Mindfulness can serve as a key tool for students, teachers and administrators. However, it is important to note that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to incorporating mindfulness into education. There are various ways educators and school personnel can embed mindfulness practices into the classroom through social-emotional learning (SEL). This is partly because SEL curriculum addresses actionable skills, while mindfulness fosters the belief that each individual holds the innate ability to act on their SEL knowledge.
Additionally,studentsand educatorsmay findthatmindfulness can aid with character developmentandcoping skills.Students may use mindfulness to calm their minds and bodies as they prepare forclass or manage stressful situations.Teachers may usemindfulnesspracticesto support their ownmental health andavoidburnout. Administrators may also makeuse of thesepracticeswhilemanaging stress and inspiring creativity.Inorder to achieve these things, mindfulnesseducationis the first step.
Social-Emotional Learning & Mindfulness
Picture an instructor explaining the importance of “I” messages, encouraging students to practice this concept, and then moving on to another topic. The nature of SEL assumes that students are able to take these learned skills and apply them on their own.
As a tool of SEL, mindfulnessassumes that each student has the natural ability tocontrol their thoughts and actionsandbuild relationships using innate qualities they possess,such asempathy and kindness.Mindfulness helps individuals calm their minds and bodies, making it easier to put SEL skills to use.
Whenweavingmindfulnesspracticeinto SEL,students may develop an awareness ofandconnection totheir emotions and actions, resulting in better control over themselves andpositive changesintheir behavior, stress levelsand relationships.
How to Practice Mindfulness in the Classroom
Common examples ofpracticingmindfulness ineveryday lifeincludeyoga, Tai Chi, breathing exercises and meditation. But how can mindfulness be applied in a classroom setting?Educators can promote mindfulnessinstudents byincorporatingthe followingskills into their SEL curriculum:
- Begin class by having students reflect for one minute about gratitude or a good part of their day
- Listeningwith intentionand understanding
- Showinginterestinandmakingnonverbalconnections with speakers
- Beingcognizantof others’ emotions
- Allowingthe speaker time to finish whathe or she issaying
- Beingaware of breathing while speaking
- Practicingbelly breathing, breathing through the nose and usingbreathingto control emotions
- Ask students to visualize their breath as a color, noticing how it changes as they inhale and exhale
- Monitoringvoice volume and intonation
- Watchinggestures and body orientation
- Takingappropriate action when social violence presents itself
- End the class by asking students to reflect on something they learned that day, or something they thought went well
These actions have a psychological effect that can influence positive behavior change. When fostering mindfulness skills within SEL curriculum, students can have a more well-rounded understanding of how to handle conflict internally (by mindfully observing one’s own actions) and externally (by smartly navigating and processing their surroundings). Additionally, mindfulness can be a form of self-care, benefiting students proactively and regardless of conflict.
Addressing the Rise in Challenging Student Behaviors
In this webinar, Dr. Crystal Ladwig and Jeremy Tompkins from Escambia School District lead conversations that include mindfulness and how behavioral intervention and restorative practices can turn students’ challenging behavior into learning opportunities.
Proven Mindfulness Benefits for Students
The effects ofmindfulnessinK12 classroomshave been researchedandhaveyieldedpositive results.Below are threestudies thathighlight how mindfulness can foster a positive school climate. These studies also explain howsamplestudentpopulations participatedinand benefited frommindfulness education.
MindfulnessHelps toDecreaseStudentDepression&Stress
In order toobserve the benefits ofteachingmindfulness in the classroom,63 primary school children went through a five-week,school-based mindfulness program.Mindfulness practices in the study included belly breathing, breath awareness, and body scanning.Findings indicated that child-reportedstress levels after the intervention were reduced. Overall, the study indicated that mindfulness in the classroom can help students deal with stress.1
MindfulnessImprovesTeachers’Perception ofStudentBehavior
Mindfulness education can greatly impact studentbehavior, asprovenin asample of 409 children from kindergarten through sixth grade at a Richmond, CA, public elementary school.The students participated in a five-week mindfulness-based curriculumthat included learning mindfulness skills like careful listening to sounds in the classroom,whole body scan, “anchor words” to stay connected to breath, and discussion about thoughts and feelings,andresults showed improvement in student behaviorlasting up to seven weeks(reported by 17 teachers). Thisalsoshows that mindfulness in the classroom can help with teachers’perceptions of student behaviors.2
Mindfulness Aids At-Risk Youth
An example of mindfulnesshelping to guidestudentstoasaferlife pathcan be seen when27at-risk young peopleparticipated in a weekly,50-minute,semester-long ‘Learning to BREATHE’ program(an intervention program and substance abuse class).Mindfulness activities in this program include body scan, discussion on thoughts and feelings, and mindful breathing.Results concluded a decrease in depression and stress and an increase inthecredibility of the program, in addition to a desire to continue the program.3
ThePositiveEffectsofMindfulness in the Classroom
According tofromMiami University and Ohio Mental Health,“Mindfulness is only trulypracticedwhen its three components—mindful awareness, mindful responsivity and mindful effort—are integrated and used together so that the full spectrum of positive effects can be experienced.”Bypracticingallthesesteps, students,teachersandadministrators reduce stress and negative thoughts.
Benefits of mindful education and implementation may also include an increase in overall emotional health, self-compassion and a reduction in self-harm and stress. Mindfulness in the classroom has also proven to result in improved cognitive performance and engagement.
Mindful education proves to be a powerful way to help foster a positive and productive learning environment for teachers, administrators and students. Mindfulness in the classroom can also be incorporated into an SEL curriculum to help students successfully and safely navigate internal and external factors that impact their environment.
Integrating Mindfulness into SEL
Ƶ SEL for Students is a dynamic program with a wide range of mindfulness topics integrated into its curriculum. Mindfulness lessons include Benefits of Practicing Mindfulness, Mindfulness and Meditation, Managing Anger Through Mindfulness, How to Unwind a Busy Mind, Mindfulness Test Preparation, and Using Mindfulness to Manage Stress. To learn more, contact us today.
1Costello, E. & Lawler, M.(2014). Anexploratorystudy of theeffects ofmindfulness onperceivedlevels ofstress among school-aged children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.Educational Disadvantage Centre, St. Patrick’s College, Dublin, Ireland.
2 Black, D.S. & Fernando, R. (2014). Mindfulness Training and Classroom Behavior AmongLower-Income and Ethnic Minority Elementary School Children.J ChildFam Stud.
3Bluth, K., Roberson, P. N., & Gaylord, S. A. (2015). A Pilot Study of a Mindfulness Intervention for Adolescents and the Potential Role of Self-Compassion in Reducing Stress.Explore (New York, N.Y.),11(4), 292–295. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2015.04.005
