Bringing Mindfulness into School: a Practical Approach

Course description

This course has been designed for teachers and school staff who want to discover and activate the beneficial effects of Mindfulness on students’ and teachers’ wellbeing. A sense of self-awareness, wellbeing, and focus are qualities we can achieve by practicing mindfulness daily. Mindfulness is a renowned lifestyle practice based on calmness and awareness and is today used in many schools all around the world. Scientific researches confirm that the use of Mindfulness in school boosts physical and mental health and increases academic performance and social skills.

This practical course has been designed to help teachers and school staff develop a mindful practice, which can be used in their own private life and be incorporated into their school. The course includes a wide variety of activities and meditations that teachers can practice first-hand and then be ready to use with their students and colleagues to tackle stress, improve concentration, increase resilience and facilitate an overall sense of wellbeing and connection both with themselves and the others.

The course proposes several ways to develop Mindfulness practice, such as mindful breathing, sitting, walking, eating, body scans and creative mindfulness, which can all be incorporated into lessons, outdoor programs and online lessons.

Course structure

Topic 1: What is Mindfulness?

In this Module, you will learn about the origins of Mindfulness, and how this lifestyle practice can impact how our brains function. You will discover its benefits on our physical and mental health, which are strongly supported by several scientific researches after the initial studies conducted by Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the MBSR (Mindfulness-based stress reduction) program.

Topic 2: Mindfulness in School

In this Module, you will learn about the use of Mindfulness practice in many schools around the world. You will understand the beneficial effects of bringing Mindfulness into school, both for students and school staff, and you will be invited to reflect on the moments of your (school) life where you would like to be more mindful.

Topic 3: How to practice Mindfulness

In this Module, you will learn about the formal and informal practices of Mindfulness. You will learn about, reflect on, and ultimately design your informal practice of Mindfulness before you start learning the formal ways we can implement it in the following modules.

Topic 4: Mindful Breathing

In this Module, you will learn about the benefits of Mindful breathing and the importance of being aware of your breath. You will learn about, reflect on, and practice different breathing techniques that can be incorporated into your formal and informal Mindfulness practice, be that with yourself, your students, or school staff.

Topic 5: Body-Mindfulness Practices

In this Module, you will learn about several body-Mindfulness practices, that you can use in your life and in school, outdoor and indoor. You will learn, reflect, and practice mindful sitting, body-scan, and mindful movements.

Topic 6: Creative Mindfulness

In this Module you will learn about the connection between Mindfulness and creative arts activities, such as drawing, painting, photography and journaling. You will learn about and practice several creative activities that you can easily share with your students both in and out of the classroom.

Topic 7: Mindful Eating

In this Module, you will learn about the importance of being aware of our eating experience. You will learn about and practice Mindful eating, to engage with a new and healthy approach to food which you can share with your family, students, and school staff.

Topic 8: Bringing Mindfulness into School

In this Module, you will learn about and reflect on the steps you may want to take to incorporate Mindfulness into your classes and private life. You will be presented with several tips and guides to the preparation of your action plan towards the creation of a mindful school community.

Topic 9: Conclusions