Learning Mindfulness, Tips and Tools

Learning Mindfulness, Tips and Tools

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Learning Mindfulness.

It is important for children to realise that learning mindfulness is different from normal activities.

 

For Example

Explain to your students that learning about mindfulness is a special time for them to be a curious scientist and explore their inner world.

They will learn how to connect with their still place within as well as spend time learning tools that will help them manage worry and stress.

Students will also be developing their skill in paying attention and will learn how to notice what they are feeling and thinking moment by moment, as well as become kinder, stronger and more confident.

 

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Tips and Tools

Keep it simple, regular and consistent.

Did know that we lose our attention 6 - 10 times per minute!

Paying attention is a skill that needs to be practised which is why children, as well as adults, need regular opportunities to practise mindfulness for it to be truly beneficial.

Whatever we practise we become good at! Like learning to read or write or riding a bicycle mindfulness takes practise, practise, practise.

 

Remember to practise with the class

Remember to learn and practise your mindfulness with your students. You are all learning together.

 

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Starting The Day

Start each day with a breathing exercise.

Start each day with a breathing exercise or a few moments of quiet and stillness by taking 3 mindful breath's. This assists students to arrive at the present moment feeling calm and focused ready for the school day.

 

Do a check-in.

Do a check-in and ask how everyone is feeling right now. Your students can give an indication with a thumbs-up (Good), thumbs-down (Bad), thumbs-sideways (Ok).

 

During The Day

Mindfulness lesson or meditation

Before commencing the mindfulness lesson or meditation you may wish to invite students to take their shoes off to signify this is a special time of the day.

Research shows that kids relax more in learning spaces when they remove their shoes and student behaviour also improves.

 

End Of The Day

Journal Pages

The journal pages are an important way for students to support and integrate their mindfulness lesson. They are also a positive and fun way to finish the day.

 

Gratitudes

Finish the day by asking students to write gratitudes and place them in their own gratitude jar on their desk. It's fun at the end of the week for students to share somethings they are grateful for.

 

Hand on heart

Students and teachers can end the day by closing their eyes, placing one hand on their heart and thinking of 3 things they are grateful for today.

Placing hands on hearts releases the feel-good chemical oxytocin which helps children feel safe and loved.

 

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Suggestions

Choose a mindful leader.

Choosing a mindful leader at the beginning of each week can be very empowering for students and also helps the leader to really develop their self-awareness and mindfulness skills very quickly.

You could invite the class to come up with responsibilities for the leader, for example, collecting gratitudes for a jar and reading the gratitudes at the end of the day. 

 

Suggest a shared agreement while practising Mindfulness.

A shared agreement is an understanding of the following things while students are practising Mindfulness.

  • We will treat everyone in the class with kindness and respect, ask everyone to put their hand up if they agree.
  • You have the right to pass if you don’t feel like speaking for any reason when we are sharing, that’s ok. Put your hand up if you agree.
  • Respectful behaviour, this includes
    • Mindful Listening. Listening to whoever is speaking with your full attention, with your ears, your mind and your heart. Only 1 person speaking at a time. Put your hand up if you agree.
    • Mindful Speaking. I ask that no one interrupts when someone is speaking, allowing others to speak how they feel. Hands up if you agree.
    • Being responsible for your body. Staying in your “Space Bubble”, not distracting, bumping, poking or irritating your friends in the class. Respecting everyone’s personal space especially during meditation and journaling. Once again, put your hand up if you agree.
    • Being a team player, I ask that we support one another in the class, learning together and keeping all the agreements we have just made.
  • Lastly, if I feel the class is not following these mindful agreements and we have lost our mindfulness I ask all students to stop and put one hand on their bellies and do mindful breathing. All students must continue their mindful breathing until everyone in the class is focused and mindful again.

 

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Share your experience

Share your mindful experience from the day with colleagues or, in our discussion forum below. 

According to new studies, mindfulness and meditation can reduce stress in teachers and improves feelings of happiness both in and out of the classroom. Because teachers feel happier and calmer, students also benefit.

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