How to Cultivate Mindfulness in Your Classroom
How can we minimize time lost when students come back from recess, full of energy (and playground feelings)? Read through to download our free Mindfulness Planner.
Create consistent classroom zen using Kikori Mindfulness activities that help students build self-awareness and self-management skills!
In today's fast-paced and demanding world, it's more important than ever to equip students with tools to navigate stress, develop self-awareness, and cultivate well-being. One powerful approach gaining popularity is mindfulness. Integrating mindfulness into the classroom culture can create a nurturing environment that supports students' social-emotional development and academic success. In this blog, we will explore practical strategies for building mindfulness into the classroom culture, fostering a positive and enriching educational experience for students.
As educators, we strive to create nurturing learning environments that support the holistic development of our students. One powerful tool that can transform the classroom experience is mindfulness. In recent years, mindfulness has gained recognition for its profound impact on well-being and academic success. In this blog, we will explore what mindfulness is and why it is relevant to teachers and their students. Let's embark on a journey to discover the transformative power of mindfulness in the educational setting.
What is Mindfulness?
At its essence, mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to the present moment with openness, curiosity, and non-judgment. It involves cultivating a state of heightened awareness and being fully present in the here and now. Mindfulness invites students (and us!) to observe our thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations, and the surrounding environment without getting caught up in thoughts or judgments about the past (rumination) or future (worries).
It's important to note that mindfulness is not about emptying the mind or suppressing thoughts and emotions. Instead, it involves acknowledging and accepting whatever arises in the present moment with kindness and curiosity. Through regular practice, students can develop a deeper understanding of themselves, their experiences, and the world around them, leading to a greater sense of inner peace and overall well-being.
Kikori Co-Founder Kendra Bostick describes the importance of mindfulness in our busy world:
“Reflection is a key component of the experiential learning cycle. In today’s society, we are so often focused on production, efficiency and the End Results. We forget to be present for the journey. When we practice mindfulness, we are awakened, feel joy, and experience being. This can help us achieve balance and ensure our journey isn’t just another item on our To Do list.”
What are the benefits of cultivating mindfulness in our classrooms?
By integrating mindfulness into the daily routine, teachers can promote a calm classroom environment for students.
By incorporating mindfulness into the classroom culture, teachers provide a foundation for students to develop social-emotional skills such as self-regulation, emotional awareness and empathy - leading to positive relationships and a supportive learning environment.
In today's world filled with distractions, students may struggle with attention and focus. Mindfulness practices help students increase attention and focus, enhance concentration, and improve their ability to stay present and engaged in learning.
Mindfulness equips students with resilience and coping skills to navigate challenges, setbacks, and stress that help them face academic and personal difficulties, foster a growth mindset and a sense of self-efficacy.
When students are more focused, emotionally regulated, and resilient, their academic performance is guaranteed to improve! Mindfulness practices also support academic success by enhancing cognitive abilities, memory retention, and information processing.
Mindfulness practices have been shown to improve sleep quality which is crucial for students' overall health, cognitive function, and ability to perform well in school.
Mindfulness is a lifelong skill that students can carry into adulthood! By introducing mindfulness at a young age, schools can help students build a foundation for better mental health and well-being throughout their lives.
How can we Incorporate Mindfulness into the Classroom?
Mindfulness is often cultivated through various techniques, such as meditation, breathing exercises, and mindful movement. These practices help individuals cultivate a greater sense of self-awareness, focus, and emotional regulation. The following are specific ways to bring mindfulness practices into your classroom:
Lead by Example: Teachers play a vital role as role models in the classroom. Cultivate your own mindfulness practice and authentically share your experiences with students. Incorporate mindful moments into your daily routine, such as starting the day with a brief breathing exercise or taking mindful breaks during transitions. By demonstrating mindfulness, you inspire and encourage students to follow suit. Activity Idea: Tapping & Patting
Establish Mindful Transitions: Transitions can be hectic, and they provide an excellent opportunity to introduce mindfulness into the classroom. Use simple cues, like a gentle chime or a calming phrase, to signal moments of mindfulness during transitions. Encourage students to take a few deep breaths, center themselves, and let go of any distractions before moving on to the next activity. This helps create a peaceful and focused learning atmosphere. Activity Idea: Mindful Moment Transitions
Integrate Mindful Listening and Speaking: Effective communication is a key life skill, and mindfulness can enhance it. Teach students the art of mindful listening by emphasizing the importance of giving their full attention to others without interruption. Promote thoughtful and empathetic responses during class discussions and group activities. By cultivating mindful listening and speaking, you foster respectful and compassionate communication among students. Activity Idea: The Art of Listening
Incorporate Mindful Movement: Mindful movement activities help students connect their minds and bodies, promoting self-awareness and relaxation. Integrate short movement breaks into the daily routine, encouraging gentle stretching, mindful walking, or simple yoga exercises. These activities provide a valuable opportunity for students to release tension, refocus their attention, and energize their minds. Activity Idea: Movement Meditation
Teach Mindful Breathing: Deep breathing techniques are fundamental to mindfulness practice. Teach students simple breathing exercises like belly breathing or counting breaths. Encourage them to utilize these techniques when they need to calm their minds, manage stress, or improve concentration. Deep breathing allows students to regulate their emotions, find inner peace, and enhance their overall well-being. Activity Idea: Peace Breaths
Cultivate Gratitude: Gratitude is a powerful practice that fosters positivity andmindfulness. Incorporate gratitude exercises into the classroom routine, such as daily gratitude journaling or sharing moments of gratitude during class discussions. Encourage students to reflect on things they are grateful for, fostering a sense of appreciation and mindfulness of the present moment. Activity Idea: Gratitude Power-Up
Engage in Mindful Observations: Help students develop observation skills and present-moment awareness through mindful observations. Encourage them to engage their senses while exploring objects, nature, or artworks. Guided nature walks, mindful coloring exercises, or focused listening activities can provide opportunities for students to be fully present, sharpen their senses, and appreciate the beauty around them. Activity Idea: Sauntering of the Senses
At its core, mindfulness involves cultivating a heightened awareness of one's thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment. It involves observing and accepting these experiences without attachment or judgment. By practicing mindfulness, individuals develop the capacity to respond to situations rather than react automatically, leading to greater clarity, emotional resilience, and well-being.
What does the research say? Cultivating Mindfulness improves students' social emotional skills and wellbeing - from Kindergarten through University.
Many studies are showing the incredible benefits by building mindfulness practices into classroom daily practices. Davidson et al. (2012) found that mindfulness practices help students regulate attention and emotion, cultivate empathy, and can even alter brain function and structure in adults. In secondary classrooms, students who participated in mindfulness practices reduced attention and internalizing problems, increased optimism, improved classroom behavior and self-confidence, and decreased feelings of anger (Arthurson, 2015; Crescentini, 2016; Schonert-Reichel & Stewart Lawlor, 2010). In higher education, mindfulness practices have significant correlation with reducing binge eating, improving sleep quality, and decreasing stress (Roberts & Danoff-Burg, 2010). Lastly, students who engaged in mindfulness experienced greater feelings of connectedness to their classes, classmates, teachers, and community as a whole (Miller, 1994; Bagshaw, 2014).
Integrating mindfulness into the classroom culture has the potential to transform the learning environment into a nurturing space that supports students' holistic development. Incorporating mindfulness into the school environment benefits not only individual students but also the overall classroom culture. By promoting mindfulness in schools, educators create a supportive and nurturing learning environment that fosters students' social-emotional development, academic success, and long-term well-being. Let's embark on this journey together and empower our students with the lifelong gift of mindfulness.
Are you interested in taking the first steps to cultivating mindfulness in your classroom?
Download the clickable Kikori Sample Week of Calmer Brain Breaks with five great Kikori Mindulness activities to lead today!
