1. Mindfulness in Education
Honored to be here with you to share what I am learning and what we are doing at CiTi with Mindfulness
This began as my own personal exploration and has been encouraged by my daughter, a high school senior who for several years now has been asking me, even pleading me to do something to bring mindfulness to kids. Kids need this she has repeatedly said…and she is right.
An overview of its role in mental health & well-being for students & educators.
Liane Benedict
Center for Instruction, Technology & Innovation

2. Raphah – my daughter grew up with Raphah, in class in elementary school, he even had a crush on her at one point. Tough life…
Andrew – my daughter didn’t know him as well, but a high school classmate nonetheless
Both of these boys took their life in 2016…
Raphah
Andrew

3. “Release” A Mindfulness Short
Stop at 2:26
 70% of middle school students today report feeling “stressed out” — an alarming figure, and a sign that something must be done to help kids manage the sense of overwhelm and frustration they experience so that they can blossom into young adults who are equipped to navigate their way.

4. Our Focus
What does it mean to be mentally and emotionally healthy? How do we assist our students, teachers and leaders with this? How do we ensure it in ourselves?
What school/community resources do we have in my region to address mental health issues? What gaps do we have in our region?

5. NYC Health Department Report, 2015
Major depressive disorder is the single greatest source of disability in NYC
Less than 40% receiving care for this
8% public school kids say they have attempted suicide
Survey of 1000 CUNY students found 26% reported significant anxiety, 19% had symptoms of depression, only 10% sought treatment.
Connections to drug and alcohol abuse

6. NPR ~ February 2017
Between 2005 and 2014, rates of depression went up significantly suggesting that approximately half a million more depressed teens by 2014.
Major jump in 2011 in the number of teens experiencing major depressive episodes.
Three-fourths of those depressed teens were girls
Post from mindful teachers…
NYC Health Department report

7. Mindful Teachers ~ Trauma Informed Yoga & Mindfulness
Assume that 30-50% of students have experienced some form of an Adverse Childhood Experience
Research shows that more than 50% of individuals my be under identified or not yet identified for struggling with mental health disorders

8. New Normal?
Stress, depletion and low-to-medium grade anxiety have become the new normal in schools.
How does this affect our ability as a school community to stabilize attention, connect with each other and engage with the learning environment?

9. Trauma
A response to a negative external event or series of events which surpasses the child’s ordinary coping skills.
Well-documented interference with brain development and learning
Neurological changes impact ability to pay attention, process new information and even learn to read and write
Long term impact – elevated risk for mental and physical health problems, substance abuse, criminal justice involvement

10. My Intentions
Offer insight into Mindfulness as a strategy for improved mental health and well-being
Honor the experience and energy in the room
Offer opportunities to experience stillness & connection
Provide knowledge & resources for ongoing learning
Facilitate opportunities for meaning making
It is not a magic bullet

11. An Invitation To Be Present

12. Mindful Moment Focus on the Breath
Key tenet is personal practice & development of the skills and strategies
A core component of mindfulness is focus on the breath
Candle Breath – teach first…
Mindful Posture Body Scan
What did you notice?
Focus on the Breath

13. Mindful Moment Focus on the Breath
Key tenet is personal practice & development of the skills and strategies
A core component of mindfulness is focus on the breath
Candle Breath – teach first…
Mindful Posture Body Scan
What did you notice?
Focus on the Breath

14. Small Fires How did the mindful moment feel?
Experience with mindfulness?
What are you most curious about regarding mindfulness?

15. What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgmentally. ~ Jon Kabat Zinn (MBSR) Bringing awareness to one’s experience – mindfulness can be applied to our senses, thoughts, and emotions by using sustained attention and noticing our experience without over-identifying. ~ Mindful Schools Mindfulness is paying attention here and now, with kindness and curiosity, and then choosing your behavior. ~ Amy Satlzman

16. Reading from book

17. Timeline

18. Jon Kabat-Zinn What is Mindfulness?
From talk given at UC Berkley’s Greater Good Science Center

19. 5 Core Principles ~ Jon Kabat-Zinn
A heightened awareness of internal and external experiences including thoughts, smells, feelings, the body, sights.
A nonjudgmental observation of these experiences
Compassion toward self
The development of openness and curiosity toward internal and external experiences
The ability to return to the present as thoughts arise

20. Research & Application
The Mindfulness in Education Movement
Mindful Schools – List of 9 Aspects of Well-Being Developed Through Mindfulness Practice
Collection of Excerpts on Research
Mindful Teaching Practices
Mindful Practice, Teaching & Neurophysiology
How Mindfulness id Revolutionizing Mental Health Care

21. Research & Application Jigsaw
Groups of 6
Folders with 6 articles/excerpts
Read with the intention of sharing a summary of key ideas as well as your reaction to the reading
Each share in turn.
Make connections, ask questions

22. Styles of Implementation
Outside Providers
Classroom Teachers
Train teachers
Use of curriculum, various resources
Train students
Parents
Institutions
Mental Health Professionals

24. Go Noodle
From Mindless to Mindful

25. The Way of Mindful Education
Book Study

26. How do you want to transform yourself to be a greater conduit to the learning of youth that have been brought into your care?

27. “I’d like to focus on being an understanding, compassionate and, loving presence in my students lives. So many of them come from chaotic, tense and, stressful homes full of judgement and anxiety. So many of them are used to being pushed aside or given up on. So many of them have issues that make them difficult to be understanding, compassionate, and loving to them. I’d love it if they knew that, no matter what else happened in their day, they could count on me to be someone who responded to them kindly and gently. That I genuinely cared for them.”

28. But, that is of course, easier said than done
But, that is of course, easier said than done. A co-worker once had a sign on her door that said, “The children who need love the most will demonstrate it in the most unlovable ways.” I’m hopefully that my mindfulness practice will bring me the skills and tools to be able to see past what the students say and do, to what they really need, to what they are really asking for and, be able to give it to them.

29. Importance of Personal Practice
Developing a personal daily practice is crucial ~ start small
Utilize resources for support
Practice with others
Reflect with others about how it is going
If you haven’t explored your own internal territory, it is difficult (if not impossible) to help others explore theirs.

30. What We Are Doing @ CiTi Book Study ~ The Way of Mindful Education
Mindful Educator Network
Schoology ~ resources & building our network
Support for development of personal practice – Day of Mindfulness for Educators
Piloting with students
Student Programs Implementation next school year

31. Not Just Coping. Thriving.
In discussing how mindfulness practice addresses stress and other problems in education, we don’t want to lose sight of the fact that mindfulness can take us beyond the terrain of managing symptoms to a place where we are developing the deepest capacities of the human mind.

32. Apps & Resources Calm Website & App Headspace 10percenthappier
And Five Others to Check Out…
7 Best Guided Meditations
Jon Kabat Zinn Guided Meditation Series
Mindful Schools
Omega Institute for Holistic Studies

33. “Release” A Mindfulness Short
Stop at 2:26
 70% of middle school students today report feeling “stressed out” — an alarming figure, and a sign that something must be done to help kids manage the sense of overwhelm and frustration they experience so that they can blossom into young adults who are equipped to navigate their way.

34. Box Breathing Practice
Hold breath for 4 counts
Breath in for 4 counts
Breath out for 4 counts
Hold breath for 4 counts

36. Thank you!