{"id":35,"date":"2014-12-31T16:13:19","date_gmt":"2014-12-31T16:13:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/dannyneville\/?p=35"},"modified":"2014-12-31T16:55:30","modified_gmt":"2014-12-31T16:55:30","slug":"mindfulness-in-the-classroom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/dannyneville\/2014\/12\/31\/mindfulness-in-the-classroom\/","title":{"rendered":"Mindfulness in the Classroom"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Algonquin\"<\/a>What is mindfulness?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I discovered mindfulness last year, just as the school year was wrapping up. I\u2019d been hearing the word thrown around for quite a while and thought it was about time that I discovered exactly what being mindful was all about.<\/p>\n

Before I tell you what mindfulness is, let me begin by telling you what it is\u00a0not.<\/em>\u00a0It is not a classroom management system. It is not about creating or maintaining tranquility (although this\u00a0can be a side effect of the practice). It is not religious. It is not the absence of thought.\u00a0It is not a magic wand that solves all of our frustrations and anxieties.<\/p>\n

In a nutshell, I learned that mindfulness is when we purposefully pay attention to specific sensations and emotions that we are experiencing in the present moment, without judgment.\u00a0It can help us to improve our focus and self-regulation. It can lead to an increased sense of calm and empathy. It may provide relief from stress, anxiety, and impulsivity. It helps us to understand and connect with the thoughts and feelings we are experiencing in the present moment.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m interested. Now, where do I start?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I began by researching mindfulness in education and found an organization called Mindful Schools<\/a>. They offer three online courses for teachers and other professional youth workers: an introduction to mindfulness, a curriculum-training course, and a certification course.<\/p>\n

The first course is an introduction to the personal practice of mindfulness, an essential part of my goal to use mindfulness in the classroom. Once I had the basics, I moved on to the second course which lead me through the Mindful Schools Curriculum, focusing on topics including how to teach mindfulness in a classroom setting, how to explain mindfulness to others, and some of the basic research and neuroscience behind the practice. The third course, which I have not taken, is a yearlong certification program.<\/p>\n

*N.B. – The Mindful Schools Curriculum is available to educators after completion of the curriculum-training course.<\/p>\n

What other resources are out there?<\/strong><\/p>\n

In researching mindfulness in education, I discovered a number of useful resources for educators. Any Internet search will provide you with a long list of associations, schools, and individuals who are adopting mindfulness techniques in the classroom. I have found the following resources particularly interesting and helpful:<\/p>\n