How do you relax?
Why practise mindfulness? Administrators may be attracted to mindfulness because they think it will improve academic performance and prevent teachers burning out. But the practise of mindfulness can do much more. The practise of right mindfulness can help both teachers and students suffer less; they will be able to improve communication and create a learning environment that is more compassionate and understanding. Students can learn very important things, such as how to handle strong emotions, how to take care of anger, how to relax and release tension, how to restore communication and reconcile with others. What’s the use of learning if that learning doesn’t bring you happiness? The practice of right mindfulness can bring about a deep change both in the classroom and the wider education system so we can educate people in such a way that they can be truly happy. If while doing so, the students can learn more easily and quickly and educators can avoid burning out, that is also wonderful! – Thich Nhat Hanh (in a talk to teachers at a retreat at Plum Village June 2014).
Teachers who study mindfulness tend to experience fewer mental health problems such as stress, depression and anxiety. They report greater well-being, including a sense of calmness, life satisfaction, self-confidence and self-compassion. They show an increase in kindness and compassion for themselves and others, with greater empathy, tolerance, forgiveness and patience, and less anger and hostility. Their cognitive performance improves, including their ability to pay attention and focus, make decisions and respond flexibly to challenges. They make better teachers, showing higher levels of classroom management and organisation, with a greater ability to prioritise, to see the whole picture, and to be more self-motivated and autonomous. They are more attuned to their students' needs and achieve more supportive relationships with them. They also tend to have better physical health, including lower blood pressure, declines in cortisol (a stress hormone), and fewer reported physical health days off work.
The Brain and Mindfulness Mindful Monsters https://www.youtube.com/w atch?v=UDWRN-pib9M
Neuroplasticity – our brain can change and create new pathways. We can control our thoughts and form new habits. Mindfulness can help to shift perception of difficulty and struggle. Helps us to welcome obstacles of hurdles and relate differently when things don’t go to plan.
Breathing Exercises • Chime – pause breathe relax • Up and down fingers • Cup of hot chocolate • Rainbow breath • Bee breath • Bunny breath • Taekwando breath • Ideas from children – seahorse breath, wave breaths • 4,4,6 – breathe in for 4, hold for 4, breathe out for 6 • Shhh game
Gratitude Post its on gratitude display/in box Gratitude games - And life is good game Legend of Two Wolves – change of mindset. Feeding the kind, compassionate thoughts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzKry aN44ss
Emotion cards
Useful websites • GoNoodle – breathing exercises and moving games • www.boingboing.org.uk • Cosmic Yoga - https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYo ga • https://ideas.classdojo.com/b/growth-mindset
Mindfulness at Windlesham • The week of 11th February, all children were introduced to the concept and basic theories of mindfulness and were taught breathing exercises in assemblies. Form time was dedicated to reinforcing this and practising breathing exercises in class groups. • Half term homework project to make calm jars and stress balls. Each class will collate a mindful box to use as necessary. • Each class has been provided with Mindfulness tool kit – including reminders of breathing exercises, games and useful websites. • Each class to start every day with breathing exercise. • Chime in every class to be used throughout the day, whenever feels helpful. • Gratitude display in each class
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