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:
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Self-care for teachers through afterschool courses
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In-school yoga for at-risk student populations
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Support of the professional development of teachers and staff in mindfulness techniques
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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...
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Affects teachers' self-awareness, stress management, teaching practice, and job satisfaction.
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Allows students to achieve more competence in academic learning.
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Reduces stress, increases focus of attention, engagement, self-control, and self-motivation, and invites in calm, reflective learners.
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Promotes one's ability to observe what is happening at the present moment, without evaluating, scrutinizing, or dissecting.
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Allows one to have insight by being open, flexible, and curious.
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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:
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Impact Framingham (2012)
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The Massachusetts Woman's Home Missionary Union (2013-2019)
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The Church Home Society (2018, 2019)
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The BTS Center (2019)
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The Framingham Public Schools
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Our generous private donors