Mindfulness
Practicing mindfulness is nothing new, but it has become somewhat of a recent phenomenon in the education setting. The 2015-2016 school year was my first time to incorporate mindfulness instruction in the classroom, and I noticed that it had such a strikingly positive impact on both my students and myself. I look forward to incorporating mindfulness instruction again this year!
Take a peek at the program we use.
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Read about some of the benefits of practicing mindfulness in education from Mindful Schools.
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What is mindfulness?
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"Mindfulness is paying attention to the present moment with kindness." - Mindful Life |
Why practice mindfulness?
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Children today experience more stress at younger ages than we adults did growing up. Our kiddos are growing up in a society that is fast-paced, media-saturated, and high-pressured. This causes stress and can have negative effects on learning in the classroom.
"Over 30 years of research with adults has shown that mindfulness decreases stress, anxiety, depression, and hostility. It has also been shown to improve immune functioning and executive functioning. Practicing mindfulness [in the classroom] can decrease stress and enhance well-being. This in turn will improve the learning environment in the classroom and students will become more effective learners. Most if not all, children can benefit from learning to focus their attention, to become less reactive, and to be more compassionate with themselves and others." - Mindful Life |
How do we practice mindfulness?
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We will be implementing the Mindful Life Schools method in our classroom. It was developed using the latest scientific research by Kristen Race, Ph.D. and introduces children to mindfulness in a fun, developmentally appropriate way. We will have a short weekly lesson that introduces a particular mindfulness skill and practice it throughout the week. A letter will be sent home to you so that, as parents, you can reinforce and practice the mindfulness skill at home. Some of the skills we'll work on include mindful listening, mindful movement, and mindful breathing.
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Mindfulness in the News
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