So much to learn, so little time!!
I am thrilled to share with you what I have learned thus far after researching the importance and the teaching of mindfulness in a classroom. As someone who tries to include meditation and some mindfulness activities in her everyday, I am very excited to see it become integrated into schools. I know that this could make a difference for so many students once teachers just get started.
I have learned that somewhere to start, as a teacher, when trying to introduce mindfulness to the students (younger in this case) would be to introduce them to their Five Senses. Although most students by junior grades are away of their five senses there are multiple activities that a teacher can use just from that alone.
Click above for a kid friendly video on senses - in order for students to be able to achieve or do this grounding and calming activity they must be knowledgeable about the 5 senses. Enjoy!
If a student is having a difficult time, may it be they are angry, upset, annoyed, etc, they could list of 5 things to their teachers. 5 things that match their senses or 5 things specific to one sense of their choosing. This activity would help ground the students and be aware of their surroundings which will in the end help them to talk about what is going on.
I have done this activity on my own before so I feel confident that I could help students with it because I know of its success.
Uh - oh..
I think the only problems I am having this far is trying to find research that is not based on opinions of those who have incorporated mindfulness into their classrooms. Of course I do believe it works but it would be interesting to read of those who oppose the notion of integrating it into the curriculum and or classroom environments.
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