The Why
Mindfulness still to some, sounds like a
fad or buzz word. But it is more than that. It is awareness, empathy,
positivity- all the forward-thinking, growth mindset vocabulary that comes to
mind. It is about getting students into a healthy frame of mind.
After being home, away from a school setting for months- it is about creating
an atmosphere of support, camaraderie, and community in a virtual world or an
in person one.
I have always incorporated mindfulness
into my classroom- kindness, respect, trust. But, over the past few years the
lessons have expanded, reflection and feedback have become more purposeful and
productive.
Talking about what mindfulness means has taken a front seat. If we
truly step back and put students in the drivers’ seat, create student-centered
classrooms- then we need to provide them with mindfulED.
We have to teach them to steer into
adversity, curve around frustration by hugging the curb, and above all else- giving
them a map- a booklet on the rules of the road.
There will be fender-benders, there
will be detours and yes, collisions (collidingwithscience is our class motto
after all), and there will be some road rage. I have seen the frustration
unfold. How students deal with it is the key to a happy classroom.
What we need to do is to give them a way
to system check. Provide them with a maintenance guide. How to take deep
breaths, I mean really breathe with awareness. How to stretch and relax their
bodies- take breaks and just walk around.
How to visualize their frustration-
be still and recognize the moments that cause them stress- then address the
situation with a calm mind.
Talking about anxiety is important.
Talking about fear is important. Accepting the fact that anger and happiness
live side by side, along with sadness, contentment, and uncertainty- is
important.
Having students share their concerns is critical to finding and
living a mindful life. Having them share moments where they overreacted or shut
down is important because they all have had them and by showing vulnerability,
they strengthen trust.
The What
I use S.T.O.M.P. – I wrote about this in
an earlier post- Practical
Rebellion: Hocus Pocus it's Time to Focus: S.T.O.M.P. out Mis... https://practicalrebellion.blogspot.com/2019/10/hocus-pocus-its-time-to-focus-stomp-out.html?spref=tw
I
also use videos to start conversations like those on You Tube by Happify. My
favorite being the Angry Wolf one. I start every class period with a
mindfulness warm-up. Virtually they will be in their Bulb portfolios, in class
in a journal.
Students draw, write poems, and just reflect on their day to day
interactions. Then we discuss them as a class- the whole process takes 5-7
minutes.
We
pause and breathe before we start an assessment or get up and move to stations
or begin labs. I always say “Eyes closed minds focused- What is my goal? How do
I get there successfully?”
Then if they get too loud my reminder is “Turbulence
is an energy not a sound- lets refocus the energy.” Or “We are colliding with
science energy is our fuel so let’s use it wisely.”
Mindfulness lessons can include meditation- I call it
being still. It can include Yoga or other calming exercises- I tend to go
Zombie Musical Chairs or Find the Clue. Something more quietly active. Like a
brain break or mood stabilizer. We all need those sometimes.
The most important thing about using mindfulness
lessons is to find those that speak to you. There are a lot of choices- some
fluffy, some time-consuming. Some juvenile for your grade level.
But, if you
find or write your own that you feel passionate about, like I did I wrote my
own S.T.O.M.P. to meet my personality and need- it will be successful.
The How
Students really like the lessons. It makes them feel
in control because it puts the responsibility on them. They choose their
mindset they behave and act as they decide. They own it. As soon as they feel
like the control is theirs, they start to believe.
Yes, the first time or even
up to the fourth or fifth time to introduce mindfulness, MindfulED- there will
be snickers and nonbelievers. But, trust me they begin to listen and then utilize
and then believe in the process.
Then with Home Thinking (I do not assign homework)
they talk about mindfulness at the dinner table- they pause before they speak,
they learn to respond not react. They find hacks and personal strategies that
work for them.
They as teachers say, “buy in” and when they have, they have
read the manual, they have learned the rules of the road- classroom behavior is
positive, reactions are more aware, and students smile more.
Mindfulness lessons can be virtual or in person, you
just have to believe. You just have to own it and go with it. It will be worth
it- I promise.
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