2. What is meditation? Using a range of practices to control conscious thought Using a range of practices to control conscious thought Mainly an inwardly oriented, personal practice, which can be done alone or guided Mainly an inwardly oriented, personal practice, which can be done alone or guided Generally two types of meditation: (OM) Open monitoring meditation: observing the breath thoughts or emotions without reacting to them (OM) Open monitoring meditation: observing the breath thoughts or emotions without reacting to them (FA) Focused attention meditation: focusing on a single object, such as a mantra or a candle (FA) Focused attention meditation: focusing on a single object, such as a mantra or a candle

3. My own practice: What lead me to meditation What lead me to meditation Began to be aware of: Began to be aware of: Sharpened sense of awareness Sharpened sense of awareness Increased patience Increased patience Longer periods of focus Longer periods of focus Less self-judgment Less self-judgment Being an educator, realized these are important skills for children to have in their own development as people and as students. Being an educator, realized these are important skills for children to have in their own development as people and as students. Focus on mindfulness Focus on mindfulness

4. Social and emotional benefits for students: Fostering mental health and awareness of oneself and others Fostering mental health and awareness of oneself and others Strengthened attention and focus: learning to channel attention to productive tasks Strengthened attention and focus: learning to channel attention to productive tasks Learning patience with yourself and others Learning patience with yourself and others Learning self-regulation skills, eg. controlled responses Learning self-regulation skills, eg. controlled responses Deeper reflection on actions by learning to be present and accountable Deeper reflection on actions by learning to be present and accountable

5. How Mindfulness works: Creates space, changing impulsive reactions to thoughtful responses. Creates space, changing impulsive reactions to thoughtful responses. Helps to enable new, wiser responses that improve attention, learning, emotional regulation, empathy, and conflict resolution. Helps to enable new, wiser responses that improve attention, learning, emotional regulation, empathy, and conflict resolution. Grape activity Grape activity

6. Mindfulness Mindful children Are better able to focus and concentrate Experience increased calm Experience improved impulse control Have increased self-awareness Find skilful ways to respond to difficult emotions Are empathetic and understanding of others Mindful teachers Have awareness of themselves and are better attuned to their students Maintain emotional balance Nurture a learning community where students flourish academically, emotionally and socially Thrive professionally and personally Know how to manage and reduce stress

7. My own experience with students: Lead 4 sessions of meditation with a split grade 3/4 class Lead 4 sessions of meditation with a split grade 3/4 class Discussions about breathing, awareness, mindfulness practice Discussions about breathing, awareness, mindfulness practice Practiced breathing from our bellies and focusing on breath Practiced breathing from our bellies and focusing on breath Used sensory experiences to keep the mind and body focused: grape exercise, listening to a calming piece of music and recording and sharing experiences Used sensory experiences to keep the mind and body focused: grape exercise, listening to a calming piece of music and recording and sharing experiences Listening for the bell Listening for the bell Share student samples Share student samples

8. What the Research says: Improved attention skills in class Improved attention skills in class Improved social skills in school Improved social skills in school Improved self-control and self-awareness Improved self-control and self-awareness Increased positive emotions Increased positive emotions Reduced stress and anxiety: Reduced stress and anxiety: Decreased anxiety Decreased anxiety Decreased test anxiety Decreased test anxiety Decreased blood pressure Decreased blood pressure Reduced misbehavior/aggression among children and adolescents Reduced misbehavior/aggression among children and adolescents

9. Activities you can do in class: Watching the breath Watching the breath Using the bell to breathe as a to breathe together and stay mindful Using the bell to breathe as a to breathe together and stay mindful Counting backwards from 10-1 Counting backwards from 10-1 Visualization: flower Visualization: flower Eating the grape Eating the grape Listening to calming music Listening to calming music

10. Helpful tips

11. References www.edutopia.org www.edutopia.org www.edutopia.org learning2breathe.org learning2breathe.org learning2breathe.org www.susankaisergreenland.com www.susankaisergreenland.com www.susankaisergreenland.com www.thehawnfoundation.org/mindup www.thehawnfoundation.org/mindup www.thehawnfoundation.org/mindup www.mindfulschools.org www.mindfulschools.org www.mindfulschools.org www.lineageproject.org www.lineageproject.org www.lineageproject.org http://www.smart-in-education.org/ http://www.smart-in-education.org/ http://www.smart-in-education.org/ http://www.cwae.org/ Center for Wellness and Achievement in Education http://www.cwae.org/ Center for Wellness and Achievement in Education http://www.cwae.org/ For all theses resources: uottawa-comprehensive=school-health.ca For all theses resources: uottawa-comprehensive=school-health.ca