Mindfulness Ideas and Activities for the Classroom

Special education teachers already have a demanding schedules can be, but it's absolutely worth finding time to explore the use of mindfulness in the educational setting. With very little time committment, you can help your students find calm and focus amidst the chaos.

In this blogpost, we'll dive into what this can look and feel like and discover how mindfulness activities can fit into your already jam-packed days.

What is Mindfulness?

We've all heard the term mindfulness but what exactly does it mean?

Being Present

Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present and aware of staying in the present moment without judgment. It involves paying attention to one's thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and the surrounding environment. Here's an example to help illustrate this definition:

• Example: During a mindfulness activity, students are encouraged to sit quietly and focus their attention on the sensation of their breath as they inhale and exhale. They are reminded to notice any thoughts or distractions that arise without judgment, gently guiding their attention back to the breath.

Emotional Regulation

Mindfulness also refers to the ability to regulate and manage one's emotions effectively. It involves recognizing and accepting emotions without becoming overwhelmed by them. Here's an example of mindfulness in the context of emotional regulation:

• Example – a student might feel frustrated and on the verge of losing their temper during a challenging task. By practicing mindfulness, the student takes a moment to acknowledge their frustration, take a deep breath, and let go of the intense emotion. This allows them to respond calmly and find a solution to the task at hand.

Non-Judgmental Awareness

Mindfulness emphasizes cultivating a non-judgmental attitude towards one's experiences and thoughts. It involves observing thoughts, emotions, and sensations without labeling them as good or bad. Here's an example that illustrates this aspect of mindfulness:

• Example: During a mindfulness exercise, students are instructed to observe their thoughts as if they were clouds passing by in the sky. Instead of getting caught up in judging or analyzing each thought, they practice letting them come and go without attaching any value or criticism to them. This helps students develop a non-judgmental perspective towards their own mental processes.

My goal for incorporating a few minutes of daily mindfulness it to increase self-awareness, reduce anxiety, and promote emotional regulation for our amazing students! 

Mindfulness in the Classroom

We can get creative with our lessons by incorporating movement, storytelling, and visual aids. The more engaging and interactive, the better! 

Modeling and practicing deep breathing is a great beginner mindful practice you can start today in general and special education classrooms. 

These colorful visuals use student-friendly imagery that will resonate with our young students the first time they're trying out mindfulness skills:

Choose a different image each day in your small groups or practice several breathing exercises with the whole class. The slides show an image and simple language that guides elementary school students through a few deep breaths. The same images are also available in printable half-page cards. Store the cards on a book ring and place in your classroom calm down corner for individual student support. 

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Imagine adding deep breaths as part of your classroom routine during morning meeting or after students return from a busy transition like lunch or recess!

As students began increasing their self-awareness through deep breathing exercises, you can begin introducing them to more involved mindfulness-based interventions, like practicing I Statements, using coping strategies during stressful situations, or utilizing positive affirmations. 

With younger students, I've found it much easier to use role-playing during practice scenarios as a great tool to introduce new mindful practices. One idea is to reflect on storybook characters as they tackle different situations and challenging behaviors:

• What can Chrysanthemum do when classmates make fun of her name?
• What can Jabari tell himself as he faces the high dive?
• Sophie feels so angry! What can she do to work with her strong feelings?

There are so many thought-provoking read aloud books that quickly present an opportunity for young children to apply their newly learned skills! 

Why Mindfulness Matters

Here's a just a handful of benefits of mindfulness and the positive effects it can have for our emotional health. 

Keeping the Emotions in Check: Picture this: stressed-out students, frowns, meltdowns, and other behavior problems. Mindfulness practices, like mindful breathing and positive affirmations, come to the rescue! These nifty practices help students manage their stress levels and navigate those tricky emotions. Teaching them to take deep breaths and tune into their bodies can do wonders for their emotional well-being. Say goodbye to those negative emotions and hello to a happier, more balanced classroom!

Boosting Social Skills: Want to see those little social butterflies in action? Mindfulness is the secret ingredient. By incorporating mindful listening and other mindfulness techniques during group activities, you'll be promoting empathy, active listening, and understanding among your students. Imagine a classroom where conflicts are resolved peacefully, and friendships blossom. That's the power of mindfulness in action! 

Academic Achievement Unleashed: Are any of your students having a hard time focusing? Help students improve their attention spans, concentration, and focus with intentional daily mindfulness activities. With teacher stress on the rise in recent years, we can ALL definitely benefit from mindfulness practices!

Special education teachers, you are the superheroes of inclusion and support. Adding mindfulness to your repertoire is like unlocking a whole new level of superpowers for your students. With mindfulness, you can create a classroom where emotions are in check, social skills flourish, and academic achievements soar. So take a deep breath, dive into the world of mindfulness, and make a positive impact on your students' lives. You've got this!