One of my 2nd year students often says, " I hook my attention onto the sound using my anchor." after our listening practice with our singing bowl. So, we have already had several discussions about the concept of an 'anchor ' . An anchor is simply the place we put our attention . It is the place that HOLDS our attention like an anchor holds a boat in place. We attempt to keep our attention there during the practice. There are many anchors we can attend and for today we added a new anchor - the breath. The breath has the advantage of always being with us no matter where we go or what we are doing. Mindful breathing can help us in many ways by calming us down, noticing what is going on at the moment, and helping us pause. | The older group of boys started breathing slowly in and out watching the Hoberman sphere. This was new to them so they were very engaged. We also practiced breathing in through the nose and out with the mouth. A few of us had stuffy noses we noticed ;-) We noticed the pause between inhaling and exhaling. Using the foam 5 Star we practiced using our breath as an anchor and noted how it felt in our bodies. This group was then given their Emwaves to practice using breathing as an anchor. |
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What is Mindfulness? There are many definitions for Mindfulness. Mindfulness is “the awareness that emerges through paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally to the unfolding of experiences moment by moment.” John Kabat Zin Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program at the University of Massachusetts, Mindfulness is paying attention to your life, here and now, with kindness and curiosity. One of the primary ironies of modern education is that we ask students to “pay attention” dozens of times a day, yet we never teach them how. The practice of mindfulness teaches students how to pay attention, and this way of paying attention enhances both academic and social-emotional learning. Amy Saltzman What does it mean for children? Learning how to be mindful helps children in numerous ways; attention, listening, self regulation & awareness, which leads to less impulsiveness & more emotional awareness . They are more able to learn with a decrease in distracting & impulsive behaviors. They learn to develop more positive relationships with others by noticing their thoughts, feelings and reactions /emotions that eventually lead to more thoughtfully responding not just reacting. It does takes time and daily practice. I use many different children's books, songs, arts and crafts and movement to keep it fun, interesting and meaningful. Let the children explain... |
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