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Around the same time that the CmPS Foundation, requesting funding for an in with their feelings, OWN IT by moving
students began implementing their initial group of 50 volunteer teachers their names to the column that matches
plan, the PreK-12 administrators from and administrators to be part of a their current emotions/feelings, and
our district’s six schools were noticing a mindfulness cohort. Mindful Practices, choose an activity to PRACTICE that
sharp uptick in students presenting with a Chicago-based organization that will help them be present for the class
minor to severe emotional challenges brings professional development in period and ready to learn. High school
that negatively impacted their learning. mindfulness and yoga to PreK-12 students can even select a new elective
Staff, including administrators, were schools nationwide, would provide course, “Mindfulness, Resilience, and
also reporting their own increased professional development, in-class Wellness,” which is focused on under-
stress levels amid the myriad demands coaching and modeling, and parent standing and implementing tools for
of school reform. Was there something workshops for one school year. Our integrated social-emotional health.
that could begin to address systemic grant was approved, and we held In Mahwah, mindfulness is a move-
stress in students and adults? During our cohort kick-off session on the ment — and a Twitter hashtag: #Mind-
the 2015-16 school year, we formed an first day of summer vacation, amid fulMahwah. The beneficiaries are our
administrative committee to research great excitement. Regular visits from students and teachers. When filmed for
the issue and explore solutions that the Mindful Practices team over the an internal district video, “The Impact
felt right for us. We soon hit upon a course of the 2017-2018 school year of Mindfulness,” one of our veteran first
possible answer: mindfulness. has deepened our cohort members’ grade teachers said, “It changed my
The article The Mindful Educator, in knowledge base and confidence, world. Blew my world away. First, learn-
the November 2014 issue of ASCD’s and parent evening workshops have ing what it was, how to do it myself, and
Education Update struck a chord with helped to demystify the topic and give what it meant for me was so important.
our group. Author Sarah McKibben parents strategies to use at home — You need to know what mindfulness is
cited Oakland, CA Mindful Schools’ for themselves and with their children! before you teach it. And the change in
co-founder Megan Cowan’s description We made Mindful Schools online my kids is unbelievably dumbfounding.
of mindfulness as "a specific way of courses an option for our teachers It works. We ask the kids all the time to
paying attention” that brings “the quality and administrators; most of the cohort focus and pay attention. But if you don’t
of self-awareness to our experience." has taken at least one course. Interest teach them how to do that, how do they
“In schools,” McKibben wrote, “this in mindfulness is growing outside the know what that means?”
present-moment awareness can lead to cohort, too: staff have chosen to partici- Try some easy mindful practices —
a calmer environment where educators pate in PLCs on the topic, cohort mem- they work for both children and adults!
are primed to be less reactive and stu- bers at our middle school developed an 1. Just Breathe: Focus your attention
dents are less distracted. Early data on interactive workshop for their entire staff, on your breath, the inhale and
the effects of mindfulness on students and a recent elementary workshop on the exhale. If you find your mind
‘hold promise, particularly in relation to mindfulness presented by three cohort wandering, just bring your attention
improving cognitive performance and members was among our most popular gently back to your breath.
resilience to stress,’ according to one PD offerings on a recent staff develop-
of the biggest meta-analyses to date ment day, with almost 75 teachers and 2. Write and Rip: Write down the
("Mindfulness-Based Interventions in paraprofessionals choosing to attend. things that are interfering with
Schools — A Systemic Review and We have incorporated mindfulness into your ability to be fully engaged
Meta-Analysis," June 2014).” department, faculty, and administrative and present in the current mo-
meetings, and made it a part of our new
ment (a class, a meeting, etc.).
We used the five challenges outlined by teacher orientation training. Then rip up the paper and throw it
Patricia Jennings, associate professor away to symbolically rid yourself
and researcher at the University of Many Mahwah teachers, from preschool of distracting thoughts.
Virginia Curry School of Education to high school, are incorporating mind- 3. Mindful Doodle: Take a piece
in the article “Five Things that Need fulness into their classroom practices of paper and start drawing a line
to Happen to Bring Mindfulness into and reporting increased student focus with a pen. Do not lift the pen
Schools” to bring clarity to our focus: and calmer learning environments. from the paper or intersect lines.
Some of our principals have instituted
1. Recognize the situation that whole school Mindful Mondays, when 4. Mindful Listening: Stand or
exists in public education today. all students and staff gather to begin the sit shoulder-to-shoulder with a
2. Build a strong evidence base. week together practicing mindfulness. partner. Listen to your partner
3. Understand developmentally “Peace corners,” private classroom speak (on any topic) without
appropriate practices. spaces for students to self-regulate their answering or making sounds of
4. Integrate mindfulness into the emotions, can be found throughout the acknowledgement. If you find
existing curriculum. district at all grade levels, and “POP your mind wandering, bring your
5. Engage teachers and parents. charts” (Pause – Own It – Practice) attention back to the speaker.
Switch roles.
In the fall of 2016, with the support have become commonplace tools. As
class begins and music plays, teachers
of our Administrative Council, we encourage students to PAUSE to check
wrote a grant to the Mahwah Schools

Educational Viewpoints -21- Spring 2018