Mindfulness in the classroom: why it is an essential skill to teach and how to teach it.
Inside this post: Learn about the necessary role of mindfulness and how you can set mental boundaries to protect your mind from ongoing, incoming information. Utilize the easy-to-use mindfulness lesson plans and resources done for you. This complete SEL unit provides all the tools you need to teach, practice, and promote mindfulness.
When you hear the word: MINDFULNESS, what do you think of?
Really, what pops into your head first?
Is it a spark of excitement because you're a mindfulness fan?!
Does it ignite curiosity for you because you are learning about mindfulness?
Do you sigh and roll your eyes because you think it's not for you?
Whatever your initial response to MINDFULNESS is, acknowledge it -
your experiences have lead you to that response!
MINDFULNESS is popping up everywhere.
And that makes sense!!
With everyone's brain bombarded all hours of the day....
We're starting to recognize that our brains need down time.
Even our phones and computers recharge.
Mindfulness is a practice of recharge.
It's a practice to slow down the incoming "news feed" and JUST BE.
Mindfulness is necessary for YOU and me.
It is also extremely necessary for:
Our kids.
Our students.
Young minds everywhere.
Take a moment and mentally inventory all the constant bombardment that our brains are receiving:
we are processing what our body needs (thirst, hunger, sleep),
we are processing our environments that have become increasingly "busy,"
we process light, sound, temperatures, emotions,
we are processing our jobs, responsibilities, families, friends, obligations, goals and constant demands,
we are processing the stimuli constantly being aimed towards us - radios, television, tablets, cell phones, smart watches, computers, and on and on and on.
Whew. Even the mental inventory is exhausting.
Malfunction can be in the form of burn-out, anxiety, depression, headaches, angry outbursts, physical illness and more.
There are active measures to be taken to filter out the noise, to slow the incoming information, to set a boundary and NOT let everything in.
Insert MINDFULNESS.
Just because there are constant competitors for your attention, does NOT mean you have to consume it all. You are the commander of your mind. Take charge and know when to say - ENOUGH!!!
Mindfulness is helping trim out the excess. Take what you need and keep out what you don't.
Choose this moment to make a mindful decision. Take a deep breath. Focus. And proceed with intention.
YOU cannot control everything that is happening around you - BUT
YOU CAN CONTROL YOU.
Choose to step back from the overwhelm.
Ground yourself.
Don't add to the noise, instead, look for ways to incorporate peace.
Find silence.
Teach your students how to find the quiet. Teach them how they can use MINDFULNESS to be present and calm in the moment. Allow them the practice to carve out time that mutes the chaos.
Recognize that the earlier these skills are introduced and solidified, the healthier your students will be!
This complete MINDFULNESS unit includes all you need to introduce and practice this skills in your classroom:
mini lessons,
student activities,
coloring sheets,
classroom posters,
student workbook,
mindfulness fact sheet,
optional lesson add-ons,
engaging videos,
take home learning summary...
🍏Stay Mindful,
Victoria
