"What if 3-5 minutes could change the entire trajectory of your students' day? What if it could turn your most frustrating class into your most productive? ""Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us."" (mindful.org) It can be used in the classroom to promote self-acceptance and self-awareness. Furthermore, mindfulness allows us to respond to difficult situations in intentional, healthy ways. Often times, students come into our classrooms with more on their minds than doing well in school: problems at home, a fight with a friend in the hallway, low self-esteem from habitually poor academic performance, and more. It is important that we, as educators, give students the time and space to process through these things. However, we must also teach students how to ""clear"" things out of their mind and regain focus on their current situation -- their work at school. This is a delicate balance of empathy and motivation; a balance that must be practiced in order to be done well." During this session, participants will discover the power of mindfulness in their own lives, learn and practice mindfulness activities that can be used in the classroom, and develop a toolbox of resources to support their newfound mindful classroom.
