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For many years the Canadian government has been committed to resettling refugees. Recently, this commitment has been expanded, as more than 25,000 Syrian refugees have been admitted into Canada. As refugee students struggle to adapt to a new environment, English as a second language (ESL) educators are called upon to play a significant role in the resettlement process. Attending to the social as well as academic needs of students requires educators to alter the pedagogical approach adopted. Restorative justice pedagogy provides a framework for attending to these needs by transforming ESL classrooms into safe and caring environments. This article will trace the origins of the restorative movement to the criminal justice system and outline how restorative principles have been applied to school discipline. It will then articulate how these principles could be applied to the ESL classroom to identify student needs and begin the process of healing and community building. Finally, the article will conclude with an example of how restorative justice pedagogy has been applied in a Canadian high school with refugee students.