Open Circle provides a unique, evidence-based social and emotional learning program for grades K-5 aimed at: 1) proactively developing children’s skills for recognizing and managing emotions, empathy, positive relationships and problem solving, and 2) helping schools develop a community where students feel safe, cared for and engaged in learning.
Classroom teachers implement the grade-differentiated Open Circle Curriculum during 15-minute classroom meetings twice per week. Students form a circle of chairs, including an empty seat to symbolize that there is always room for another person, voice or opinion.
Open Circle’s whole-school approach includes training all adults in the school community – teachers, administrators, counselors, support staff and families – to model and reinforce prosocial skills throughout the school day and at home.
Every few Open Circle lessons that we do in the classroom, I will be posting a letter to families to share what we have been talking about, the language we are using in the classroom, and book suggestions.