Mindful Education Programs
By State
|
By Program
|
MINDFUL SCHOOLS
Mindfulness Education Organization | Oakland, CA
Mindful Schools has worked with the following 20 schools:
| Emerson | Piedmont Avenue | Park Day School |
| Edna Brewer | Reach | Sankofa |
| RISE Academy | New Highland | Prospect Sierra |
| Fruitvale | Met West High School | Blue Oak |
| Oakland International HS | Munck | Hillcreast |
| NOCCS | Bridges | Futures |
| EnCompass | Raskob Day School |
Mindful Schools offers mindfulness training for students, teachers, and administrators. The core student training program meets three times a week, for 15 minutes, over a five week period. The program includes 4 sessions of training for teachers. Mindful Schools also offers workshops and retreats for teachers and administrators.
The primary goal of the mindfulness program is to teach children to pay attention. Students are taught to focus their attention on sound, their breath, movement, and various other parts of their daily experience. This teaches students to be and to stay in the present. It helps make them more aware of their thoughts and feelings. This awareness gives students an understanding of their emotions and emotional reactions, allowing more control and the ability to make choices in response to difficulties, rather than habitually reacting.
As of March 2009, Mindful Schools has served nearly 5,000 students in 20 schools, 15 of which are public schools with predominantly underserved populations. Mindful Schools is a community outreach program of the Park Day School.
info[at]mindfulschools.org | (510) 653-0317 Ext. 105
Park Day School Attn: Laurie Grossman/Mindful Schools 370 43rd St. Oakland, CA 94609
Testimonials from Teachers:
"Before mindfulness, four of my students were living in the office. Now they can be in the class and learn."- First grade teacher
"After mindfulness today, they were so focused in music. They’re never like that in music."- Kindergarten Teacher
"I used to yell, but now I talk quietly like this."- Principal in the cafeteria
Testimonials from Students:
"The world would be cleaner and there would be less shooting if all schools had mindfulness. Mindfulness helps when I'm mad at my brother-in-law who makes my sister sad or accidentally makes my niece sick, so I breathe and I talk about it. I calm my mom down and it helps me go to sleep at night. I love mindfulness."
"It helps me in school when I am trying to do work. It helps me not get my name on the board."
"When my sister gets on my nerves I tell her to leave me alone so I can take a deep breath. I always use the technique whenever I am mad."
STILL QUIET PLACE
Mindfulness Education Organization | Menlo Park, CA
Still Quiet Place has provided mindfulness training at Discovery Charter School, Oak Knoll School, and the Henry Ford School.
The Still Quiet Place curriculum consists of eight 1 hour sessions, of age appropriate mindfulness practices, and activities to develop attention, respectful communication, and compassionate action. Research data demonstrates that children who participate in this course experience increases in their capacity to orient their attention.
Amy Saltzman, M.D.
885 Oak Grove Ave. Suite 212 Menlo Park, CA 94025
dramy[at]stillquietplace.com | 650-575-5780
Testimonials from Students:
Mindfulness is a great class because you can chill out, and relax. It will cool you down and make you less stressed. You should try it if you are mad or sad or just want to feel better. Thats what I do. Try it! -5th grader
Mindfulness is a way of understanding and being aware of feelings
. Mindfulness has helped me before homework because it relaxes me so I do a good job with my homework. -5th grader
It feels sort of strange but peaceful. I can't really tell how I use mindfulness at home, but I do know it helps me when I am mad at my brother. -4th grader
INNER KIDS
Mindfulness Education Organization | Los Angeles, CA
Susan Kaiser-Greenland, Executive Director
info[at]innerkids.org | 310-440-4869
c/o Level Four Business Management
11812 San Vicente Blvd. Fourth Floor Los Angeles, CA 90049
Attention, Balance, and Compassion...The New ABC'S
InnerKids is a national leader in teaching children self-directed skills to help them become more attentive and resilient. These skills take into account developmental differences, train focused attention and balance, and acknowledge clarity and compassion as part of the process of becoming more attentive and aware.
BAY SCHOOL OF SAN FRANCISCO
High School | Private | San Francisco, CA
The mindfulness program at the Bay School begins with a daily morning meeting where the entire school does a short period of meditation and then has a discussion of the school's guiding precepts. Mindfulness is talked about as 'paying attention' and the practice is reinforced during the day in classrooms, on the athletic field and in meetings. To further mindfulness practice, some students attend week long meditation retreats for teens.
Contact: Teah Strozer, Chaplain
teah1[at]att.net
CATE SCHOOL
High School | Private | Carpinteria, CA
The Cate School has a program called Kindfulness. The basic idea is that awareness, acceptance, and kindness are the foundational skills of well-being. Students in 9th and 10th grade meet twice a week to receive "Kindfulness" instruction. A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction class is also offered as an elective.
Contact: David Mochel, Human Development Department Chair
dave_mochel [at] cate.org
WEST HOLLYWOOD ELEMENTARY
Elementary | Public | West Hollywood, CA
West Hollywood Elementary has an hour long after-school mindful awareness enrichment class. The class includes mindfulness practices, yoga, and guided meditation.
Contact: Susan Ladd, After-School Enrichment Instructor
seladd[at]aol.com
Testimonials from Students:
"It feels nice and calm to me. I feel better and happy." Raquel (age 5)
"I was rushing... I was dizzy. Then, I breathed and I felt great." Moses (age 5)
Comments from Parents:
Recently, one parent thought the class was doing as much or more than occupational therapy, that her daughter was able to understand and name her feelings being better able to communicate and articulate her thoughts and feelings in general.
DILLON VALLEY ELEMENTARY
Elementary School | Public | Dillon, CO
Teachers are coached in integrating mindfulness practices into grades pre-K to 5.
Contact: Linda Wallace
linda[...at...]foundationsofawareness.com | 970-390-5230 ]
MATLOCK ACADEMY
High School | Private | West Palm Beach, FL
Matlock Academy has a stress reduction curriculum that includes meditation and a focus on physical relaxation. The goal of these stress reduction techniques is to transform teens' thinking from feeling helpless to being empowered through meditation and mindfulness. The Matlock Academy curriculum has been featured on local and national television.
Contact: Daphne Grad, Executive Director
daphnegrad1[at]aol.com | 561-327-0996
Student Testimonials:
"I have used these skills to stop arguing with my mother."
"I use meditation to relax me before my SATs and it helped me get a higher score."
THE KEY SCHOOL
K-12 | Private | Annapolis, Maryland
1st graders at The Key School are taught mindfulness meditation in the context of a unit entitled “A Peaceful Library.” The librarian uses a guided progressive relaxation from http://www.learningmeditation.com/children.htm to introduce the children to the idea of meditation. The students then do the “Mind in a Jar” experiment and read “Peaceful Piggy Meditation” by Kerry MacLean, found at: http://www.kerryleemaclean.com/
The children brainstorm times when meditation would be useful in their everyday lives. They also create a slideshow about how they can “have a little peace” at school. After the “Peaceful Library” unit is over, they continue to begin each library class session with guided meditation of some kind.
Other resources used include Amy Saltzman’s CD “The Still Quiet Place,” as well as finger labyrinths and ideas & music from Kimberly Post Rowe’s “A Settled Mind”
Contact: Angela Baccala, Pre & Lower School Librarian
abaccala[at]keyschool.org | 410-263-9231 ext. 1241
Quotes from the children this year after our first guided meditation (progressive relaxation) session: “I felt calm.” “I felt really good inside.” “I was really calm and quiet.” “I felt good when I was relaxing.” “I felt warm inside.”
NANTUCKET NEW SCHOOL
Elementary and Middle | Private | Nantucket, MA
The school implemented the Mindfulness Education program developed by the Hawn Foundation in September of 2008. Currently, all students (3 yrs. old -- 8th grade) participate in the program.
The program consists of a daily core practice (mindful breathing 3 times per day) and a 12-lesson curriculum which focus on topics ranging from brain chemistry to mindfulness of the senses to mindful relationships.
Contact: Dave Provost, Head of School
dprovost[...at...]nantucketnewschool.org | 508-228-8569
GARFIELD PARK ACADEMY
Elementary, Middle, High School | Private | Willingboro, NJ
Garfield Park Academy teaches basic relaxation strategies to all of its students. They also teach self-reflection and problem solving skills, primarily through our social workers. In addition, they use biofeedback and neurofeedback training and will eventually have Heart Rhythm Biofeedback in every classroom. The teachers also use simple, short mindfulness strategies, such as from Luster's Calm Classroom. Garfield Park Academy has a school social worker for each classroom of 10-12 students. This allows them to offer more comprehensive approaches.
Contact Dale Starcher, Administrator
dstarche[...at...]garfieldparkacademy.org | 609-877-4111
MINDFULNESS PROJECT
Mindfulness Education Organization
The Mindfulness Project is a collaboration between Drs. Frank Wood and Richard Sears, based in the Cincinnati area, to help contribute to healthier communities. We offer flexible programs, such as a 90-minute “Crash Course,” a 4 week “Awake” course, and an 8 week “Alive” course.
Mindfulness Project – a Crash Course: In this short, 90 minute course, we support students, teachers and administration with the start of the school year in a positive way, or students with the stresses that accompany particularly stressful events (such as proficiency testing). We are also able to incorporate this crash course as part of a class, as a special meeting, or after school. Topics include:
• Understanding the nature of stress
• Long-term effects of stress
• Stepping out of automatic reactions
• Techniques for short-term and long-term stress reduction
Mindfulness Project - Awake: In this 4 week course, we offer 90-minute sessions one evening per week for a month, to foster a deeper understanding of stress and emotional management. Topics include:
• Understanding the nature of stress
• Long-term effects of stress
• How our thoughts contribute to our stress
• The nature of anxiety and depression
• Stepping out of automatic reactions
• Techniques for short-term and long-term stress reduction
Mindfulness Project - Alive: In this 8 week course, we offer 90-minute sessions one evening per week for two months, to foster a lifelong shift in attentional capacity and emotional maturity. Topics include:
Class 1: Automatic Pilot
Class 2: Dealing with Barriers
Class 3: Mindfulness of the Breath
Class 4: Staying Present
Class 5: Allowing and Letting Be
Class 6: Thoughts are Not Facts
Class 7: How Can I Best Take Care of Myself
Class 8: Using What’s Been Learned to Deal with Future Challenges.
Contact: Richard Sears, PsyD., MBA, ABPP, Director
richard[...at...]psych-insights.com | 513-487-1196
WELLNESS WORKS IN SCHOOLS
Mindfulness Education Organization | Lancaster, PA
Created by Kinder Associates LLC in 2001, Wellness Works in Schools™ is an innovative health and wellness program based on mindfulness principles and practices. Taught by seven teachers in numerous, diverse educational and community settings, the program is designed to motivate, educate and support students, classroom teachers and families in developing mental, emotional, physical, and social competencies needed to handle life’s challenge healthfully, across school, home, work and community. Programs are offered that the following schools:
School District of Lancaster
- McCaskey High School Campus
- Hand Middle School
- Reynolds Middle School
- Lincoln Middle School
- Wheatland Middle School
- Hamilton Elementary School
- King Elementary School
- Burrowes Elementary School
Reading School District
- Excel Alternative Education – Middle School and High School
- Millmont Lighthouse Alternative Education
- 10th and Penn Elementary School
Harrisburg School District
- William Penn Campus - Alternative Education for Middle and High School
Lancaster County Youth Intervention Center - Shelter Care and Detention Care residents
Contact: Rick Kinder
Kinder Associates LLC, 114 Buch Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17601
info[at]kinderassociates.net (717) 569-3969
www.wellnessworksinschools.com
FRIENDS COUNCIL ON EDUCATION
Mindfulness Education Organization | Philadelphia, PA
The Friends Council on Education, a national association of Friends schools, provides professional development programs and publications for educators in Friends schools with outreach to educators in public and private schools. Mindfulness in education is one of the Friends Council's outreach programs. FCE provides an annual mindfulness retreat for educators, a six-week course on mindfulness in teaching and learning, and has a new publication, Tuning In: Mindfulness in Teaching and Learning (2009), which includes contributions from many educators using mindfulness in the K-12 field.
Contact Irene McHenry, Ph.D.
Friends Council on Education
1507 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
215-241-7245
info[...at...]friendscouncil.org
http://www.friendscouncil.org/
LANCASTER SCHOOL DISTRICT
Elementary, Middle, High School| Public | Lancaster, PA
Kinder Associates are conducting a 10-week series of weekly Wellness Works in Schools™ sessions for students assigned to special ed. emotional support classrooms in 10 separate schools in the School District of Lancaster. Two Kinder Associates instructors, with sequenced age appropriate lessons from our Mindful Tool Kit and Mindful Emotion curriculums, teach each series. Related mindful awareness skills explored, discussed, and practiced during class. Wellness Works sessions are underway in three elementary schools (King, Burrowes, and Hamilton), four middle schools (Hand, Wheatland, Reynolds, and Lincoln), and the high school campus (J P McCaskey, McCaskey East, and Steinman Center). Millersville University is conducting two yearlong research projects at Hand Middle School to measure the effects of Wellness Works instruction on special education student’s participation and behavior. Preliminary findings are considered encouraging. Wellness Works has been taught at Hand Middle School for five years.
Testimonials from Students:
“It (Wellness Works) makes me not evil anymore or very angry and dark inside my body.” ~ 6/7th Grade learning support student
Testimonial from Classroom Teacher and Administrator:
“My students are in great need of this type of a program to help them cope with the extra stressors they seem to have (emotional disturbances). I like the lessons attached to Wellness Works as well as the mindfulness-based activities. The instructors are extremely patient and supportive to both students and teachers.”
~ 6/7th Grade Learning Support Classroom Teacher
Testimonials from Students:
“Students need Wellness Works because they don’t know how to control themselves.” ~ Student, high school emotional support
Testimonial from Classroom Teacher and Administrator:
“The Wellness Works program has given our high school students a different approach to dealing with anger, frustrations, and daily teenage issues. It has been a huge benefit for our students that attend this program.” ~ Teacher, high school
“This year’s Wellness Works program in my two emotional support and two learning support classrooms yielded great results, e.g. a thirty-one percent improvement in the four measured domains (emotional, social, mental, and physical); higher grades in communication arts and math, decreased discipline referrals, and support provided in helping students. I do not know of a program which works so quickly with students for them to begin to take control of their lives and begin developing an internal locus of control. It seems so much common sense that something as simple as controlling your breath, posture and mental imagery would help you begin to control other aspects of your behavior. It’s a wonder it hasn’t been tried before.” ~ Principal, Middle School
EXCEL
Middle and High School | Public | Reading, PA
Excellence Center for Education and Learning (EXCEL)
Reading School District provides middle and high school students assigned to their EXCEL Alternative Education Program the mindful awareness program, Wellness Works in Schools™. Students attend a weekly Wellness Works class for one marking period.
EXCEL’s classroom teachers and staff received 3-hours of Wellness Works: Classroom Integration Teacher Training, with additional training being arranged for next year.
Testimonials from Students:
“This stuff is good and will help me with my anger and staying in school.” ~ High school student
“Wellness Works taught me how to keep myself calm and don’t feed into other peoples’ antics.” ~ High school student
“I thought you were crazy coming here and doing this, but it’s okay for me. I get it! That’s cool.” ~ High school student
Testimonial from Classroom Teacher and Administrator:
“I plan to use these principles and practices with my students and as a meditation for myself.” ~ Intervention Counselor – Middle and High School Alternative Education
“I plan to use these mindfulness approaches in the classroom.” ~ Teacher – Middle and High School
READING SCHOOL DISTRICT
Elementary | Public | Reading, PA
Kinder Associates is conducting weekly Wellness Works sessions in three emotional support classrooms in the Millmont Elementary School and 10th and Penn Elementary School. Two Kinder Associates instructors, with sequenced age appropriate lessons from our Mindful Tool Kit curriculum, teach each yearlong series and related mindful awareness skills explored, discussed, and practiced during class. Classroom teachers and staff will receive 8-hours of our Wellness Works: Classroom Integration Teacher Training™.
Testimonials from Students:
“I like Wellness Works. It makes me feel better inside.” ~4th grade student
Testimonial from Classroom Teacher and Administrator:
“This program provides me better and more consistent self-awareness and balance. It has brought a renewed focus on sensory awareness and balance.”~ 4/5th Grade Teacher – Alternative Education
“This will help me at home and in helping my students remain in balance.” ~ 4/5th Grade Teacher – Alternative Education
HARRISBURG SCHOOL DISTRICT
Middle, High School | Public | Reading, PA
Kinder Associates is conducting weekly Wellness Works sessions for middle and high school students assigned to Harrisburg School District’s alternative education school on the William Penn Campus. Students will attend a series of 13 weekly sessions including age appropriate topics from our Mindful Emotions curriculum, and related mindful awareness skills explored, discussed, and practiced. This is a yearlong program with two Kinder Associates instructors conducting the classes. Classroom teachers and staff will receive 8-hours of our Wellness Works: Classroom Integration Teacher Training™.
FALK LABORATORY SCHOOL
Elementary and Middle | Private | Pittsburgh, PA
Based on the mindfulness elements of yoga and the alexander technique, students have been introduced to movement awareness, balanced sitting, yoga, breathing techniques, visualization, and guided relaxation. Thus far the program only has a half hour per week of scheduled class time, usually for approximately 9 weeks per class. Additional time is offered to teachers in the class room for 5-10 minute lessons. Teachers are also able to take advantage of 1/2 hour individual lessons in the alexander technique and relaxation practices.
Contact: Lonna Wilkinson, Mindfulness Consultant
Email: lonnawilkinson [at] yahoo.com
Phone: 412 613-1813
ST. JOHN'S PREP
High School | Private | Philadelphia, PA
Steven Oldham has integrated a Mindfulness program as part of his senior ethics course, The Ethics of War and Peace. After participating in a formal training program at the U of Mass. Hospital in Worcester this 2010 summer, he hopes to offer the classic 8 week MBSR program for faculty, staff, parents and alumni during the school year 2010-11.
Contact: Steven Oldham
soldham[...at...]sjprep.org
MOSES BROWN
Elementary, Middle, High School | Private | Providence, RI
In the context of a year-long Ancient Civilizations class, 6th graders at Moses Brown are introduced to meditation practices during the unit on Asia. Every day, Jonathan Gold's sixth grade class opens with a brief period of meditation, generally no longer than six minutes. Upon completing each meditation, the students are asked to reflect on their experience. In a randomized controlled trial, Brown researchers are assessing the effects of these practices on attention, self-awareness, emotional well-being, compassion and school likeability in the 2007-08 academic year.
Contact: Willoughby Britton, Head Researcher
Willoughby_Britton[at]brown.edu | 401-421-9440
Dept of Psychiatry & Human Behavior Box G-BH, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912
UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF NASHVILLE
Private | K-12 | Nashville, TN
University School of Nashville implements several contemplative and mindfulness programs.
At the start of 6th grade study hall, teachers lead students in one of twelve different contemplative activities. Example activities include: Deep belly breathing, guided relaxations, and silent walks around the front lawn of the school. Teachers are provided with meditation CDs so they don’t need to lead the meditation themselves.
USN also has adopted a contemplative approach to wilderness education. Modeled after “Place-Based” learning, kindergarten students are taught the two core principles of "sauntering" and "observing" on the campus of the school and at our River Campus. The effort is designed to teach the children to begin to notice what is around them and to develop their "sense of place."
For physical education, yoga is available to middle and high school students. There is also an after-school Tai Chi class.
Contact: Helen Tarleton
Middle school Counselor
htarleton [at] usn.org
615-321-8025
CHAMBERLIN SCHOOL
Elementary | Public | South Burlington, VT
The South Burlington School District Wellness and Resilience Program is currently piloting a mindfulness-based program with K-12 students and staff using the Inner Resilience Program curriculum, which teaches reflective practices to staff and students.
Contact: Auriel Gray, School Counselor
agray[at]sbschools.net | 802 652 7267
Testimonials from Faculty and Staff:
I really think that the Inner Resiliency work may be the most important professional development I have had in my thirty-year career, in terms of its potential to have a meaningful and positive impact on students' lives. Until we find peace within, we will never find it anywhere else. – Grade 2 Teacher, Chamberlin School
Applying mindfulness practices before difficult conversations/meetings and teacher/student interactions, has decreased my anxiety and increased my ability to listen and attend to the needs of others as well as my own. -- Special Educator, Chamberlin School
FREDERICK TUTTLE MIDDLE SCHOOL
Middle | Public | South Burlington, VT
The South Burlington School District Wellness and Resilience Program is currently piloting a mindfulness-based program with K-12 students and staff using the Inner Resilience Program curriculum, which teaches reflective practices to staff and students.
Contact: Auriel Gray, School Counselor
agray[at]sbschools.net | 802 652 7267
Testimonials from Faculty and Staff:
The impact has been on both a personal and professional level. Minimally I now have a better awareness of my emotional well being. I know when I am not in a mindful state. I also know when my students are not in a mindful state. I have learned basic skills in bringing both my class and myself back to a mindfulness. I practice mindful breathing much more often, and yet I have not even begun to really take advantage of such wellness techniques. While stressful situations will always be a part of life, I realize I do not have to become consumed by that stress. I am thankful for the tools I am being given by the great instructors of this most valuable pilot. I think my colleagues can't afford not to take part in this training. It is a must for all of us. – Technology Education Teacher, F.H. Tuttle Middle School
I volunteered to participate in the pilot program with Linda Lantieri based on her book Building Emotional Intelligence. It was a big move away from my comfort zone to even think about activities such as meditation or yoga. However, I have learned that techniques used to build resilience or improve emotional intelligence can be many various things to different people and have allowed myself to experiment with them to find what’s right for me. My approach with students has been to teach them about the brain and how it works, in other words, to try to give them the concrete information they need to understand what is happening to them as their brain develops and responds to stimuli. We started by working on simple strategies such as taking a deep breath, pausing before responding, deep breathing, and muscle relaxation. It’s been valuable to take the time to explain to them what we’re doing, why, and how the brain responds. Adults modeling the techniques during the course of the day (in real life situations), explaining what they are doing, and encouraging students to try new strategies have been very helpful. – Classroom Teacher, F.H. Tuttle Middle School
ORCHARD SCHOOL
Elementary | Public | South Burlington, VT
The South Burlington School District Wellness and Resilience Program is currently piloting a mindfulness-based program with K-12 students and staff using the Inner Resilience Program curriculum, which teaches reflective practices to staff and students.
Contact: Auriel Gray, School Counselor
agray[at]sbschools.net | 802 652 7267
Testimonials from Faculty and Staff:
As a kindergarten and first-grade teacher I've always made time for children to relax and reflect in and out of the classroom, yet my enrollment in Inner Resilience has taken both my understanding and practice to a new level both for myself and my students. We now have a peace corner, tummy buddies to help us focus on breathing, along with more focused conversation. This extends the work we've been doing with guidance for several years now. -- K-1 Teacher, Orchard School
I am confident that these skills [from the Inner Resilience Program] will help with the compassion fatigue that is sometimes overwhelming in my job. Being part of the IR pilot has also been an exciting opportunity to continue the dialogue with colleagues and parents about how to strengthen our children's inner resources. It has given me concrete ideas and resources which I can then share in my role as school counselor. The CD and lessons from Linda's curriculum have enriched the work I do with children in classrooms and small groups. I want to be part of the next steps in bringing Linda's work to our district. – School Counselor, Orchard School
RICK MARCOTTE CENTRAL SCHOOL
Elementary | Public | South Burlington, VT
The South Burlington School District Wellness and Resilience Program is currently piloting a mindfulness-based program with K-12 students and staff using the Inner Resilience Program curriculum, which teaches reflective practices to staff and students.
Contact: Auriel Gray, School Counselor
agray[at]sbschools.net | 802 652 7267
Testimonials from Faculty and Staff:
I became interested in Linda Lantieri’s (Creator of the Inner Resilience Program) inner resilience work because I wanted to be more mindful of what I was doing as a teacher and as a parent. We have a trend of more and more third graders having anxiety issues. I wanted to offer my students calming strategies because so many of them feel stress: academic stress, social stress. I’ve become more mindful of being in the moment, of slowing down. And I am learning. I no longer clench my hands, shoulders, and jaw during the day. I’m releasing my hands. I’m trying to breathe. – Grade 3 Teacher, Rick Marcotte Central School
Linda Lantieri was one of the key people who identified research demonstrating a basic idea: learning and other positive behaviors come once you know how to focus the mind and calm the body. The ability to be mindful and relaxed allows a person to strengthen the neural pathways that help one to focus and pay attention. When you are focused and relaxed your memory works better, and if your memory is engaged, you are able to learn and respond to situations in a more productive way. I’m finding the carryovers of taking a moment, of breathing deeply, much more useful and immediate for kids than our discussions around empathy have been in the past. If we asked parents today what they want for their children, they would say that they want their kids to be able to deal with any situation that comes up. And these strategies allow children to get to that point. Children are going home and talking about the activities. And parents are coming into my office and saying, ‘We are so glad you are doing this work.’ This program has helped us as educators realize that if we’re not taking a mindful moment to breathe, then we can’t expect our kids to do it. We’re all learning that the best way to be in control is less a forced trying to be in control and more just taking a moment to breathe. Maybe we, as a village of mindful adults, can help our kids emerge healthier and happier having acquired these skills. – School Counselor, Rick Marcotte Central School
SOUTH BURLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL
High School | Public | South Burlington, VT
The South Burlington School District Wellness and Resilience Program is currently piloting a mindfulness-based program with K-12 students and staff using the Inner Resilience Program curriculum, which teaches reflective practices to staff and students.
Contact: Auriel Gray, School Counselor
agray[at]sbschools.net | 802 652 7267
Testimonials from Faculty and Staff:
The impact has been on both a personal and professional level. Minimally I now have a better awareness of my emotional well being. I know when I am not in a mindful state. I also know when my students are not in a mindful state. I have learned basic skills in bringing both my class and myself back to a mindfulness. I practice mindful breathing much more often, and yet I have not even begun to really take advantage of such wellness techniques. While stressful situations will always be a part of life, I realize I do not have to become consumed by that stress. I am thankful for the tools I am being given by the great instructors of this most valuable pilot. I think my colleagues can't afford not to take part in this training. It is a must for all of us. – Technology Education Teacher, F.H. Tuttle Middle School
I volunteered to participate in the pilot program with Linda Lantieri based on her book Building Emotional Intelligence. It was a big move away from my comfort zone to even think about activities such as meditation or yoga. However, I have learned that techniques used to build resilience or improve emotional intelligence can be many various things to different people and have allowed myself to experiment with them to find what’s right for me. My approach with students has been to teach them about the brain and how it works, in other words, to try to give them the concrete information they need to understand what is happening to them as their brain develops and responds to stimuli. We started by working on simple strategies such as taking a deep breath, pausing before responding, deep breathing, and muscle relaxation. It’s been valuable to take the time to explain to them what we’re doing, why, and how the brain responds. Adults modeling the techniques during the course of the day (in real life situations), explaining what they are doing, and encouraging students to try new strategies have been very helpful. – Classroom Teacher, F.H. Tuttle Middle School
BLUE MOUNTAIN SCHOOL
Elementary | Private | Floyd, VA
The Blue Mountain School is a new contemplative, progressive school that infuses mindfulness into everything they do. Right now they have board retreats, whole school mindfulness retreats, yoga, and other creative, fun, mindfulness practices throughout the day. They encorporate social emotional learning for classroom dynamics and are looking forward to growing with this model!
Contact: Shelly Emmett, Director
bms [at] swva.net | 540-745-4234