4 Simple Ways to Teach Mindfulness in your Classroom

The power of mindfulness in schools + an awesome giveaway you won't want to miss! 

It was the last day of school. I was putting my kids on the bus and giving them one last hug when one of my boys looked up at me and said "Miss W, if I get angry this summer I'm just gonna' focus on my breathing and it'll all be good." Wait, what? Did he really say that? I was so excited and proud and happy and #alltheemotions but instead of saying anything, all I could think was: first bump!

We'd practiced Morning Mindfulness all year and focused a lot on breath awareness, but I was worried that it wouldn't stick with some of them over the summer. For this kid, it stuck. [#proudteachermoment] In that moment, I remembered the power of teaching mindfulness to kids.

5 Books to Teach Mindfulness in Elementary Classrooms

mindful.org

"You cannot transmit wisdom and insight to another person. The seed is already there. A good teacher touches the seed, allowing it to wake up, to sprout, and to grow...We all have a seed of mindfulness in us. If we keep practicing, the seed will grow strong, and anytime we need it, the energy of mindfulness will be there for us." -Thich Nhat Hanh

In my post--4 Simple Ways to Teach Mindfulness in Your Classroom--I discussed the science of mindfulness and why it's so beneficial to students. Introducing a concept like mindfulness can be very complicated, but it can also be simple. One of the best ways to introduce mindfulness to your students is through books! I'm sharing my top picks that all teachers should add to their Amazon Wish List. (Disclaimer: These are in no particular order and are all so awesome in their own unique way that I can't rank them or pick a fav!)

1. A Handful of Quiet by Thich Nhat Hanh
In this book you'll find a simple pebble meditation that can be practiced with your students. Each pebble represents a different human quality and helps kids form social-emotional skills through the practice of awareness, breathing, and positive affirmations.

5 Yoga Poses to Calm Your Students’ First Day Jitters

Calm classroom yoga poses are the perfect solution to students’ (and teachers’) inevitable first day jitters.

My students are definitely not the only ones with “First Day Jitters”. I have that classic book memorized and can whip up some delicious jitter-juice to [attempt to] calm our nerves. But let’s be honest: the first day of school is far from easy and breezy. Between teaching the never-ending list of procedures, making it through the lunch with [hopefully] no spilled milk, and doing everything in my power to make sure that no one misses the bus, I’ve often wished there was some magical answer to keeping my cool throughout the day. As teachers, we may not have a magic wand, but we do have yoga! Check out just a few of the many magical benefits of yoga for kids (and teachers) and be sure to grab my Night-Before-School Yoga freebie down below. 

Bring the World Into Your Classroom with Virtual Field Trips

Today I'm sharing my top tips and resources for getting started with virtual field trips and showing how I use passports, boarding passes, and travel journals to make the experience come to life. I've also included a great freebie down below (#welovefreebies), so keep reading to download yours. This is the first part of my Virtual Field Trip Blog Series, so be sure to subscribe to get more tips, resources and freebies sent to your inbox!

Why virtual field trips?
I think it's pretty amazing that my 2nd graders and I manage to fly all over the world without ever leaving the walls of our classroom. Of course, none of this is possible without a little a lot of help from Google Earth, Skype in the Classroom, and other awesome tech tools. With little prep, students are able to experience other cultures, learn important geography skills, and build their natural love for learning and inquiry. I love that there are so many incredible free resources and tools to make traveling across the globe super easy and most importantly, super engaging.

Welcome to The Teacher's Passport

Bon Voyage! 

Welcome to The Teacher's Passport (formerly know in the social media realm as Little Leaders). I'm so excited you're here. In case you haven't browsed the site yet, my name is Becca Wertheim and I'm a 2nd grade teacher in Asheville, NC. I'm beginning year four of my career and I couldn't be more excited to document my journey at The Teacher's Passport.