Mindfulness and Well-being in the Classroom

Low-level disruption, burnout, anxiety, absence and mental health problems affecting staff and students alike are on the rise. In the last seven months we have seen the rise and fall of COVID19 cases, some have lost loved ones or have known people who have experienced the virus, the injustice and lack of equality around the world .With all that is happening in the world, it is safe to say that we are all feeling some type of stress. How are we dealing with it? How are our students feeling? How can educators support students who may be feeling uneasy in the classroom? I believe the answer is simple: let's prepare students and staff with the knowledge and skills to be in charge of their own wellbeing.

I, myself believe that mental health in the classroom environment should be taken seriously and teachers should also dedicate even a small portion of their day checking in on their students or even having them participate in a five minute activity. There are countless resources available to help educators integrate mindfulness into their classrooms. As an Early Childhood Educator, when working in Kindergarten; my colleague and I always made sure that we checked in with each student in the morning and afternoon. We wanted to create a safe environment for our students to share how they were feeling and to support them to the best of our ability. One of the resources we used quite often was the 'Zones of Regulation' as it encouraged students to start using language that expressed to not only us but to their peers on how they were feeling. Checking in on our students, participating in activities as a class, validating that their mental well-being is important will encourage and support students to understand that their educators care. 

Here are some stories that you can keep in mind when talking to students about mindfulness and well-being.       

By Sarah OTECC