YOUR MINUTES || BE MINDFUL THIS SCHOOL YEAR
Welcome to another Your Minutes post that features YOU! Here you will see teachers and administrators sharing how they spend their minutes doing what they do best.
Please welcome my dear friend and talented educator, Stephanie Worcester. Stephanie has such depth of knowledge in so many areas. I'm thankful she agreed to share with us today, and I hope to have her back in the future.
Mindfulness has become a buzzword over the past few years and has made its way into educational settings. But is it just a passing fad? Although research is relatively new on the subject of mindfulness, (according to the American Psychological Association )studies have shown that it can reduce stress, boost working memory, and increase focus.
So how can you make mindfulness part of your classroom routine ? You don’t need formal training, although if you are lucky enough, many districts and schools are adding it as part of their staff development.
via The New York Times
Here are a couple of ideas that you can try.
One simple technique that works well for the young child and elementary aged students is called the quiet game or making silence. Using a simple minute sand timer, have your students sit on the floor in a large circle with the goal that they remain quiet and focused on the timer until a minute has passed. At first there will be some squirms and giggles, but rather quickly students will adjust, and want to try for two or three minutes. This is a great activity to begin a class and I found it especially helpful after recess in giving students a tool to help them quiet their minds and bodies.
For older students, there are some apps that work well. I personally like Calm. (I have no affiliation to this app-I just like it!) It contains guided meditations that can be done in as little as two minutes. There are multiple topics to choose from that are applicable to tweens and teens such as confidence, focus, creativity, motivation, and anxiety release to name a few. You may personally find sessions that are helpful to you in clearing your mind. I adore the sleep stories-they really work!
via Geelong Grammar School
So, as you start thinking about how you want your classroom and learning environment to be this year, consider incorporating some mindfulness into your daily routine. Not only will your students benefit, but you just may be surprised at how much you enjoy it as well!
If you are interested in finding out more information on mindfulness in the classroom here are some resources:
Mindfulschools.org
Mindfuleducation.org
Greatergood.berkely.edu
Davis, Daphne M. PhD, and Hayes, Jeffrey A. PhD, What are the Benefits of Mindfulness ? A Practical Review of Psychotherapy-Related Research, APA Journal of Psychotherapy. (Vol 48. No 2)
MEET STEPHANIE
Stephanie Worcester is a passionate educator with over 20 years of experience in the field of Dyslexia and related disorders. She holds a Masters in Educational Administration, is a licensed Dyslexia Therapist, Qualified Instructor in Multisensory Structured Language approaches, and certified in Elementary Montessori education. When not ensconced in a school building she enjoys anything to do with interior decorating and spending time with her husband and daughter. She is currently a Learning Specialist at The Hockaday School and resides in Dallas, Texas.