At Open Circle, we’re committed to continually reviewing and adjusting our programs to meet the changing needs of schools and educators and to provide the highest-quality professional development. Over the past year, we’ve been assessing the usage and effectiveness of our programs associated with consulting within schools.

This assessment included collecting feedback from current Consulting Teachers, a review of the research on best practices for social and emotional learning programs, and a detailed analysis by Open Circle’s staff. We used this information and feedback to make some changes to our programs to best meet your needs. The new programs are listed below.

Download FAQ Sheet about Program Changes

School-Based Open Circle Coach Training

Overview
This program, formerly called “Consulting Teacher Training,” develops coaching and leadership for Open Circle and social and emotional learning (SEL) in your school community. Recent research on best practices in SEL highlights the importance of follow-up coaching by colleagues for new SEL practitioners.

Participants support 1-3 colleagues as they implement the Open Circle Curriculum for the first time. They also provide support to help integrate and sustain SEL and Open Circle in their broader school community. Through this program, participants develop and enhance coaching skills while learning the process of Open Circle coaching, understand the theoretical underpinnings of the Open Circle coaching model, and become a leader and advocate of Open Circle and SEL in their school.

Participation in this program includes:
• Four 7-hour training days
• Support from Open Circle staff
• One copy of the Open Circle Coach's Manual
• 28 Professional Development Points
• Optional 3 graduate credits from Framingham State College (additional fee and assignments required)
• School-Based Open Circle Coach certification for three years.

Who Should Attend
The program is designed for educators who have completed the Core Program, have taught the Open Circle Curriculum, and are viewed as leaders by their peers. This program requires a year-long training commitment so that participants can practice and reinforce their learning over the course of one school year.

Participants are expected to:
• Model an Open Circle meeting for up to three teachers training in the Core Program for the first time and visit their classrooms twice during the year for peer coaching.
• Arrange biannual meetings and activities to energize and connect colleagues using Open Circle.
• Provide on-going, informal support to all teachers implementing Open Circle in the school.
• Act as liaison between their school community and Open Circle.
• Submit a coaching agreement to Open Circle every year they plan to provide coaching to their colleagues
• If desired, earn recertification as a School-Based Open Circle Coach every three years to continue coaching colleagues.

Schedule
All trainings are from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Wellesley, Massachusetts
Wellesley College Club at Wellesley College
• October 4-5, 2010, December 2, 2010, March 8, 2011

Fee: $675 per person or $1,000 for two people
Core Program participants receive a discounted training fee of $700 if they are supported by a certified School-Based Open Circle Coach who has signed a 2010-2011 coaching agreement.

Download Program Information
and Registration Form

For questions about this program or the status of your registration,
please contact us at info@open-circle.org or 781-283-3277.

School-Based Open Circle Coach Institute

Overview
This program, formerly called "Experienced Consulting Teacher Program," further develops coaching and leadership for Open Circle and social and emotional learning (SEL) in your school community.

Participants support 1-3 colleagues as they implement the Open Circle Curriculum for the first time. They also provide support to help integrate and sustain SEL and Open Circle in their broader school community. Through this one-day institute, participants deepen their skills and knowledge as a coach and leader in their school. They practice their coaching skills in a protected environment among colleagues, learn about the latest research in the field of SEL, identify their school’s SEL needs, and discuss their successes and challenges as coaches and educators.

Coaches receive their first three-year certification through the School-Based Open Circle Coach Training. This institute certifies coaches for another three years. Coaches are invited to attend the institute annually as we present new content each year.

Participation in this program includes:
• One 7-hour training day
• 7 Professional Development Points
• Updates to the Open Circle Coach's Manual
• School-Based Open Circle Coach certification for three years.

Who Should Attend
The program is designed for educators who have completed the School-Based Open Circle Coach Training.

Participants are expected to:
• Model an Open Circle meeting for up to three teachers training in the Core Program for the first time and visit their classrooms twice during the year for peer coaching.
• Arrange biannual meetings and activities to energize and connect colleagues using Open Circle.
• Provide on-going, informal support to all teachers implementing Open Circle in the school.
• Act as liaison between their school community and Open Circle.
• Submit a coaching agreement to Open Circle every year they plan to provide coaching to their colleagues
• If desired, earn recertification as a School-Based Open Circle Coach every three years to continue coaching colleagues.

Schedule
Institute is from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Wellesley, Massachusetts
Wellesley College Club at Wellesley College
• #WCC A July 27, 2010
• #WCC B October 15, 2010

Fee:
• $225*
• Special offer: $170 for first certification of Consulting Teachers (25% off!)
Core Program participants receive a discounted training fee of $700 if they are supported by a certified School-Based Open Circle Coach who has signed a 2010-2011 coaching agreement.

Download Program Information
and Registration Form

For questions about this program or the status of your registration,
please contact us at info@open-circle.org or 781-283-3277.

Open Circle Coach Training