1. Mindfulness in the Classroom
Cecile McCarron, Whitney Wyatt, Anne Kaszubski, Kelli Roundtree, Erinn Murphy

2. Introduction Cecile McCarron, Kindergarten, Parrish School, CES 95
Whitney Wyatt, Kindergarten, Parrish School, CES 95
Anne Kaszubski, Kindergarten & 1st grade ELL, Parrish School, CES 95
Kelli Roundtree, 1st Grade TWI, Parrish School, CES 95
Erinn Murphy, College and Career Counselor, CCHS District 165

3. What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is paying attention to our experience in a way that allows us to respond rather than react. It is a quality of inner stillness that is always available, even when our life or circumstances feel out of our control and chaotic. It is possible to be mindful/aware/pay attention to everything in our experience including anything we experience through our five senses, as well as our thoughts and emotions.
Relevance ~ Technique ~ Posture
One Minute Posture practice

4. Mindfulness and the Brain

5. Mindfulness and the Brain

6. Mindfulness and the Brain

7. Mindfulness and the Brain
Flip the Lid (Hand Model of the Brain)
Dr. Dan Siegal

8. Mindfulness and the Brain

9. Benefits of Mindfulness
Scientific benefits (research based)
Social/Emotional
Builds Connection to Self and Others
Relieves Stress
Resets the day
Regulates emotions
Happier
“Stop and smell the roses”

10. Benefits of Mindfulness
Physical
Releases tension
Being aware of surroundings
Sleep better
Fights Depression
Fights Memory Loss
Fights PTSD
Improves academic performance
Lowers blood pressure
Healthier
Anecdotal (classroom observations) evidence
Personal stories of benefits in classroom or in day to day living

11. Demographics Parrish School - CES District 95:
Our school has 472 students
Pre K: Kindergarten: First: 153
We are building the foundation that these children will stand upon throughout their education.
1 P/T social worker
Carbondale Community High School - District 165
1,000 students - 9th through 12th grade
50% F/R population
Diverse, driven and talented student population
Wide curriculum; strong supports + strong rigor
5 counselors, 1 social worker, Terrier Care

12. Why Mindfulness is Needed in Education
Healthy Stress VS Toxic Stress
The Impact of Toxic Stress on School Communities
STUDENTS
Toxic stress impairs attention, emotion and mood regulation, sleep, and learning readiness daily in American classrooms. Even more troubling, prolonged exposure to childhood toxic stress has lifelong impacts on mental and physical health.
EDUCATORS
Toxic stress starts as decreased productivity and creativity, escalating to more serious symptoms like frequent anxiety, dissociation, frustration, and, eventually, burnout. Roughlyhalf a million U.S. teachers leave the profession each year – a turnover rate of over 20 percent.

13. Toxic stress is challenging to work with because our stress response taps into some very old survival hardware in our evolutionary biology.
Because the roots of toxic stress lie deep in the nervous system, we need tools that go beyond the conceptual mind to directly target that system. To transform our habitual responses, we need to regularly practice our skills when we are not in “fight – flight – freeze” mode

14. The Development of Mindfulness
The development of mindfulness, a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, emotions, sensations and surrounding environment.
The Development of Heartfulness
The intentional nurturing of positive mind states such as kindness and compassion.

16. Sample Mindfulness Activities
Cecile - Soft music/sounds, breathing techniques, mindful eating/walking
Anne - Practice yoga, allow time for real conversation with peers about feelings
Whitney - After Recess/Cooldown, Aromatherapy, Reflection of Day
Erinn - Pleasant/Unpleasant & Help Yourself First
Kelli - Group Activity - followed by questions/feedback

17. Questions & Discussion
*Audience Questions?
*How do you use mindfulness?
*How might you incorporate mindfulness into your classroom or personal life?

18. Resources Mindful Schools - http://www.mindfulschools.org/
Mindful Games Activity Cards: 55 Fun Ways to Share Mindfulness with Kids and Teen ($14 - Amazon)
Social Media: #mindfulness #everydaymindfulness
Inner Explorer

19. Thank you for attending our session!
Questions?
Thank you for attending our session!