- What was I coming into this room to get?
- What streets did I take to get here?
- What did he just say?
These are scenarios that most of us can relate to. They are all examples of situations where our mind was, well for a lack of a better word, somewhere else. It was not in the present moment. Our mind was full, but not "MINDFUL."
What is Mindfulness:
Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment.
Obstacles to being Mindful:
- Tiredness
- Hunger
- Boredom
- Stress and Anxiety
The Bad News!
Teachers can not remove every obstacle a student face. For example, teachers can not control the amount of hours a student sleeps, students' life stresses, etc.
According to the Washington Post article that you can find here,
neurological research shows that traumatic experiences can transform
the developing brain by altering chemical balances which make it more
difficult for students to concentrate, build relationships and make
connections. All which are necessary skills for performing well in school.
The Good News!
Teachers can directly fix some of these obstacles. For example, a teacher can supply a hungry student with a snack, or control boredom with an engaging lesson.
The Best News!
It doesn't take much time to help students become more mindful.
Some Mindful Techniques to Offer Your Class as a WHOLE:
- Meditation (You may use videos as the ones provided by Go Zen! or GoNoodle)
- Listen to Soft Calming Music
- Journaling (Ex. Gratitude Journal, List of Things You See or Hear, write a poem, etc.)
- Gazing out the Window or at a Picture
- Create a Drawing
(This picture was found on Pinterest with no landing page, but serves as ideas for quick draws.)
Some Other Mindfulness Techniques Students can use INDIVIDUALLY:
- Go for a Mindful Walk
- Play with Play-Doh or a Stress Ball
- Pick up a Sensory Water Bottle and Observe It
- Grab a Minute Timer and Watch the Sand Descend
These various techniques should be introduced to students in an introductory lesson. There are various follow-up activities the class can participate in to help students best understand what their options are if, and when, they feel unfocused or distressed.
Various Mindfulness Reference Activities Students can Do After Brainstorming Techniques:
Various Mindfulness Reference Activities Students can Do After Brainstorming Techniques:
- Draw a Mindful Picture with Techniques Shown
- Make a List in a Journal
- Make a Flip Book
- Write Top Five Options on an Index Card to Place in a Binder
- Complete a Class Anchor Chart
Which ever follow-up activity you select, it should result in a resource that students can refer back to when they need some time to refocus themselves into the present moment.
Books You Can Use in the Classroom to Support Mindfulness:
Hopefully, this post has given you some new ideas you can implement with your students.
If you would like a resource that students can use to record notes or activity ideas you may download the FREE resource below by clicking the image.
To get more information on mindfulness, follow my Pinterest board below. I will continue to post great articles, books, and videos I find related to this topic.
Happy Teaching!

Such a great post! I am excited to join you in teaching my students all about mindfulness!
ReplyDeletePink Ink and Polka Dots
Thank you! I am very excited about it as well. So glad to know you will be joining me on this journey. =)
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