Programs Overview
Open Circle offers a nationally-recognized social and emotional learning (SEL) program used by nearly 400 elementary schools in urban and suburban communities across New England, New Jersey and New York. Research has shown that our program increases students’ pro-social skills, decreases violence and other problem behaviors, and supports an easier transition to middle school.

Our approach addresses both of the key requirements for social and emotional development – building social skills and establishing safe, caring learning environments. Social skills, such as self-management, conflict negotiation, communication, teamwork and problem solving, are taught through lessons outlined in the Open Circle Curriculum. Safe and caring learning environments are fostered through community-building activities, frameworks to understand and address central needs of students and staff, and a common vocabulary and approach.

We offer training programs from July through June. Our more extensive programs involve year-long participation, so that training participants can practice and reinforce their learning throughout the school year.

Some of our training programs also include in-school consultations, hich help support and guide participants as they begin implementing Open Circle in their own school environments. This extra support accelerates learning, facilitates deeper understanding and adoption of the Open Circle approach, and leads to more successful implementations.

To best address the unique needs of various school staff members, our core training programs are tailored to specific roles. These programs include:
• Core Program for Grade-Level Teachers: Year-long program
   training grade-level teachers to implement Open Circle in their
   classrooms.
• Specialist Workshop: 1-day training introducing key Open
   Circle concepts, approaches and vocabulary, and exploring how
   specialists can use Open Circle to enhance their own work and to
   coordinate efforts with grade-level teachers.
• Administrators Workshop: 1-day training introducing key Open
   Circle concepts, approaches and vocabulary, and exploring how
   administrators can support the successful implementation of Open
   Circle in their schools.
• Parent Program Leader Training: 3-afternoon “train-the-trainer”
   program preparing school mental health professionals to lead Open
   Circle’s Parent Program in their school community.
• Sustainability Program: Year-long program for multi-departmental
   school teams to develop and launch a customized plan to broaden,
   deepen and sustain Open Circle in your school.

Finally, we have several customized training programs for schools looking to deepen and broaden their implementation of Open Circle, including:
• Overview of Open Circle (for staff, parents or families)
• Support Staff Workshop
• Advanced Training Workshop
• Literature Connections Workshop
• Customized Consulting

Benefits of Open Circle
• Provides a common vocabulary, strategies and approach, and
   develops shared expectations for all members of the school
   community
• Supplies a teacher “toolbox” of preventative classroom
   management skills and ready-to-use resources
• Teaches children processes for quickly settling down to learn and
   resolve their own problems
• Fosters a caring, respectful climate in the classroom among
   classmates and throughout the school
• Helps create a cooperative learning environment and a happier and
   safer school community
• Saves time and money in the long run by addressing discipline and
   safety problems

Implementation Planning
Implementation of Open Circle may unfold in different ways and on different timelines depending on the needs and resources of the school.

Initial Training
The first step is to train grade level teachers in our Core Program. Some schools train many teachers in the first year (sometimes using grant funding to support the initiative). Others train an initial leadership team of 3 or more teachers from a span of grades and then train additional teachers each year as budget permits. In the first year, principals and other key administrators often attend our Administrator Workshop for an orientation to key Open Circle concepts, approaches and vocabulary and how to support effective implementation.

Broadening Involvement
Once a significant number of grade level teachers is using Open Circle (which may happen quickly or take a number of years), schools often expand their initiative to include other members of the school community. Other staff may attend a Specialist Workshop or Support Staff Workshop to learn how to use Open Circle strategies to benefit their own work and to support the school’s broader Open Circle initiative. Schools involve families by hosting an Overview of Open Circle presentation for parents and other family members. Or a counselor or other mental health professional from the school may participate in our Parent Program Leader Training to offer a more extensive 5-session Open Circle Parent Program at their school.

Deepening & Tailoring
Once many members of the school community are involved with Open Circle, schools often work to tailor their implementation to the specific needs of their community. Schools may host Advanced Training Workshops to keep staff energized and explore topics of special interest. Schools may use Customized Consulting to support special projects. Schools also may take part in the Sustainability Program to develop a broad-based Open Circle leadership team that plans and organizes activities specifically designed to address the interests of their particular school community.

To help you create a customized implementation plan and budget, your school receives ongoing support from an Open Circle consultant. You may also contact us at any time at info@open-circle.org or
781-283-2847.

Awards
The Open Circle Program is listed in the U.S. Department of Education Expert Panel guidebook of Exemplary and Promising Safe, Disciplined, and Drug-Free Schools Programs and has been designated as a Select” program by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning.

PDPs and CEUs
Open Circle provides Professional Development Points (PDPs) or Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to trained participants. The number of PDPs or CEUs provided varies by program.

Graduate Credit
Through Framingham State College in Framingham, Massachusetts, we also offer graduate credits for teachers participating in the Core Program for Grade-Level Teachers. Additional fees and assignments are required.

Download this information
(as part of our Catalog of Programs)

To learn more about Open Circle programs, please contact us at info@open-circle.org or 781-283-2847.