• Open Circle is a program designed for students in Kindergarten through the fifth grade that focuses on strengthening students’ social and emotional learning skills related to self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, interpersonal relationships and problem-solving. The program also focuses on fostering safe, caring and highly engaging classroom and school communities that support student learning and growth. The program begins in the Kindergarten classroom and continues through the fifth grade with each grades’ curriculum going more in-depth for the covered topics. This approach allows the younger students to be introduced to topics and to continue to develop their skills throughout their years in elementary school. The introduction of social and emotional learning at an early age will better prepare students for school by promoting the skills needed to be successful in and outside the school setting. Research has shown that “SEL initiatives have unequivocally demonstrated that social competency and problem-solving skills can be taught through school-based programs” (Hennessey, 2007, p. 350). The Open Circle curriculum combines a theoretical basis in relation theory that emphasizes the role relationships play in development with a yearlong instruction in social skills within and across classrooms (Hennessey, 2007).