This week I am shifting my focus from my own mindfulness practice to mindfulness in the classroom. I thought this would be an appropriate topic to gain some knowledge on since I will be a teacher one day. Upon doing my research, I found this article that stated in a 2015 study by Schonert-Reichl students who wereĀ  trained in mindfulness scored higher in math, had 24% more social behaviors, and were 20% less aggressive. The group of studentsĀ  that were trained in mindfulness excelled above the other group (who were not trained) in the areas of attention, memory, emotional regulation, optimism, stress levels, mindfulness, and empathy. So there is proof that mindfulness really does work, butĀ  how can we bring it into the classroom?Ā 

First of all, it is important to note that it is crucial the teacher is practicing mindfulness and is fostering that environment, because that is the only way children are going to learn to be mindful. As I was doing my research, I came across this article and found a very valuable tool within it. This article discussed the idea of mindfulness through guided imagery. This concept develops children’s imaginations and also provides mindfulness. This article stated that when you start a new topic in your classroom, have your students close their eyes (if that’s comfortable) and slowly talk them through a pretend journey. For example, if you’re studying the ocean, have them imagine getting into underwater vehicles and cruising through the ocean waters, looking for fish, animals, and plants. End the guided relaxation with a few deep breaths, and then they can draw what they imagined and discuss their ideas as a class. This allows for the teacher to take the students on journeys through relaxation stories to help them calm down and re-energize. I remember doing a similar thing as a cool down for PE in grade 3 and it has always stuck with me. Our teacher turned off the lights and got us to lay down. She started telling a story about a beach and told us to use our imagination. I remember loving this activity because it calmed me down and made me happy. The article takes it one step further than my experience by actually connecting it to the curriculum, which I thought was so cool!Ā 

I asked chat GPT its thoughts on how to bring mindfulness into the classroom and this was its responseĀ 

  • Mindful Moments: Begin each class with a brief mindfulness exercise to help students center themselves and prepare for learning. This could be a simple breathing exercise, a short guided meditation, or a mindful listening activity.
  • Mindful Movement: Incorporate movement-based mindfulness practices into the curriculum, such as yoga, tai chi, or walking meditation. These activities can help students release tension, improve body awareness, and cultivate a sense of calm.
  • Mindful Reflection: Integrate opportunities for reflection and self-awareness into classroom activities and assignments. Encourage students to journal about their thoughts and emotions, set personal goals, and reflect on their learning experiences.
  • Mindful Communication: Foster mindful communication and interpersonal skills by teaching students active listening, empathy, and conflict resolution techniques. Create a supportive space where students feel comfortable expressing themselves and sharing their thoughts and feelings with others.
  • -Chat GPT

I also thought it would be a cool idea to have mindfulness posters in the classroom so students can always come to them and practice their breathing like this one!

Image by Jennifer FernandezĀ on PrintervalĀ is licensed under CC 4.0

All of these are great tools and examples of how to use mindfulness in the classroom and I will definitely be coming back to my research and implementing it into my future classroom!Ā