When was the last
time you said to your students, “Let’s take a moment for you to arrive in the
classroom.”
I know, as teachers,
we are under constant pressure to prepare students for tests, to stay on
schedule or to just fit it all in. We want our students to be academically
successful. But what about their social and emotional well-being? Each year, the stress and anxiety levels of students are increasing due to many factors. Now more than ever, students need tools to help them deal. Consistently
giving students a moment to “feel how they feel” allows them to be more engaged
in learning. Mindfulness is a great way to teach students to become more aware
of the world around them and how they fit into their world.
Mindfulness is
defined as being aware of one’s own thinking, experiences and
feelings in the present moment.
About three years ago I decided to implement a mindfulness routine in my classroom.
It was super simple, after recess my students would spend a few minutes focused
on breathing and being still in order to notice their thoughts and how their
bodies feel. In the beginning, many students had a difficult time being still even for a few minutes. I persisted and gradually they began to be still for longer
periods of time. As a result, they were calmer in the afternoon; more focused and even
showed more compassion towards each other.
I created a
mindfulness corner in my classroom so that students can practice mindfulness
whenever needed. It gives a student (or teacher!) a moment to process emotions (anger, sadness,
frustration, confusion) instead of acting out impulsively or negatively. My heart runs over
when I see a student quietly walk over to the mindfulness corner and just be
still.
Research suggests that mindfulness can increase focus and attention in children. As a result, they are able to synthesize and analyze to better delve for deeper cognitive understandings during class activities and discussions.
Here's a mindful activity you can try in your classroom starting today:
Deep Breathing
Have students find a comfortable place to sit in the classroom. They can sit at their desks or sit or lay on the floor. Have them close their eyes and just focus on taking deep breaths in through their noses while counting to five. Then they should slowly let their breaths out while counting to five. Remind them to keep their heads up and shoulders straight. They should be able to feel the air as it moves in their noses and down their throats. As students breath in and out, their stomachs should not move in and down in an exaggerated form. Repeat this process a few times. When done, ask students to share how they feel and what they were thinking during this mindful breathing exercise. You can also encourage students to write a reflection with this freebie reflection handout.
For more mindfulness activities, take a look at this resource, A Mindful Classroom. It includes six mindfulness activities that students can practice daily, reflection handouts and a mindfulness journal that can be used throughout the year.
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