HAST PUBLIC SCHOOL & JR.COLLEGE.DODAICA
BLOGNO144 IMPORTANCE OF MINDFULNESS
When our Hasti school started new practice*in 2014-2015 *the meditation for the time gap between when one teacher leaves the class after period and other teacher enters the class , the *teacher leaving the class after period use to ask children to close their eyes & meditate and the other teacher entering the class to ask children to open the eyes, there use to be golden silence during the time. It was one of the mindfulness activity which was the brain child of Major Waghela sir the member of Board of governors of our HASTI SCHOOL
many questioned this activity but now the importance is known and many schools are following this .
Our minds fill with chatter, our view of the world becomes tainted and distorted, and our ability to be present is lost.
With heightened academic pressure trickling down to kids as early as kindergarten, resulting in less time for play and the arts
Children today are faced with an unprecedented amount of stress and anxiety. 25% of 13- to 18-year-olds experience an anxiety disorder according to the National Institutes of Mental Health. Such early stress levels can negatively impact learning, memory, behavior, and both physical and mental health,of students
A new study suggests that mindfulness education lessons on techniques to calm the mind and body — can reduce the negative effects of stress and increase students’ ability to stay engaged, helping them stay on track academically and avoid behavior problems.
Compared to the students who are trained in mindfulness scored higher in math, had 24% more social behaviors, and were 20% less aggressive.
“Mindfulness is a powerful tool that supports children in calming themselves, focusing their attention, and interacting effectively with others, all critical skills for functioning well in school and in life,
“Incorporating *mindfulness into education has been linked to improving academic and social and emotional learning*. Also, mindfulness strengthens some underlying development processes—such as focus, resilience, and self-soothing—that will help kids in the long run.”
3 Benefits of Mindfulness in Schools
Governments around the world and NEP are beginning to see the vast potential of mindfulness in education.
Mindfulness in schools can help by:
• Improving academic results
• Increasing children’s mental health
• Fostering resilience and character building
Indeed, mindfulness improves the capacity of a child’s brain to manage cognitive processes such as problem solving, memory, and reasoning.
benefits of mindfulness*
Countless research studies have proven that mindfulness has many significant psychological, cognitive, and physical benefits.
Psychological benefits
Stress
It appears that mindfulness helps us manage existing stress and offers protection from future upset.
Happiness
happiness is not just something that feels good; it offers protection against disease (morbidity) and even death (mortality).
Cognitive benefits
Memory
Mindfulness practices not only have a positive effect on stress; they also benefit sleep and memory
Creativity
Haven’t we all returned from a walk or run with new ideas to tackle existing problems?
And there are other cognitive benefits too. Mindfulness directly improves our ability to tackle problems. It reduces mind wandering and offers the potential to increase capacity in the rest of the brain for extra cognitive processing.
Mindfulness changes you psychologically, cognitively, and physically.
how do we teach mindfulness in schools?Happiness & SWB
Following are four ways to incorporate mindfulness into your curriculum and bring calm to your classroom.
Mindfulness Through Breath
When we are stressed or anxious, we often take shallow breaths into our chests. By breathing deeply into your belly, you can use your breath to calm both your body and mind.
2. Mindfulness Through Sensory Experiences
Sensory experiences also help children focus and relax. Try listening to relaxing music or other calming sounds in the classroom. You might also take the children outside to hear the sounds of nature.
3. Mindfulness Through Guided Imagery
Guided imagery develops children’s imaginations. It also helps to integrate learning with prior knowledge. When you start a new topic in your classroom, have your students close their eyes (if that’s comfortable) and slowly talk them through a pretend journey. For example, if you’re studying the ocean, have them imagine getting into underwater vehicles and cruising through the ocean waters, looking for fish, animals, and plants. End
4. Mindfulness Through MovementI
Introducing movement into your classroom allows your students to tap into their natural way of learning. Yoga is a simple strategy for adding movement to your school day. Children
I have identified *eight activities that are relatively easy to implement in classrooms and schools. With a little practice, these can be part of any educator’s pedagogical toolbox.
1. Silent 60: Start the class by having all students sit quietly for 60 seconds to get themselves ready for learning. You can add a focus on a particular sound in the room, an image you provide (e.g., a dot on a piece of paper, an abstract picture you put up on a Board), or their breathing. Start with 15 seconds for early elementary students and gradually increase. Begin with 20–30 seconds for upper elementary.
2. Powerful Listening: Ring a bell, use a wind chime, or employ another object that makes a long, trailing sound. Ask students to listen and raise their hands when they no longer can hear the sound. After all agree that the sound has stopped, set a timer for one minute, ask students to sit quietly, and then when time is up, ask them what they heard during that minute.
3. One Minute for Good: Start the class by having students reflect for a minute about something that has gone well or something that they are grateful for( GOOD DEED AS WE WRITE DIARY IN SCOUT AND GUIDE). This can be done in writing, pair shares, or small or large group discussions. Larger groups work best for early elementary.
4. Morning Classroom Conversations: Start the day with a quote ( GOOD THOUGHT OF THE DAY )that can stimulate short conversations to help middle and high school students begin to interact with classmates in supportive ways.
5. Three Breaths: Have students take three deep breaths at regular intervals, such as before class changes or whenever strong feelings of anxiety or tension arise. Teachers should instruct students on this breathing technique and create visual reminders and prompting signals for students to begin. This is a valuable practice for staff as well,
FOR WE TEACHERS too
6. Body Scan: Educators benefit from learning to focus on their bodies. Make sure you are feeling centered with both feet on the floor as you teach your classes or meet with students or colleagues. Notice when and where you are feeling tension or when your breathing is shallow or labored, and use Three Breaths (or more!) to help you feel some relief. Don’t hesitate to let students or colleagues know that you are taking a few moments to gather yourself via breathing.
7. Speak Your Mantra: Develop a phrase that helps you keep focus and keep perspective. Repeat it often—when Some examples:
• “I am preparing all of these children for an uncertain future.”
• “I want all students to enjoy well-being, happiness, and peace.”
• “My goal is to prepare students for the tests of life—not just a life of tests.”
OUR HASTI SCHOOL PROJECT WHAT HAVE I LEARNED TODAY
Below are five favourites for closing the school day, plus TWO OF MY OWN
• Something I learned today…
• I am curious about…
• I am looking forward to tomorrow because…
• Something I’ll do (next, later today, this weekend, before the end of the week, etc.)…
• A question I still have is…
• I had the best feeling today when…
• Something from today that I am grateful for/thankful *for/appreciative of is…
LET US start off as teachers who use mindfulness; moving to become a “mindful teacher”
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