Professional development and teaching go hand in hand. Educators are constantly evolving, changing, and integrating the latest studies and practices for the well-being of their students. Topics on the list include both mindfulness and self-care in the classroom. During a recent Facebook Live event, sixth grade facilitators and teaching partners Kayla Dessert and Aliceson Brandt gave great advice on how to introduce mindfulness and self-care for both students and adults. teachers in class.
Along the way, fourth grade teacher Nichole Watson and behavior specialist Michelle Harrison joined us to offer additional ideas. Then, they invited viewers to add their own wisdom. Here is a handy list of these amazing tips for encouraging mindfulness in students. We hope they bring you more calm and clarity during the upcoming school year.
1. Bring glitter.
I have a pot of glitter made by our school counselor. I shake him and sit him down. Children watch carefully and notice when the glitter stops. -Katie
2. Take just a minute.
I do mindfulness minutes. We take a few minutes for students to think about their mental space before class begins. Then they can share with the teacher or express it in writing for themselves. -Grace
3. Introduce mindfulness with a book.
I read the book Lemonade Hurricane to introduce mindfulness to my children. We also do five minutes of meditation every day to breathe and focus. —Anne
4. Use a visual to help you breathe.
We use finger breathing. We start with our little finger and trace each finger. As we go up, we inhale and as we go down, we exhale. It works well. —MaKayla
5. Have a go-to tool that students know.
I use a spiral maze that the kids color. When it’s time to relax, I have the kids take out their spiral boards and run through the spiral maze until they feel their bodies and minds calm down. —Monique
6. Try Wellness Wednesdays.
I have been using mindfulness in my classroom for four years. I teach mindfulness very specifically during our morning meetings, which I call Wellness Wednesdays. One way to do this is to use a Hoberman sphere. As the sphere expands, the students inhale, and as it fits, they exhale. —Aliceson
7. Try a chime for attentive listening.
I ring a chime and the students focus on it. Then they raise their hands when they hear the ringing stop. It really helps with concentration and attentive listening. —Aliceson
8. Turn it into a game.
I use these cards called Mindfulness games, which you can get on Amazon. There are many good options for breathing, listening carefully, and focusing. —Aliceson
Mindfulness for teachers
9. Go for a walk to refocus.
For teachers, doing something as small as a simple walk can be a big help in trying to be mindful and take care of yourself. It doesn’t have to be a big thing. Just take five to ten minutes for yourself. This can be helpful in resetting your day. —Chanel
10. Take time to color.
We have a large coloring poster and colored pencils in the teachers’ room so everyone can participate when they can. It’s a great way to free your mind and your colors for a few minutes. -Kim
11. Write down your goals and successes.
I create a five-minute journal app every day where I write down three specific things I’m grateful for in the morning. Then in the afternoon, I write down three things that went well. I also add a photo every day, so I’m always looking for something pretty or inspiring. —Julie
12. Download an app to try.
When I first started, I downloaded every free app I could find. A few of my favorites include Relaxing meditation because you can create your own music. I also like 10% happier. —Michelle
13. Find books to learn more.
I really like the book The path of conscious education. It starts with how to start your own practice. Then he gives you tips on how to work with children. It also comes with a workbook. —Michelle
Self-care for students
14. Talk about your feelings.
Our students share with each other how they feel each morning and why they feel that way. We talk about how we can take care of each other and help each other have a good day. This is emotional awareness. —Rosean
15. Address emotional literacy.
I taught emotional literacy to my students. Each week my second graders learned a new word and its meaning. They drew a picture of the word and used it in a sentence. At the end of the year, we created a book of all the words we learned. The best part was how grateful the parents were since their children were better able to communicate how they really felt. —Anne
16. Try a slow start.
I teach kindergarten and I like to start slowly. We have a morning activity of your choice. This allows students to talk to each other, eat breakfast, and talk to me before we start our schedule. —Raquel
17. Be culturally responsive.
When we think about self-care, there needs to be a way to bring equity into the discussion, because our students’ needs will be as diverse as they are. Empower and allow children from different backgrounds and cultures to see themselves in your program. —Nicole
18. Be attentive to the needs of your students.
I think the best strategy I use is simply being attentive to student engagements, all at once, and students as individuals. Do we need a brain break? Do we need to breathe? What about music? Do we need humor? Constantly listening is key. —Christine
19. Try everything.
There are so many different things to try. It could be brain breaks or maybe GoNoodle. This may include flexible seating. We need to empower children, then listen and respond to their needs. —Nicole
20. Stretch before, during and after tests.
One thing that helps my middle schoolers is doing a guided stretch before, during, and after an exam. Some people are so tense with test anxiety. Gently and calmly rolling their shoulders, rolling their wrists, and breathing deeply and slowly helps them center themselves. One minute is enough. —Jennifer
21. Try using a sentence frame.
I like to use a sentence frame with my students. The sentence structure could be: How can we take care of you today? Or what do you need to be your best self? This is a difficult question for many students to answer. —Nicole
Self-care for teachers
22. Say “no” sometimes.
Say “no” to something extra that someone asks you to do. I always say “yes”, but sometimes you have to say “no”. Do whatever you need to do, but sometimes it’s okay to say “no.” -Kayla
23. Leave work on time (if possible).
As a teacher, I do my best to remember to take care of myself and leave work when possible. It helped me immensely last year, so I hope I can continue it. -Brittany
24. Join a teacher challenge.
We created something called a Teacher Fitness Challenge, where we connected hundreds of teachers across the United States to support each other on their self-care journeys . There were challenges that we did every month. And it was a great way to remember to take care of ourselves. -Kayla
25. Have an accountability partner.
Have a teaching partner nearby so you both know you can step outside to take a few deep breaths if needed – it really saves a lot of anxiety. -Married
26. Leave your teacher bag at school one day a week.
Leave him at school. You don’t want to carry this heavy item anyway. Or if you’re grading homework on your computer, try to keep it closed at least one night a week. -Kayla
27. Embrace the power of exercise.
My goal this year is to make exercise a priority. I fell off the wagon last year as things got stressful and I definitely felt the effects on my own self-care. —Christine
28. Treat yourself once in a while.
Treat yourself to something special once a month. It doesn’t have to be big. It could be a manicure, a pedicure, a special coffee or even just a movie. Find something to please yourself. -Kayla
29. Take a break for yourself.
In times of chaos, I take time to enjoy my lunch in class with the lights off and calming music playing in the background. As an introvert, this is a much-needed time to pause, pay attention, and prepare for the afternoon ahead. -Angelina
30. Remember the basics.
Self-care is very important for teachers, so make sure you get enough sleep, drink water, and eat healthy, nourishing foods. When things get really stressful, these are some of the first things to do. —Becky
Do you have any tips for developing mindfulness in students? Share them on our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE Facebook group.
More: 15 Smart Ways to Prevent Teacher Burnout That Really Work.
