So, I'm not usually a huge fan of packaged educational concepts or buzz words. Generally they tend to be re-packaging of educational research already out there for purposes of making money, or for purposes of making things easier to understand. That said, just watched a TED talk on mindfulness by Judson Brewer (recommended if you haven't seen it) and wondering if anyone has tried and particular strategies or gathered and resources/books that you'd recommend?
Another talk on mindfulness. http://www.wildmusic.org/ I can't wait to share this one with my students. I think they are going to love it! Give it a listen. Works with mindfulness. http://www.mindfulteachers.org/p/free-resources-and-lesson-plans.html http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2014/...ols-see-big-benefits-in-teaching-mindfulness/ http://www.teachthought.com/uncateg...ocial-emotional-learning-into-your-classroom/ http://imcw.org/Portals/0/Supplemen...ing Mindfulness into the Schools, 3-18-12.pdf http://www.vermontcounselingandtraumaservices.com/trainings.html http://utahstudentsuccess.weebly.com/uploads/8/6/8/0/8680113/mindfulness_in_the_classroom.pdf http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ995268.pdf http://www.mindfulteacher.com/learn I work in a private school, with numerous counselors, therapists, and social workers. This year we were taught and encouraged to make mindfulness a daily part of our school routine. I have shared some easy to find sites that may get you started if you are interested.
Or we could just avoid stressing out the kids in the first place! This is just a low cost way of passing the buck for the mental wellness of students onto us teachers.
My first encounter with this was from a monk from Tibet who taught Mindfulness to teachers here in the US. It was more about giving the students meditation time to calm down. I think it's a great idea, but it's kind of useless if only one teacher does it. It should be a whole school thing. Like maybe instead of the morning announcements, or the pledge of allegiance.
Blazer my perspective is that mental wellness of students is a shared responsibility by everyone involved, from teachers to parents, community members, and even the students themselves. More broadly, I think in today's educational climate, we'd be much better served by not trying to see things through the lens of blame or responsibility, but opportunity. Just because teachers have the opportunity to make a difference with mental health doesn't mean we're "passing the buck" onto them.
You must trust your authorites far more than we trust ours in the UK. Once we accept a responsibility it becomes ours solely and when it goes pear shaped it is all our fault.
Personally, I didn't take away from the TED talk anything about teachers having a responsibility to do this, just that it is something we can do if it works for us, to help ourselves deal with the stress of the profession as much as to help the students. For me, it was a reminder to slow down and take a moment during the day to just be. I haven't introduced this with my students yet and I'm not sure yet if I will, but I am certainly trying to keep it in mind for myself.
I think that if any of these messages and resources speak to us on a personal level, they may benefit our students. Perhaps it will be from a different starting point or level, but if just centering yourself by concentrating on your breathing can help the stressed teacher, why can't it help the students as well? Not all students will be receptive, but if there is one thing that I have taken from this year at my school, it would be that the experience will be more individual, helping those who are most in need. It isn't hard to accept that we all need a quiet place from time to time. Whether or not you share this as mindfulness, the formal experience, or something as simple as a moment to steady and calm turmoil, so that more learning can take place, the concept bears looking into, IMHO.
