The first step is selecting what areas of mindfulness you would like to use in your classroom. For instance, looking at the areas of mindfulness in the Technology section of the site, you are able to select a source that is optimal for you, and your students. Within the many resources outlined, you are able to consider what area makes the most sense for your day. A great place to start would be utilizing the Calm App. This app has free resources that you an easily turn on through your personal device, or use through a computer. 

Starting small, and picking a platform that you could use and implement over time allows for children to experience the effects of mindfulness in a low-stake environment. Starting with five minutes a day- including the teaching of skill and short 1-2 minute meditation cycle is ideal for students to grow comfortability with the practice and skill. 

Once you identify which platform is best for your classroom and students, practice with children.  Using the section, 'Why Mindfulness in the classroom" will outline why mindfulness should be implemented and gives you proper vocabulary to introduce to your children. Explaining the benefits of mindfulness to the children allows them the autonomy to "buy-in" or agree to practice the skill. 

It's important to remind yourself that the practice of this skill will take time to have a place in your daily routines. There needs to be a layer of patience to help your students understand the goals of mindfulness and this will likely not happen within a day of practice. Students may need practice at becoming still, listening to the meditation, and will need explicit modeling of the skill to show how it should be done. I mentioned the app, Calm, as a great way to begin guided mindfulness, however, other platforms, such as GoNoodle offer visual feedback to students which can be more engaging and offer multiple layers of support. 

With continued practice, students will grow stamina and will become able to use different mediums of mindfulness, which allows you as the teacher to integrate different resources, different technologies, or even ask students to take the wheel and have ownership in this time(s) of day. 

As mentioned in the Literature section of this website, studies have found such positive impacts for the lives of students when mindfulness is intertwined into the daily routines of a classroom. Students have higher levels of focus, therefore becoming able to lower stress levels and become active members of the learning community.