Well, today, I thought of ONE thing I could change. One thing I could take off my plate. One little gift I could give my students...
Instead of 'leading' our mindfulness activities in class, I found a way to facilitate them!
Now my students will be more self-directed, have more freedom of choice, and will be able to practice coping-skills and self-regulation!
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Here's what I did: I created a Mindful Moments Nook, and you can do it, too! Here are some very simple-to-follow steps, to create your own safe and welcoming space for your students to gain awareness and to become more available for learning.
Wondering how you can create a dreamy little mindful spot in your classroom? Look no further! Here are some tips:
{This post may contain affiliate links to materials I recommend.}
- Designate a small sitting area--for 1-4 students only at a time. Really, it can be small!
- Decide on your color scheme--what 'vibe' do you want to give off? I love warm colors, so I have reds, oranges, and some teals in my throw rug and pillows.
- Supply some small, comfortable seats (my favorites are buckwheat meditations cushions, floor pillows, stadium chairs).
- Have PRE-TAUGHT activities available for students to freely access (We have Mindfulness activity cards and we LOVE the Calming Strategies for Regulation by SLP Runner! *We practice each one, first, before adding it to our Mindfulness Board.
- Hang up some positive affirmations and peaceful quotes. Kids LOVE thinking deeply about their feelings!
- Have some sensory activities available, nearby. I keep mine in the bins under our white bench.
- Add some 'zen' touches: salt lamp and Zenergy chime.
Check out my Mindfulness Posters Here... I sprinkle these throughout our room, for reminders about breathing and positive thinking. I have also turned them into small student affirmation cards, which you can find here!
After I put all of our mindfulness activities in one spot, I couldn't wait to roll it out to my students. BTW... if you're wondering WHY you should TEACH MINDFULNESS, check out my post about it!
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