A Growing Body of Research Has Shown That Mindfulness Promotes:
- Better Focus and Concentration
- An Increased Sense Of Calm
- Decreased Stress & Anxiety
- Enhanced Health
- Improved Impulse Control
- Increased Self-Awareness
- Skillful Responses to Difficult Emotions
- Increased Empathy And Understanding Of Others
- Development Of Natural Conflict Resolution Skills
In teaching children and adolescents mindfulness skills in public schools around the lower mainland, I have learned that while many children and adolescents quickly understand and are able to use mindfulness skills, there are students for whom the idea of mindfulness is too abstract. By referencing, discussing and learning about plants and animals that live “wild” in the city, and connecting their ways of living with characteristics of mindfulness (calmness, focus, joy), students more readily enter into the lessons and enjoy the benefits of mindfulness.
Humour, patience and a genuine interest in the well-being of children are central to and guide my interactions with students. My own daily mindfulness practice ensures that I “practice what I preach,” and makes me keenly aware of the many benefits as well as struggles that learning a mindfulness practice includes. I work continually to see the world through the lens of young people and adapt my lessons accordingly.
As an elementary classroom teacher for fourteen years, I know that it is as important for children to share their own knowledge and experience as it is for adults to teach them. My classes always include a discussion time for students to freely offer ideas, and time for us to practice quiet mindful attention
I combine lessons based on the
Mindful Schools curriculum with studies of local plants
and animals. In each half hour class students are introduced to a plant or animal that is commonly seen in the urban landscape. This is followed by a mindfulness lesson in which connections are made with the nature study as a way of securing the particular mindfulness skill. For example, in the first lesson on mindful bodies we learn about the amazing flight capabilities of the hummingbird and then refer to that knowledge as we learn about the optimal posture and body awareness for our own mindfulness practice.
1
Mindful bodies:
Hummingbird Flight
2
Mindful Listening:
How a Robin Gathers Food
3
Mindfulness of Breathing:
Jellyfish Breath
4
Sending Kind Thoughts:
Mushrooms Helping Trees
5
Generosity: Giving to
People & Other Living Things
6
Mindful Seeing:
Eagle eyes
7
Heartfulness for Oneself:
A Walk in the Park
8
Kind & Caring on the Playground:
Watching the Crows
9
Mindful Eating:
How a Flower Dines
10
Mindfulness of Thoughts:
Are Wasps Really All Bad?
11
Gratitude:
Bees and Sunlight
Classes are designed for Grades 2 through 7
The classroom teacher’s involvement in the classes is important. Please join in and take this time to enjoy a few minutes of mindfulness in your busy day! I respectfully request that teachers refrain from marking, prep or work on their computers during the classes.
While teachers may choose to mention this program in the general comments on report cards, students’ participation in this course is not intended for formal assessment.
This course is not intended as a replacement for existing Social Emotional Learning (SEL) programs, but rather as a complimentary approach to further enhance such programs.
This is a secular, non-religious course.
The fee is $445.00 plus GST per classroom for a twelve lesson course taught twice a week over a six week period. Each lesson is thirty minutes long.
I prefer to work with a minimum of four classrooms and a maximum of seven classrooms per day.
This price includes a meeting with staff prior to the beginning of the program, a resource list for staff, a classroom teacher’s manual, and suggested journal prompts for students.
Please contact me to set up an in person or video meeting if you are interested in bringing this program to your school.
