Practicing mindfulness involves breathing methods, guided imagery, and other practices to relax the body and mind and help reduce stress. According to the Harvard Graduate School of Education, mindfulness “reduces the negative effects of stress and increases students’ ability to stay engaged, helping them stay on track academically and avoid behavior problems.” Teaching students mindfulness techniques and self care empowers them to feel more in control of their environment and stressors. In this session, teachers will learn about and practice mindfulness techniques they can take back to their classrooms and implement the next day. A wealth of self care resources will be shared to improve students’ social and emotional well being in the classroom.
