A Future Teacher's Experiences with Mindflness

[generationofawarenessblog]

[mindfulmiss]

With everything I’ve been learning in my graduate classes I find myself looking back on all my years of being student. It has occurred to me that there is an obvious difference between the teachers I felt genuinely want to connect with me and those who did not. This is where I feel it is important for people to be mindful of everyone around them. So many people these days are focused on themselves. If I can find a way to have my students learn at an early age to really connect with their peers and the information they are presented I will feel I have done my job. 

There is so much to each individual child, you just have to be open to seeing it all. 

[karmasama-com]

Be easy to talk with

[mindfulmiss]

This artwork really connects to my philosophy of education and teaching. Before I even read the phrase I felt a calm as I looked at the picture. I can see how this artwork connects to the idea of making students feel comfortable with you as a teacher. The bird feels comfortable enough to rest on the woman’s hand as he appears to be talking or even singing. The woman gives off the vibe that she is genuinely listening to what the bird has to say. I think the contrast in the colors of the woman and the bird is very meaningful. The focus is on the bird and what it has to offer as in the classroom the focus should be on the student. 

[strictlyminimal]

Do

We were created to do things. We were not made to sit and consume all day. This not only drains us physically, but emotionally. Finding something we genuinely love to do that contributes to our community is enthralling and genuinely exciting. It pushes us to wake up and accomplish something. Once we find that push, everyday is a dream.

[mindfulmiss]

“Living is a form of not being sure, not knowing what next or how. The moment you know how, you begin to die a little. The artist never entirely knows. We guess. We may be wrong, but we take leap after leap in the dark.” – Agnes de Mille

I read this quote and it immediately made me think of my own philosophy of education and teaching (as well as life itself). I hope that I will not find myself stuck in the same old day-to-day actions once I become a teacher. It will be hard I’m sure, but I would like to not be afraid try out as many new ideas out as I can. From what I’ve learned and heard thus far in my own education, there is not enough room for creativity and for taking chances in the classroom as many people would like there to be. 

[mindfulmiss]

So I found this iPad app that is the supposed to serve as a more portable version of the mind jar. I tried it out today on myself and just for kicks with the baby I nanny...

My immediate thought was it’s obviously not nearly visually pleasing as a jar full of swirling and floating glitter. The music option was nice though. If I found myself in desperate need of some relaxation it definitely wouldn't hurt to use this! The baby seemed to enjoy it as well hehe

My thoughts would be this could be a much cleaner and simpler way to use a mind jar with a larger group of children, especially smaller children. If I could hook my iPad up to a large screen and turn the lights down I think it could really work! The children will also enjoy the chance to choose the color and music. Of course I won’t be able to check my hypothesis out any time soon, but I will be putting it on my “When I’m a teacher I think I’ll try this out” list (and yes that list physically exists).

[mindfulmiss]

I heard about Min Jars from my psychologist. I looked more into the idea and decided to make my own! I looked at a bunch of recipes and then just went for it. This is what I ended up with! 

The left jar represents a clear and relaxed mind while the right jar represents what your mind looks like when you have lots of anger or anxiety etc. Light corn syrup can be added in proportion to water to create different settling times for the glitter. The more syrup, the longer the settling time. I chose to use more syrup...

I even put together a possible lesson plan to use as instruction in an elementary aged classroom. The book Moody Cow Meditates by Kerry Lee MacLean was recommended by many people to use with instruction, so I ended up buying this book. I personally enjoy the story despite some of the more ridiculous events like the sister tripping the brother cow down the stairs. I practiced my plan with two boys, ages 6 and 9, that I babysit regularly. They thought the jars were cool, but they weren't as interested in the idea behind them. It didn’t help that it was a Saturday and all they wanted to do was run around and play. These boys have LOTS of energy. I ended up talking with their mother about how she can use the jars as a form of a “time out” to settle the boys down. 

I think I will definitely work with my lesson plan and attempt it in a classroom setting .......whenever I have my own classroom. 

[mindfulmiss]

I've been doing a lot of reading about mandalas and decided to try it out for myself. First some background on what a mandala is that Ive found from various sources: A mandala is a geometric shape or circular matrix with a center point. This center point is considered to be the point from which all things are possible. Coloring a mandala has the potential and power to promote relaxation, balance the body's energies, enhance creativity and to support healing. It is said that just by making the decision to color a mandala you are expressing your desire to achieve one of these goals. you are also acknowledging the power of the mandala and your own unlimited potential. Well....Sign me up! Relaxation, balanced energy, creativity and support are all things I want to promote in my classroom. So, why not give this a chance? I Have a lot of assignments due in the next few days and I found myself stressing about it. I decided this could be a good time to color a mandala. I found a less complicated mandala for the sake of time (now regretting that) and got started. I In fact feel much more relaxed. I set my intentions before beginning coloring: to only focus on the coloring while coloring and then once I was finished I would choose one assignment to focus on. It was hard at first because I was feeling anxious about working on something that wasn't t my schoolwork but the result was a positive one. I plan to continue working mandalas. Ive printed off a few to have on hand when I may need to color one again......Probably later today.

[mindfulawareness]

Truly wonderful the mind of a child is.“

Yoda (via mindfulawareness)

[weareteachers]

Smile at people. Say hullo. Ask about their lives. Remember what they’ve told you about their lives. Do small things to try and help them. (They will not know you are horrible, do not worry. They will just perceive that you are helping.) Give people the benefit of the doubt. Remember that it’s more often stupidity to blame than evil, that everyone can screw up (including you) and what’s important is learning from that. Think ‘What would an actually kind person do now?’—and do that. Don’t beat yourself up when you fail. Just be as kind to yourself as you will be to others—even if you have to fake that.

Neil Gaiman on how not to be horrible

http://neil-gaiman.tumblr.com/post/116751720466/dear-neil-i-am-a-horrible-person-how-to-be

(via weareteachers)

[mindfulmiss]

Meditation for Kids : Dealing with Anger in Children : Make a Calm-Down Basket! - Here We Are Together

Here is a great idea for helping children to deal with their anger or frustration. It’s called a clam-down basket. I may try making one for myself! I’ll also share this idea with the parents of the children I babysit. 

[mindfulmiss]

Here is a good program developed around the idea of using mindfulness in the classroom. 

MindUp Curriculum is "based in neuroscience, mindfulness and positive psychology, MindUP™ teaches children greater emotional self-control, resiliency and helps develop better decision-making skills. MindUP™ teaches kids about their brain, their most powerful tool and how to reduce stress.”

[mindfulmiss]

Commitment is at the very heart of freeing ourselves from old habits and fears

Pema Chodron

[mindfulmiss]

Commitment (n): the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc

To begin I figure I should provide some background information on what I am basing my experiment with mindfulness on. Pema Chodron shows how the Buddhist practice of the 3 vows, or the 3 commitments, can be used to relax in times of chaos. 

1. Cause no harm: The first of the commitments, traditionally called the Pratimoksha Vow, is the foundation for personal liberation. This is a commitment to doing our best to not cause harm with actions, words or thoughts – a commitment to being good to each other. It provides a structure where we learn to work with our thoughts and emotions, and refrain from speaking or acting out of confusion.

2. Help others: The next step is a commitment to helping others, traditionally called the Bodhisattva Vow. It is a commitment to dedicating our lives to keeping our hearts and minds open, and nurturing our compassion by giving to those in need.

3. Accept without judgment: The last of the three commitments, traditionally known as the Samaya Vow, is a resolve to embrace the world just as it is, without bias; a resolve to see everything we encounter, good and bad, pleasant and painful, as a manifestation of awakened energy. It is a commitment to see everything and anything as a means by which we can awaken further.

                       So how does this connect to teaching????

With any profession, commitment is a huge factor for finding success. One of the ideas that I first learned when I entered graduate school was that a teacher must believe that all children can learn and have the potential to learn. It’s not always easy to keep this mindset, but it is imperative for the growth of the child. A teacher must always be mindful of what they are saying and how they are acting in the classroom. This will help a teacher take full advantage of all possible teachable moments. I know it’s hard to stay on your game 100% of the time, but you have to do the best you can. I worked at a child development center and it is crazy how many things I had to think about at every moment I was in the classroom. I plan to do a lot of reflecting on my time at the child development center as I explore mindfulness and its possible affect on the classroom. 

[mindfulmiss]

I began reading Pema Chodron’s book Living Beautifully with Uncertainty and Change about two months ago. I’ve been struggling with depression off and on for the past few years and I thought this could be new way of looking at my life. I was inspired by her words and have been trying little by little to include what I’ve read about mindfulness and into my life. I’ve spent time reflecting and documenting my thoughts and experiences over time and figured why not share  what I’ve learned!

Recently I’ve been interested in how her book connects to the world of education. Life as an educator is always changing and you never know what each day will bring in the classroom. As I prepare to enter the world of education and have my own classroom I think it is important to accept this idea of constant change and uncertainty.