Mindfulness

This year, I am asking my students to BE instead of DO.   In our first grade classroom, we are practicing mindfulness by settling ourselves and paying attention to what is around us.  We began this journey in the fall, as we sat outside to reflect and listen closely.  We began our gratitude journals. 

As the year has gone on, we continue to incorporate mindfulness throughout our day.  One simple routine we have is a tone bar.

I ask students to concentrate on something as the tone bar is rung until it is silent.  We also enjoy most of our day with out lights off and use the natural light that comes in through our beautiful, big window.  For quiet teaching time, I use classical music as students work independently.

After a busy lunch and recess, students listen to one of these favorite activities in the afternoon.

This helps our crew to unwind after a fun filled recess and get ready to focus for our afternoon of writer's workshop and expedition workshop.  

As our lives get more busy, I love to incorporate time to just be.  Mindfulness has been a great addition to my passion of nutrition (eating green light foods and drinking lots of water) and movement (brain breaks, exercise and plenty of recess to include outdoor play).

As a mom, I am working to incorporate more mindfulness at home.  I highly recommend this book

Here's to more quiet, slow and present living in the classroom and at home!