Once the two prongs of Personal Mindfulness Practices and Equity Work have been learned and experienced, a teacher is ready to start bringing mindfulness into their classroom. Once you feel confident with your personal meditation and mindfulness routines, you’re ready to share it with your students! Here you will find the steps and resources to successfully introduce it to your students.
1. Share your personal story and success
2. Run a circle to ask student what they think mindfulness is, and provide them with the working definition: "paying attention to the current moment with curiosity and kindness, without judgement".
3. Show videos for Introducing Mindfulness to your Classes (below)
4. Practice a short beginners technique (below)
As each group of students is different, they will prefer different meditations. Here are some to try out! You can check back often as we will be creating videos by students/for students.
Meditations for Your Classroom
Meditation is not the only way to achieve sustained attention. And, it doesn’t need to be silent or serious. Playfulness and laughter through activities that require focus and foster personal interaction, followed by appropriate self-inquiry guidance, can be a fun and successful way to bring the values and fundamentals of the practice into your classroom.
Story-telling Round Robin
Coloring Pages <Click here for Mindful Coloring Book>
Rhythm Games
Mindful Mason Jars
Walking Meditation
Mindful Mirroring
There are many challenges that may arise as students are exposed to mindfulness meditation and other practices. This section will help address some of them and offer tips for how to manage them.
Students should not be forced to participate, however ask that everyone respects the quiet space for a short period of time. Offering coloring pages or the option to put heads down on desks usually thwarts any problems. If during the mindfulness time students are fidgety, it is best to continue modeling stillness and focused attention despite the distractions. It may take several sessions for the resistant students to cooperate with the silence and that is okay. If a disturbance is anticipated, you can talk to them privately.
When asking students to be present with themselves, things can be triggered. It is important that we teach our students to always take care of themselves first. Asking to leave the room is okay. You can first remind them that they don't have to participate, and invite them to grab a coloring page or put their head down for a break. If they need to step out, it's okay.
This may happen! Remind the student that emotions are normal and acceptable. Be sure to follow up with supports in the building as you deem necessary.
Here are some resources to dive in further: