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

Two Massachusetts school districts utilize Open Circle to provide a safe space for students to learn how hateful actions hurt their classmates:
Framingham Elementary School Principal ‘Heartbroken’ After Note Calls Muslim Girl A Terrorist (CBS Boston) Hate ‘mainstream’ in Massachusetts schools (Wicked Local Concord)
ARTICLE: Mindful Schools | Two Powerful Conflict Resolution Tools: Mindfulness and Neuroscience
Telling a child to calm down often isn’t enough. Understanding how the brain works and learning how to calm the brain will help children put Open Circle skills into action. Read the...
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
NEWS: EDWEEK - Why We Can't Have Social and Emotional Learning Without Equity
Robert Jagers, head of research for the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) discusses how Social and emotional learning and equity both address how to provide high-quality instruction for all students, regardless of background - Read article on Education...

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

Building

Sustaining

Leading

TESTIMONIALS

"Open circle has been wonderful and necessary in my classroom, although we were trained over three years ago it is still so relevant day to day."

– Grade-level Teacher, Public School
TESTIMONIALS

"It’s a wonderful program for giving the children a common language when negotiating social issues."

– Grade-level School Teacher, Independent School
TESTIMONIALS

"Overall, I really like Open Circle and so do the students and teachers I use it with. I think it's a very user friendly modality that is able to be completed easily when you allow time for it."

– Mental Health Professional, Public School
TESTIMONIALS

"I am participating in Classroom Teacher training this year. I have fully implemented Open Circle in my classroom for the first time and I have noticed the difference in my students SEL immediately."

– Grade-level Teacher, Public School
TESTIMONIALS

"It’s been a life changing experience personally and professionally."

– Grade-level Teacher, Independent School