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Mindfulness Practices
Build compassionate classrooms and mindful schools that prioritize both learning and well-being. Based on the latest neuroscience research, this book provides mindfulness exercises as well as trauma-informed practices for creating positive learning environments.
Benefits
- Explore the theory behind mindful education, including the interrelated nature of physiology, cognition, emotions, and mindfulness for students.
- Learn how mindfulness in schools contributes to a positive mindset, alleviates the impact of toxic stress, and takes advantage of neuroplasticity.
- Understand the effects of trauma and ACEs (adverse childhood experiences) on student behavior and the ability to learn, and discover trauma-informed practices that support healing.
- Acquire research-based mindfulness practices, including breathing exercises, yoga for the classroom, meditation for students, and cognitive reflection and awareness.
- Reignite the passion that first drew you to education and prioritize self-care for yourself and your students.
- Discover how to build a heart-centered learning community in classrooms and create mindful schools.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Part I: The Urgency of Now
Chapter 1: The Need to Care
Chapter 2: The Journey—Healing Along the Way
Chapter 3: Our Brain and the Mind-Body Connection
Part II: Mindfulness Practices—Getting Practical
Chapter 4: A Deep Breath
Chapter 5: Move and Stretch—Yoga and Meditation Basics
Chapter 6: Mindful Sensation, Presence, and Emotion
Part III: Mindful and Compassionate Classrooms and School Communities
Chapter 7: Mindful Instruction—Paying Attention to Your Students
Chapter 8: Executive Functioning
Chapter 9: Mindful Leadership From Within—A New Mindset
PRINTABLE REPRODUCIBLES
Chapter 1
- Chapter 1 Mindful Reflection Questions—The Need to Care
- Chapter 2 Mindful Reflection Questions—The Journey–Healing Along the Way
- Chapter 3 Mindful Reflection Questions—Our Brain and the Mind-Body Connection
- Chapter 4 Mindful Reflection Questions—A Deep Breath
- Chapter 5 Mindful Reflection Questions—Move and Stretch—Yoga and Meditation Basics
- Chapter 6 Mindful Reflection Questions—Mindful Sensation, Presence, and Emotion
- Chapter 7 Mindful Reflection Questions—Mindful Instruction—Paying Attention to Your Students
- Chapter 8 Mindful Reflection Questions—Executive Functioning
- Chapter 9 Mindful Reflection Questions—Mindful Leadership From Within—A New Mindset
- Figure 5.1: Good Yogic Posture
- Figure 6.2: Steps to Heart Centered Mindfulness
- Mindfulness Practices Work
- Getting Buy-In to Move Mindfulness Beyond Classrooms
- Planning to Move Beyond Classrooms
- Emotion Exercise: Happiness for Elementary Students Handout
- Emotion Exercise: Sadness for Elementary Students Handout
SUGGESTED RESOURCES
THE EMOTION EXERCISES: SADNESS FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS
The following picture books can help you take the steps required for talking to students about emotions.
- Aliki. (1984). Feelings. New York: Greenwillow Books.
- Bang, M. (2004). When Sophie Gets Angry—Really, Really Angry. New York: Blue Sky Press. (a series with various emotions)
- Cain, J. (2000). The Way I Feel. Seattle, WA: Parenting Press.
- Emberley, E., & Miranda, A. (1997). Glad Monster, Sad Monster: A Book About Feelings. Boston: Little, Brown.
- Huebner, D. (2006). What Do You Do When You Worry Too Much: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Anxiety. Washington, D.C.: Magination Press. (a series with various emotions)
- Meiner, C. J. (2010). Cool Down and Work Through Anger. Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Publishing. (a series with various emotions)
- Osborne, J. (2008). Sam Feels Better Now. Ann Arbor, MI: Loving Healing Press.
- Rotner, S. (2003). Lots of Feelings. Minneapolis, MN: Millbrook Press.
- Spelman, C. M. (2013). When I Feel Sad. Park Ridge, IL: Albert Whitman & Co. (a series with various emotions)
INFORMATION ABOUT BRAIN-BASED GAMES
You can read more about brain-based games with these sources.
- American Psychological Association, “Is Working Memory Training Effective? A Meta-Analytic Review”
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, “Component Analysis of Simple Span vs. Complex Span Adaptive Working Memory Exercises: A Randomized Controlled Trial”
- ScienceDirect, “Cogmed Working Memory Training: Does the Evidence Support the Claims?”
INFORMATION ABOUT THE RIGHTS OF STUDENTS WHO ARE IMMIGRANTS
You can read more about the rights of students who are immigrants with these sources.
- American School Counselor Association, “Immigrant Aid”
- Center for Educational Improvement, “Ending DACA: Resources for Principals, Counselors, and Teachers”
- neaToday, “How Undocumented Students are Turned Away From Public Schools”
BOOKS
- Jensen, E. (2016). Poor Students, Rich Teaching: Mindsets for Change. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
WEBSITES
- Greater Good Magazine, “Four Lessons From “Inside Out” to Discuss With Kids”
- Lesson Planet, Grief Lesson Plans and Worksheet
- ESL Printables, “Happiness Worksheets”
Chapter 1
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
- CalSCHLS, “California School Climate, Health, and Learning Surveys”
- Center for Educational Improvement, “Heart Beaming Book & Certification”
- Cosmic Kids, “Five Fun Breathing Exercises for Kids”
- Mindbodygreen, “5 Ways to Get Teenagers Practicing Yoga”
- Move With Me Yoga Adventures, “4 Breathing Exercises for Kids”
- The School Counseling Yogi, “Pranayama—The Power of Breath”
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
