Hello and welcome! I did not know much about mindfulness when I was asked to pilot what is now the MindUp program a few years back. I had no idea what to expect, nor did I ever anticipate how much mindfulness education would change the way I teach and view education. As I saw students respond whole-heartedly, I realized more than ever that children are looking for ways to self-regulate, understand themselves, and understand the world around them. They are also desperately seeking a way to slow down their minds and bodies in a culture that prides itself on multi-tasking and moving at lightening speeds.
While you never really move out of the classroom, my role has gone from one of full-time classroom teacher to middle school administrator with School District 43. With that said, mindfulness education continues to play a key role in my work as I work with teachers to extend practices that support the social and emotional needs of students into their classrooms and into all areas of the curriculum.
This blog initially came out of a desire to know more about how other educators were using mindfulness in their classrooms and schools and to share what I was seeing in mine. It has since evolved into a mixture of lessons, book recommendations and insights on various topics related to both mindfulness and social and emotional learning. It is my hope that you will find something practical and of use to you. I welcome your thoughts, comments and suggestions.
Best Wishes,
Pam
The Mindful Classroom 
Pam, I’m so excited to discover your blog and look forward to what lies ahead. I am trained in the Mindful Schools Curriculum and also incorporate MindUp into my teaching. I am not a formally trained school teacher, so I come into the classroom to specifically teach mindfulness and love it. I just made mind jars with my Kindergartners and they had a blast. I am always looking for new ideas and inspiration, so I will play close attention to your blog. I look forward to our paths crossing more. Gratefully, Annmarie Chereso
Hi Annmarie,
I am so glad you are enjoying my blog. I have read about the Mindful Schools program and I think the two are very similar. I am always looking for new ideas too so definitely keep me posted on what you are doing. Glad the kindergartners also liked the Mind Jars… kindergarten kids and glitter go well together. Most of the time anyways 🙂
Cheers, Pam
Hi. I was researching mindfulness for kids and I just purchased the MINDUP program. I am exciting about implementing it with my first grade class. I also have Planting Seeds by Thich Nhat Hanh. It’s very beautiful and I highly recommend it. It’s nice to see that the curriculum is making a difference for everyone!
Agreed. I also have the “Planting Seeds” book. There are a number of great ideas in it. I have used the MindUP program with grade 1’s. They love it and it is a lot of fun.
I am entering my 10th year as a high school psychology teacher. In the first few years of teaching (and probably longer) I was so focused on WHAT I was teaching, but not WHO I was teaching. I cared for my students both as learners and individuals, but I placed my content as the vehicle for my day to day interaction. Last year I touched the surface of mindfulness in the classroom. This year I want to embrace WHO my learners are first, teaching them skills before content. I am glad to read posts from similar minded educators. Thank you for the blog.
I think that is a fantastic goal. I would love to hear what you ended up doing.
Hi Pam,
I teach Psychology at Central New Mexico Community College and have recently started incorporating mindfulness with my students. Are you familiar with any resources for Mindfulness at the college level? Everything I’ve found so far is about applications for K-12. Some of it has transfer value, to be sure – just thought I would put the question out there. Thanks!
Hi, I am not super familar with mindfulness at the college level. I do know that a lot of the research on the impact of mindfulness started out at the college level, particularly with looking at how mindfulness reduced stress in medical students. The results were very positive. One of the programs I know is used for adults, but focusing more on teachers, is the SMART program http://smart-in-education.org/ There is also the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program http://www.umassmed.edu/cfm/about/index.aspx In reality, even focusing on something like the MindUP program, but tailoring it to adults would work. By that I mean teaching your college students about the brain, the link between brain research and mindfulness, and then the focus on the positive psychology behind mindfulness (gratitude, optimism, acts of kindness, perspective taking etc…). Hope this info is at least a little bit helpful. Books by John Kabat-Zinn are also a good starting point.
🙂 Pam
Hi Pam,
Holly Stibbs sent me. I am the newsletter for the BC Cooperative Learning Association. Would you be open to us printing some of your blog entries in our newsletter? If you email me I can tell you which ones. Thanks,
Erica
Hi Pam, I stumbled upon your blog while working on research for a class project. I am studying Technology Innovation in Education and hope to start my Secondary Teaching diploma in September. I am very interested in exploring mindful engagement of digital media in education. I’ve really enjoyed reading your blog, and it’s nice to see that there are other teachers who are interested in mindfulness in the classroom. Thank you!
Your topic of study sounds really interesting. We don’t often link technology with mindfulness but I think the two can go hand in hand in many ways. Best of luck in your research. I would love to hear, at some point, what you found.
🙂 Pam
The topic of study is really interesting and also helpful.Thanks for your post
……..indiegogo
Just loving what I’m seeing here! I was in the first cohort of Mindfulschools year-long certification program and I’ve never looked back. Has changed how I think and how I engage with kids, colleagues and myself. I’m the social worker in a k-2 building. My next big stretch….mindfulness with staff. Great blog Pam. I feel grateful to have stumbled upon it. : )
Hi Pam,
This page has not been updated since 2014, is there another one active at the moment? It has been quite a challenge getting support from MindUp after implementing the program here in Hong Kong.
I am currently rolling out our mindfulness program and searching for more resources.
Thanks,
Nicki
Great site and helpful resources. We have a few resources on Mindfullness that you may be interested in. Squirmy Learns to be Mindful and a Mindfullness Thumball. Check out our website.
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