Open Circle has developed COVID-19 Resources to help our schools and districts support the children and families in their communities.
The Open Circle Team stands in solidarity with all people who are working for social justice and equity. To see what we are doing to contribute to this cause, please review our Open Circle News links below.
Welcome
Open Circle provides a unique, evidence-based social and emotional learning program for grades K-5. Working with administrators, educators, counselors, and staff from across the school, Open Circle aims to:
- Proactively develop children’s skills for recognizing and managing emotions, empathy, positive relationships and problem solving
- Help schools develop a community where students feel safe, cared for and engaged in learning.
Open Circle News
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THE74: An Educator’s View
"The Empathy & Compassion Biden Talks About Are SEL Skills Every Child Should Have. How Teachers Can Help Students Learn Them" Teachers should take Biden’s speech about "compassion, empathy and concern” as a call to action, to implement in our classrooms the values he’s talking about on the...
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EDSURGE: The Pandemic Has Revealed...
What Really Matters in Education (Spoiler: It’s Not Tests). Kamilah Drummond-Forrester, Director of Open Circle writes, "The interconnectedness of schools and families has been laid bare this past year, and we now understand how significant that partnership is." Read the...
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How to Talk to Kids About Coronavirus
March 6, 2020By Kamilah Drummond-Forrester, Director of Open Circle As the mother of four children ranging in age from 5 to 17, I think I’ve heard it all when it comes to the coronavirus COVID-19 every rumor and misunderstanding that gets shared at school and on social media about where it came...
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Did you know Open Circle curates SEL literature?
Peg Sawyer, Open Circle Trainer and Coach, reviews children's literature that relates to social and emotional learning. See our list of recommened children's literature
How We Help Schools & Communities
Open Circle’s whole-school approach:
- Unites schools with common vocabulary
- Improves school climate
- Increases students’ use of prosocial and critical thinking skills
- Reduces negative behaviors such as peer exclusion, bullying and fighting
- Strengthens educators' facilitation and SEL (social emotional learning) skills
- Frees up time for academics through proactive behavior management
