Mindfulness in Education

Over the past decade, the practice of mindfulness has gained increased traction in schools. Field-tested, highly-adaptable curricula is rapidly becoming a fixture in classrooms across the US as well as other countries, benefiting students and educators alike.

Mindful Students

Students are told to “pay attention” countless times each school day, yet most have never been taught HOW to pay attention. Mindfulness develops the brain’s capacity to direct and re-direct awareness. This, in turn, empowers students to recognize various emotional states without being controlled by them—freeing them up to choose a skillful response rather than a knee-jerk reaction.

Outcomes of mindfulness interventions with students include:

Improved focus and attention
Emotional regulation
Heightened compassion
Greater adaptability
Increased resilience
Calmness independent of external circumstances

While the body of research on mindfulness in youth is not yet as developed as it is for adult populations, initial studies are promising. Click here for a great sampling of research on the Mindful Schools website.

Mindful Educators

Teaching has always been a stressful profession, and the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically increased teacher frustration, disillusionment, and burnout. A recent NEA survey found that over half of teachers say they'll probably leave the profession earlier than planned.
While multiple systemic challenges contribute to this disillusionment, regular mindfulness practice can provide a degree of support for educators to cope more effectively with stress and re-connect with the values and ideals that attracted them to the field in the first place. The presence in the classroom of a teacher at peace with him/her/themself can have a profound impact on students as well.