Whether it be for work or in our personal life, awareness is the key element in ensuring that our perception about what is happening is accurate so that our actions can be effective. We need awareness to notice our biases and how they influence our interpretations. We need awareness to track the impact of our choices so that we can self correct and adapt to changing circumstances. 

As educators, mindfulness is especially important. Youth come into the world with incomplete nervous systems and rely on the nervous systems of adults to help soothe and offer safety when difficult emotions arise. Meaning that, the state of the adult (stressed or present) has a strong influence on the state of being of all students in the classroom. Mindful teachers that can calmly and effectively contend with challenges, serve as models to youth on how to self regulate.

Mindfulness or full awareness is also an essential component in creating an effective and engaging learning environment. Teachers need to be able to attune to students and assess learning moment to moment in order to make adjustments to lesson plans. Students in turn need to be resourced and emotionally available to have agency over their attention for deep learning to occur.

This workshop will use interactive exercises, guided meditations and group discussions to demonstrate how to bring mindfulness into both teaching and learning. The following will be explored:

• What presence actually feels like and how to increase this state throughout the work day through simple acts of self care.

• Easy mindful teaching practices that can be implemented to create a regulated classroom environment that fosters more equity, learning and connection.

• Short mindfulness activities that students can do to increase focus and engagement