Our grades 3-5 school is located in the western foothills of rural Maine. We are a title I school with a wide range of students with varied social, emotional, and academic needs.
In the words of a fourth grader, "Mindfulness has helped me find me and become more me in the moments of my life." Students report using mindfulness in many areas of their lives, both in and out of school.
Once we begin to learn the strategies early in the school year, we can settle in as a group with just a few breaths - ready for whatever might come our way.
My Project
I have been using mindfulness in my fourth-grade classroom for several years. I have found it to be beneficial and effective in helping the children in my class to be more aware and available. My students become teachers by example as they assist our guidance counselor in bringing the strategies they internalize to students in other classrooms in our school.
Mindfulness has had a profound effect on my classroom community as students discover the wonders of their inner worlds and connect more deeply to each other and to learning.
The Mindful Schools Teacher Certification Program involves the week-long opening seminar/retreat that I am hoping to fund and then a year-long immersive online course. During this time I will be connecting with educators around the world who, like me, are interested in honing skills and gaining training in order to be able to bring mindfulness practices to our school communities. Participating in the program will also deepen my personal practice and greatly enhance the work I do with children. In the summer of 2020, there will be another week-long seminar/retreat to finish out the program.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Carlson and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
