1. Mindfulness in the Elementary Classroom
Lindsay Klasing
Play music
Welcome
Sorry for hand outs

2. About me K-1 Montessori Teacher Montessori Certified 3-6
15 years of teaching experience
Background info
Lindsay:
10 years in public schools K, 1, 2, 3, and 5
4th year in K-1 at CDS
Puja:

3. Goals for Today’s Session
Understand positive effects of mindfulness.
Develop a desire to start or continue mindfulness in your personal life and in your classroom.
Acquire strategies to begin or continue mindfulness in your personal life and in your classroom.
Goals
We really want you to leave here with a desire to continue on your mindfulness journey in AND out of the classroom.
We also want you to leave here with some ideas and ways to continue on both journeys. Hopefully you will leave with some strategies you feel ready to implement soon.

4. What is mindfulness… and what does it mean to you?
“Mindfulness is awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgementally.”
-Jon Kabat Zinn
The key part of this phrase to me is non – judgementally. I tried meditation in the past and always got hung up on my failure as thoughts kept entering my mind. Through mindfulness I have learned that I am not failing when my mind wanders. Just by NOTICING these thoughts we are being mindful!! The key is to let the thoughts travel right back out as we focus on our breathing.

5. Another definition of mindfulness…
“Paying attention, here and now, with kindness and curiosity, and then choosing your behavior.”
Amy Saltzman, MD
A Still Quiet Place

6. Key Factors of Mindfulness
Our attention is held on purpose.
We are immersed in the present moment (here and now).
Our attention is held non-judgementally (with kindness and curiosity).
In the video we heard each of these explained. Pretty much any activity that incorporates these three components is a practice in mindfulness.

7. What mindfulness isn’t…
Mindfulness is not just meditation.
Mindfulness is not wiping your mind clear of thoughts.
Mindfulness is not relaxation.
Mindfulness is not religion.
Mindfulness is not sitting in a lotus posture and burning incense.
Many people have the wrong idea about what we mean when we say mindfulness.
Meditation is a form of mindfulness but mindfulness in not limited to just meditation.
We try to notice our thoughts and not judge them but we do not try to clear them.
Mindfulness can help us relax sometimes but just relaxation is not mindfulness.
Many religions incorporate many components of mindfulness but you can be a very mindful person without religion.

8. Which one are you. Which one do you want to be
Which one are you? Which one do you want to be? Does each have a place in your life?

9. Research Says...
Just teachers practicing mindfulness has a positive effect on students and classrooms.
“When teachers learn mindfulness, they not only reap personal benefits such as reduced stress and burnout but their schools do as well.” -
This was very surprising to me but shouldn’t have been. We all know that our baggage and biases that we bring into the classroom each day directly effects our students. But to hear that my mindfulness practice even if I never spoke to my students about mindfulness could have a positive effect on them was very powerful for me.

10. Research Says... 10% improvement in test scores
86% reduction in suspensions
40% reduction in psychological stress
65% decrease in violent conflict
Source: The David Lynch Foundation
The David Lynch Foundation sponsors a program called The Quiet Time Program in many low income urban schools. These are the results they have seen.

11. Of teachers who teach mindfulness...
94% See Improved FOCUS
96% See Better EMOTION REGULATION
86% See More COMPASSION
57% See Improved ACHIEVEMENT
Source:
This is what the teachers say about mindfulness.

12. More Research...
A study of 90 moms by Dutch and Belgian researchers found very strong evidence that mindful traits in moms are associated with better outcomes for their babies.
A study by Brown University that studied the mindful habits of 400 people found strong evidence that being a mindful person went hand in hand with a healthier heart and lungs.
Source: mindful.org

13. And still more research...
Researchers at Syracuse University found that preschoolers who learned mindful yoga practices became significantly better at controlling their impulses and delaying gratification.
Source: mindful.org
This is so exciting to me! Teachers in preschool classroom focus most of their time on self control and delaying gratification. Mindfulness will help!!

14. author of Nurturing the Spirit
“It is almost impossible for one’s spirit to survive in the constant din and hubbub of daily life. Some special places and special times must be set aside for quiet – for one to be open to one’s inner voice.”
Aline D. Wolf,
author of Nurturing the Spirit
The point of showing you all of this research is for us all to realize that having a mindfulness practice of our own can make us a better parent, a better spouse, a better friend, a better employee, a better teacher. Teaching our students mindfulness gives them a head start to being the best they can be!

15. Develop your own practice.
Set aside 10 minutes every day.
Sit and see what you hear or notice within your body.
Focus on your breathing.
Every time you notice your mind wandering, refocus on your breathing.
Now we know why, but how?
Just 10 minutes – find a place that works for you. My classroom is a sacred peaceful place for me. I try to get to school early and sit and breathe before anyone else gets there. I am also a nature lover so at home my back patio early in the morning is my special place. Find a place that is special to you and claim it as yours for 10 minutes each day.

16. Be the Pond!
Be the Pond!
Imagine there is a pond. In the pond there is an angry fish, a happy fish, and excited fish, a nervous fish, a sad fish, and many other fish with many different emotions. Your job it to BE THE POND and allow all of the fish while you only observe them. This is how your mind should treat the thoughts as they enter without engaging or judging them.

17. Everyday Mindfulness
Reflect on 5 activities that you engage in each week, but which you often do in a mindless manner.
For the next week, choose one of these activities to focus on each day.
Everyday Mindfulness
Begin by reflecting on a handful of activities that you engage in each week, but which you often do in a mindless manner. For the next week, choose one of these activities to focus on each day. You don’t have to change the way you do them (such as by slowing down), but rather you’ll be changing your level of focus and awareness. Use all of your senses to fully engage in the activity, rather than rushing through it or drifting elsewhere in your thoughts.

18. To begin or enhance your own practice…
Use “How to Train a Wild Elephant”.
Short chapters that gives you a mindful focus for the week.
Most of the activities have a physical component.
This book can help build your personal practice.

19. Remember…
You’re not doing the practices wrong if you find them challenging.
This is why we call it mindfulness “practice.”
We have to do it over and over again to truly become aware.
There is no pressure in mindfulness practice. It is practice! We get better and better as we practice. During our practice sessions our brains (and bodies) revert to unconscious behavior, then become aware again, then start the practice again. This happens over and over and is PRACTICE!

20. Next Step...Take mindfulness to your classroom!
Start slow.
Use a bell to introduce mindful listening and to signal mindfulness time.
Start with mindful listening. How many of you have ever said to a student, “Pay Attention!” Be honest. What exactly does this mean? Do they know how to do this? We can help them practice with mindful listening. Close your eyes and listen to the bell. Listen very carefully and raise your hand when you can no longer hear the sound. What did you notice? This is a good way to begin to teach children about mindful listening. This signals students to get into “their mindful bodies”.

21. Next Steps... Use MindUp Curriculum. Use A Still Quiet Place.
Show and discuss mind up curriculum. All ages. On Amazon. Great guide to begin in the classroom.
A Still Quiet Place is also a great guide.

22. Mindfulness in the Classroom
Teach breathing using Hoberman’s Sphere.
Teach children about
their brain.
Model using hoperman’s sphere for breathing.
Show hand model of brain.
Discuss importance of keeping amygdala calm so PFC can make good choices.
Kindergarten and First Graders can understand this!

23. Mindfulness in the Classroom
Practice mindful listening.
Practice mindful eating.
Practice mindful movements.
Use yoga.
Use Sitting Still Like a Frog for mindful listening. CD
Use Mindful Movements for movement. DVD

24. Use Sitting Still Like a Frog for mindful listening. CD
Use Mindful Movements for movement. DVD

25. Mindfulness becomes your Classroom Management!
“Push your pause button.”
“Listen to your wise leader.”
“Don’t flip your lid.”
“Would you like to use the mind jar to help you to calm down?”
“Do a body scan. What is happening?”
PBS – Pause, Breathe, Smile
Pause button is introduced on Sitting Still like a frog CD.
Mind Jar Video – explain how we use the mind to breathe and let our amygdala calm down and our PFC make good choices

26. Books for Children
Preview each book and tell how used.

27. Helpful Resources
Show resources

28. Helpful Websites mindfulschools.org greatergood.berkley.edu
mindful.org
themindfulparent.org
mindfulteachers.org

29. Loving Kindness Meditation
May I be happy. May I be well. May I be safe.
May you be happy. May you be well. May you be safe.
May we be happy. May we be well. May we be safe.

30. Kids Explain Mindfulness

31. Thank you!
Lindsay Klasing