As a pedagogical practice, mindfulness is a relatively new addition to the classroom. When I started teaching more than two decades ago, the concept can hardly be found in the educational literature. Today, there are countless books and articles on the subject, as well as numerous trainings for teachers to learn how to bring mindfulness into their classrooms.
I was introduced to the pedagogical practice of mindfulness for the first time during my master’s classes. Professor Susan Walsh used to start her class with a few minutes of breathing practice. I find the practice very rewarding. Those moments of meditative peace and quiet would instantly relieve stress for her, improve concentration, and prepare him for focused learning.
Several studies now demonstrate the benefits of mindful teaching in the classroom. For example, a new study conducted with sixth-graders at a Boston charter school has shown that mindfulness education, which teaches techniques to calm the mind and body, can reduce the negative effects of stress and increase students’ ability to stay engaged. The study showed that students who took part in an eight-week mindfulness training were less stressed and had better self-control than their classmates who hadn’t.
Other study Using thematic analyzes on mindfulness journals written by 38 elementary school students, mindfulness was found to improve students’ well-being and help children develop greater awareness of their body, mind, and emotions.
As a teacher, you can easily integrate mindfulness practice into your daily teaching routine. In fact, a growing number of teachers they are currently integrating mindfulness into their instruction. If you haven’t already tried it in your own classroom, here are some tips to help you make the most of mindfulness in your teaching:
1) Incorporate Mindful Breathing Exercises
I have seen this exercise being used by various teachers. The practice is simple and easy: ask your students to close their eyes and take several deep breaths. This not only helps them relax, but also helps them focus their attention on the present moment.
2) Introduce conscious movement activities
Introducing simple yoga-inspired movements into the classroom environment will help your students de-stress, clear their minds, and prepare them for learning. Examples include stretching exercises, Tai Chi movements, and even walking meditations. You can also use guided mindfulness activities or guided imagery exercises. These can be very calming and lead to better concentration.
3) Use mindful meditations
In his book Curriculum as Meditative Inquiry, Professor Ashwani Kumar, with whom I have had the privilege of working on various research projects, highlights the importance of introducing meditative inquiry into the classroom. This type of inquiry practice helps bring mindfulness and compassion into the learning process.
Mindful meditation is one way to do this. Investigation shows that meditation can help students manage stress and improve self-awareness, concentration, focus, creativity, and emotional regulation. You can start each class with a short meditation session, or you can use mindfulness meditation throughout the day to help students take a break and refocus.
3) Teach to listen carefully
Attentive listening means listening without judging or offering an answer or advice. This can be very beneficial in helping your students become more aware of their thoughts, feelings, and emotions. also cultivates empathy allowing students to focus on the feelings of the speaker.
You can introduce the concept of attentive listening into your classroom by asking students to take a moment and just listen without judging or offering advice. This practice not only creates an atmosphere of trust and understanding, but also helps improve students’ listening skills and general communication.
In his article, How to practice mindful listening, Elaine Smookler explains that listening carefully requires letting go of distractions and judgment, paying attention to body language and tone of voice, and being open and curious. Elaine also offers four steps to practice mindful listening: setting an intention, being fully present, suspending judgment, and reflecting on the conversation.
4) Ask your students to keep a mindfulness journal
Keep in mind that mindfulness is not limited to breathing exercises and meditation. It can manifest in many different forms. As such, you can ask your students to keep a mindfulness journal in which they write down their thoughts and feelings on a daily basis. I have been practicing journaling for many years and I cannot stress enough its importance in helping me stay focused and organized.
The key to an effective journal is the free flow of ideas from your mind to your journal. It clears up messy spaces in your mind and makes you aware of your inner thoughts, thoughts that might have gone unnoticed if you hadn’t taken the time to write them down.
When using the journal with students, give them complete freedom to write whatever is on their mind, regardless of grammar, spelling, or structure. Ask them to think of their journal as a space where they can express and explore their feelings without fear or judgement. This can be a great way for them to learn to regulate their emotions and develop deeper insight into the issues that matter most in their lives.
5) Create a calm learning environment
Turn your classroom into a calm and relaxing space by using soft lighting, calming music, and natural elements like houseplants and nature-inspired decorations. This will help your students relax and focus on their learning.
Investigation has demonstrated the importance of indoor plants in improving student concentration and learning. Plants can also help reduce stress levels, purify the air, boost morale, and improve overall well-being and productivity.
6) Encourage mindfulness outside of the classroom
Encourage students to do mindfulness practices outside of school. Suggest that they practice mindfulness activities like yoga, meditation, and walking in nature. You can also recommend books or podcasts on mindfulness topics. This can help develop healthy habits that can improve your overall well-being.
Overall, incorporating mindfulness into your teaching can greatly improve student well-being and success. For those of you who are new to the concept, please note that it will take time before you can fully understand the benefits and effects of mindfulness practices. However, with dedication and consistency, you will see the positive changes it brings to your classroom and your students.
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