Cultivating Mindfulness in the Classroom: The Dos and Don’ts for Teaching Mindfulness Practices and SEL Curriculum

As educators, we understand the importance of creating a positive learning environment that nurtures students’ social and emotional skills. One effective way to achieve this is by teaching mindfulness practices in the classroom, which can help students develop emotional self-regulation and emotional intelligence. However, implementing mindfulness in the classroom can be challenging, and it’s important to follow the dos and don’ts to ensure success.

Dos:

1. Introduce students to mindfulness when they are already calm, to start with success.
2. Practice mindfulness every day at the same time to make it a routine, and let students know in advance so they can expect and look forward to it.
3. Continue the mindfulness practice every single day. Mindfulness is a new skill that students are learning, and changes take time.
4. Join in the practice to be a model for your students. Mindfulness is good for everyone, children and adults alike.

Don’ts:

1. Introduce mindfulness when students are already frustrated, angry, or if the classroom isn’t in control.
2. Practice randomly at different times throughout the day and week.
3. Quit the practice because you’re not seeing progress right away. Just like learning to read, it won’t happen overnight! With time, students start loving the practice and applying the skills they’ve learned.
4. Expect children to be completely still or silent. It’s ok if they are moving around or giggling a bit. They are still benefitting from this calm moment.

Teaching mindfulness in the classroom requires a structured approach that incorporates social and emotional learning activities. To support educators in this process, Educalme offers a free webinar and mindfulness in the classroom PDF ebook that provides concrete strategies for teaching self-regulation in the classroom, a proven step-by-step approach to support students in their social-emotional learning and mental health through mindfulness, and the dos and don’ts of teaching mindfulness in more detail. Plus, educators will receive a free, bilingual (English & French) ready-to-use resource for the K-12 classroom.

Learn the dos and don’ts with us now (and get your free resources!).

In conclusion, cultivating mindfulness in the classroom is a powerful tool for creating a positive learning environment that supports students’ social and emotional growth. By following the dos and don’ts of mindfulness practices and incorporating the SEL curriculum, educators can equip their students with the skills they need to manage their emotions and behaviours, leading to a calm and focused learning atmosphere.

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