A Project of Open Spirit
Nourishing Teachers
Strengthening Classrooms
​
Our Mission
​
The Nourishing Teachers/Strengthening Classrooms (NT/SC) Project of Open Spirit was established in 2012 to offer teachers and students training and skills in mindfulness that they can use in the classrooms to enhance learning and behavior.
​
We offer the following support and training to teachers and students in the Framingham Public Schools:
​
-
Self-care for teachers through afterschool courses
-
In-school yoga for at-risk student populations
-
Support of the professional development of teachers and staff in mindfulness techniques
-
Weekend restorative yoga workshops for teachers own self-care
​
"Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgementally."
- Jon Kabat-Zinn, Founding Director of the Center for Mindfulness, UMass Medical School
​
Why mindfulness?
​
Mindfulness...
-
Affects teachers' self-awareness, stress management, teaching practice, and job satisfaction.
-
Allows students to achieve more competence in academic learning.
-
Reduces stress, increases focus of attention, engagement, self-control, and self-motivation, and invites in calm, reflective learners.
-
Promotes one's ability to observe what is happening at the present moment, without evaluating, scrutinizing, or dissecting.
-
Allows one to have insight by being open, flexible, and curious.
-
Supports emotional intelligence and social skills.
​
Find out what school staff say about our project
​
Nourishing Teachers/Strengthening Classrooms Staff
​
Special thanks to our contributing organizations
which have provided funding to our project:
​
-
Impact Framingham (2012)
-
The Massachusetts Woman's Home Missionary Union (2013-2019)
-
The Church Home Society (2018, 2019)
-
The BTS Center (2019)
-
The Framingham Public Schools
-
Our generous private donors
​
