Bringing Mindfulness In the Classroom: Exercises For Educators

No matter how many teaching tips and resources you find, your success in the classroom depends largely on your mental health. Teachers need to prioritize taking care of themselves, which is not selfish! In this post, guest writer Rita Thompson shares practical tips on bringing mindfulness in the classroom. These exercises for educators promote overall well-being no matter what grade level you teach! Let’s dive into teacher self-care.

Rita also offers 7 FREE Guided Meditations! This series is perfect for beginners and intermediates who want to cultivate more mindfulness. Grab your freebie using the link in her bio at the end of this post.


*This post contains affiliate links to Amazon for your convenience. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, which do not cost any extra for you. Please see the full disclosure here.*



Why Do Teachers Need Mindfulness in the Classroom?


Teaching is a stressful job. And while we often see ways to implement mindfulness into the classroom, we very rarely come across resources for teachers themselves.

Well guess what? Mindfulness helps teachers too!

In fact, there have been many research studies that have investigated the impact of mindfulness on teachers.

There is strong evidence that practices like deep breathing and meditation have the power to enhance social-emotional awareness, as well as communication, attention, and focus.

All of which are essential to creating an effective learning environment.

Which makes you an effective teacher.

So, to get you started on your mindfulness journey, I’ve created a list of my three favorite mindfulnesses exercises for teachers.

Try one or all to see what works best for you.


Deep Breathing


We are constantly breathing, but very rarely do we take a moment to notice our breath.

So, the first way to bring mindfulness in the classroom is to practice deep breathing.

If you’ve got a chaotic classroom or day ahead of you, taking a moment to focus on the sound and feeling of your breath can be a surprisingly powerful way to ease your stress.

Before heading to school, find a comfortable, quiet place where you can focus. This can be sitting in your car in the school parking lot.

To begin, inhale fully through your nose for a count of 4 seconds. Next, hold all the air in your lungs for a count of 7 before exhaling through your nose for 8.

Run through this cycle of breathing 3 – 10 times, or until you notice your focus beginning to shift.


Journaling


Regularly tracking and reflecting on how you feel is a great way to figure out what’s been working in the classroom, and what hasn’t.

It can also help you to shift your own perspective on your job and better approach situations of conflict with a more positive attitude.

At the end of each workday, take some time to reflect in your journal. You may wish you use one of the prompts below to get you started.

  • What, or who challenged you most today?
  • How would you describe your teaching style?
  • What is the funniest excuse you’ve heard for not turning in homework?

The best part about your journal is that no one else is going to see it. So take this time to be as honest as possible.

Plus, you can also use your journal to record thoughts and feelings about your life outside of the classroom.

At the end of the month, sit down and read through what you’ve written.

This will not only help you to reflect on specific situations or feelings, but it will also help you make positive changes for the future.

You can even get your students involved by incorporating journaling as a weekly writing activity in the classroom!


Affirmations


Similar to compliments, affirmations are positive words or phrases used to uplift a person or shift their mindset.

As a teacher, using affirmations on a daily basis can help you stay calm and confident when faced with a tough lesson or challenging student.

In fact, evidence suggests that doing so not only decreases stress but further helps in approaching challenges and decision making.

All you need to do is take a few moments throughout the day to repeat one of the following phrases to yourself.

  • I am making a difference in my student’s lives.
  • I believe in my teaching abilities.
  • I approach each and every day with confidence and strength.
  • I am intelligent and meant to be in the classroom.
  • I empower my students each and every day with good knowledge.

It may feel silly in the beginning, but the more you trust this process the better it will work. You have to believe what you’re saying is true.

If you’re interested in learning more about using affirmations in the classroom, check out this video on Tanya’s YouTube channel.


More Teacher Self-Care & Mindfulness Resources



As you continue teaching, try your best to remember some of the approaches discussed in this blog.

While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to mindfulness, I hope that one of these techniques works well for you.

In addition to the ideas above, you can grab your FREE guided meditations at thejoywithin.org

You can also see more mindfulness tips on Instagram @the_joy_within.

Also feel free to check out these teacher self-care resources:

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Author Bio: Rita Thompson is a writer for The Joy Within, an online school for meditation, happiness, and personal empowerment. As a writer, Rita strives to help shed light on under-explored topics to help others flourish and access their fullest potential.

mindfulness in the classroom

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