Mindfulness in the Classroom

https://tinyurl.com/yab8w64q

Over the past few years I have been trialing a variety of Mindfulness exercises for the classroom and timetable slots that suit.

Simple Habit and Headspace apps are incredibly powerful but are expensive and require a considerable outlay for schools with limited finances.

Smiling Mind is a non-profit App and can be specifically tailored to students of different ages.

Last year our school also participated in the Just Breathe project run by Bohdi and Kat from Australia. This was a marvelous focus for the students  and they understood the value of breathing quickly and clearly. They have daily audios for mindfulness breathing and now a YouTube channel  Once the project has been done by the school all the aspects of their website and resources are free to use. Their channel is free also.

https://tinyurl.com/ycw8yhm5

Recently I found a new site called MindYeti. We are currently trying this daily for a few weeks also. Nice a short calming videos/audio for students. However parts of it are locked out unless premium is purchased [again at quite a high cost]. An intro to MindYeti

Free for use are also the mindfulness exercises in FLOW which are part of the GoNoodle site. A great site for warm up's, brain breaks, mindfulness or just a plain bit of good ole fashion fun!

Graham Watts webinars for personal PD was undertaken in 2017 and he gives massive insight into the positives and benefits of regular Mindfulness/meditation with students.

https://tinyurl.com/yclgygfg

I have found that practicing small bits of mindfulness training are beneficial for learning and focus with students when undertaken straight after morning tea or before tests or after an eventful lunchtime. Keeping a regular time slot is beneficial for both students and teachers.


Students learn to practice breathing when they become anxious or stressed for whatever reason or event in their lives. I've heard from students who are still practicing it as they move on through to Intermediate. I've witnessed highly strung students using it to calm themselves automatically without prompting, I've witnessed students using it before a race or sports game.

I've also found that using Mindfulness in conjunction with viewing the brain animation series by Sentis on YouTube is also beneficial. Using the MindUp Curriculum  book and Your Fantastic Elastic Brain book all help for students to understand HOW their brain works and what we can do to support our own well being and learning. ClassDojo also have a selection of Mindset mini lessons and activities that support Primary students in developing a more positive attitude to learning. I have discovered that combinations of all of these things have not only helped ME to improve my positive well being and thinking but has also helped my students in well being and developing a positive growth Mindset.

A great source of Mindfulness activities is Mindfulteachers

Long may the growth and well being continue!

Just breathe, just breathe, just breathe...........