ
✔️FREE Tools & Strategies
Pairs well with
After your purchase you will be auto-enrolled in your course and receive a welcome email.
Upon Completion, you will receive your certificate automatically.
Free and fast customer support to problem-solve any issues you may have with the course.
CircleCraft™ Relationship Circles Design Guide - Free Companion Self-Paced Course
Sale price$0.00Regular price
$49.97
★ Free Self-Paced Course
CircleCraft™ Design Guide Companion
Learn the basics of restorative circles—free, self-paced, and made to share.
The free companion course to the CircleCraft™ Relationship Circles Design Guide. Learn the foundations of restorative justice, how to use the Design Guide, and how to plan four types of relationship-building circles—step by step, at your own pace.
100% free
Self-paced
Free planning sheets
No Design Guide required
A gift, free
offered by CircleUp® to help spread restorative practices in your community
Comes with the Guide
and you can still take it even without the Design Guide
Free
A gift from CircleUp®’s founder to the restorative justice community
4
Types of relationship circles modeled with complete examples
10
Steps of the CircleCraft™ design process, briefly walked through
2
Formats of free planning sheets: printable and digital
Design circles around the people actually in the room—their needs, time, and dynamics.
The Free Companion Course
Design Guide
This Free Companion
More than a list of topics and pre-planned circles.
Early on, we learned that people needed practical solutions to real challenges—a way to design circles around the people actually in the room while considering time, accessibility, and interpersonal dynamics. This free companion walks you through exactly that.
The guidance to begin
- Restorative justice and relationship-circle basics
- How to actually use the Design Guide
- Four circle types modeled step by step
- Free printable and digital planning sheets
A Gift to the RJ Community
Free, because this work shouldn’t have to be figured out alone.
We couldn’t have developed this process alone—and we don’t want you to have to figure it out alone either. Restorative justice training isn’t always accessible, and this free companion is one way we hope to give back and bring more restorative practices into the communities you serve every day.
“This course is my gift to the restorative justice community—a tool meant to be shared broadly so more people and communities can get started, or refine the work they’re already doing, and help more relationships come together, grow, and expand.”
Tyrone Botelho
Founder & CEO, CircleUp®
What You’ll Learn
Start your circle practice—or refine the work you’re already doing.
The companion teaches the foundations of restorative justice and relationship circles, then models real, practical choices so your circles strengthen trust and connection—and are never designed to cause harm.
Restorative Justice Basics
Understand the core meaning, language, and values behind restorative justice and restorative practices.
Relationship-Circle Foundations
Learn what relationship-building circles are, why they’re proactive, and how they strengthen trust and connection.
How to Use the Design Guide
See how to navigate the CircleCraft™ Design Guide and turn its color-coded parts into a real circle plan.
The 10-Step Process (Overview)
Get a clear, brief walkthrough of the 10-step design process so you can plan around purpose, participants, and time.
Talking Piece & Centerpiece
Get practical tips on choosing and using a talking piece and building a meaningful centerpiece.
Practicing With Cultural Respect
Learn to honor the origins of circle practice and how to avoid cultural appropriation in restorative circles.
Four Complete Circle Examples
1
2
3
4
Watch four different circles get designed—step by step.
In the companion, CircleUp®’s founder models how to design four different relationship-building circles, so you see practical examples of circles tailored to the communities you serve. You’ll receive a free planning example for each.
Community Agreement Circle
Co-create shared agreements that set the tone for how a group wants to be together.
Value Exploration Circle
Help participants surface, share, and explore the values that matter most to them.
Team Building Circle
Strengthen connection, trust, and collaboration within a team or group.
Discussion Circle
Guide meaningful conversations about important topics with care and structure.
Each circle type comes with a free, ready-to-adapt planning example.
CircleCraft™ 10-Step Process (Briefly Covered)
A simple process for turning a good intention into a real circle.
The companion briefly walks you through all 10 steps so you understand how each design choice shapes a circle’s purpose, flow, participation, and impact.
Choose the Relationship Circle That’s Best for Your Participants
Pick the relationship circle that best fits your group’s needs, goals, and reason for coming together.
Review the Framework & the Parts of the Circle
Review the framework, the theme, and the parts of the circle, and decide on a single circle or a series.
Identify Barriers, Considerations, & Constraints
Reflect on participant dynamics, the space, timing, accessibility needs, and any constraints that shape your plan.
Choose the Theme of the Circle
Select the central focus that ties the opening, core activity, reflections, and closing into one experience.
Decide on a Core Activity That Aligns With the Theme
Choose and adapt the main activity so it directly supports the theme and the needs of your group.
Determine How Much Time You Have for Each Part
Map out timing for each part of the circle so the experience feels realistic, balanced, and purposeful.
Choose the Remaining Parts of the Circle and Modify Them
Choose the opening, introduction, agreements, reflection, closing, and transitions, and modify each to fit.
Make a List of Materials Needed for the Circle
List every material, setup item, handout, and tool—and consider quantities, accessibility, and substitutions.
Perform an Equity and Self-Care Check and Practice the Circle
Review the plan for fairness, inclusion, and readiness—and practice the circle if you need to.
Guide Your Group Through the Circle and Evaluate the Process
Prepare participants, guide with flexibility and care, and evaluate so future circles can be even stronger.
★ Free Download
A Standout Highlight
Free printable & digital circle planning sheets.
One of the biggest things you’ll get: free access to printable and digital circle planning sheets. Use them alongside the CircleCraft™ Design Guide to customize your own circles and turn your design into a complete, ready-to-use plan.
- Printable sheets you can use on paper, right away
- Digital sheets you can fill in and reuse
- Built to customize circles with the Design Guide
- Yours to keep and share with your team
Practical Tips You’ll Take Away
The small details that make a circle feel intentional and respectful.
Beyond the process, the companion shares practical guidance on the elements that shape the experience—and how to hold this practice with care and cultural respect.
Who This Course Is For
Built with—and for—the whole community.
Developed with over a decade of input from thousands of educators, public employees, nonprofit and community leaders, and workplace managers. Whether you’re just beginning or refining your work, you’re welcome here.
Educators
Public Employees
Nonprofit Leaders
Community Leaders
Workplace Managers
Restorative Justice Practitioners
Counselors
Youth Workers
Facilitators
Team Leaders
Volunteers
Anyone starting circle work
Just Getting Started
Build the foundational language, examples, and confidence you need to begin your circle practice—no prior experience required.
Already Doing the Work
Refresh the essentials, pick up practical tips, and refine the circles you’re already running for the communities you serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before you start.
Is this course really free?
Yes. The self-paced companion course is completely free. It’s a gift from CircleUp®’s founder, Tyrone Botelho, to the restorative justice community—offered to help make restorative practices more accessible, especially for people and communities that may not have access to trainings right now.
Do I need the CircleCraft™ Design Guide to take it?
No. You don’t need the Design Guide to participate. You can sign up, take the course, and still gain practical guidance to begin your circle practice or refine the work you’re already doing. The companion pairs especially well with the guide if you have it.
What will I actually learn?
You’ll learn the basics of restorative justice and relationship-building circles, how to use the Design Guide, a brief walkthrough of the 10-step process, and how to design four circle types: a community agreement circle, a value exploration circle, a team building circle, and a discussion circle. You’ll also get practical tips on the talking piece, the centerpiece, restorative justice values, and how to avoid cultural appropriation.
Do I get the circle planning sheets?
Yes. You’ll get free access to printable and digital circle planning sheets you can use to customize your own circles with the CircleCraft™ Design Guide—yours to keep and share with your team.
Can I share the course with my team?
Please do. This companion was made to be shared broadly. Take the course, share it with your team, and help bring more restorative practices into the communities you serve.
How do I access the course after signing up?
After you sign up, you’ll receive course access and enrollment instructions by email. Use the same email address at checkout that you want connected to your enrollment.
Start Your Circle Practice
Take the course, share it with your team, and let’s CircleCraft™ together.
Learn the foundations of restorative justice, how to use the Design Guide, and how to plan four types of relationship circles—plus free printable and digital planning sheets. All free.
Free to Start
Use the sign-up option at the top of this page to begin the free companion course.
Free Companion CourseSelf-paced · No guide required
If you have any questions, you are always welcome to contact us. We'll get back to you as soon as possible, within 24 hours on weekdays.
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