Mindfulness is a powerful strategy that keeps one present and attentive in both the classroom and daily life. It is a form of meditation that demands concentration. There are numerous benefits of mindfulness like lowered stress and anxiety, an increase in focus and the capacity for critical and creative thought, and an improvement in general health and wellbeing.
Like everyone else, students nowadays struggle with attention deficits. With the increasing performance pressure, worry about future chances and the present state of digital distraction, it gets harder and harder to concentrate on the right things. The practice of mindfulness in the classroom, sometimes known as “contemplative pedagogy,” incorporates instructional strategies that aims to foster increased insight, focus, and awareness, and it has become a necessity now more than ever.
“A mindfulness culture benefits both teachers and students alike. Practicing mindfulness in the classroom can change how students absorb knowledge. Writing, in-depth listening, and reflection are just a few of the activities that teachers already utilize in the classroom that may be purposefully (re)designed to emphasize thoughtful learning,” says Anoop Singh Bishnoi, Chairman of The Doon School, Dehradun.
For schools and districts, there are a variety of mindfulness programs and curricula available, but not all of them are appropriate for all schools. Before implementing anything, it is important to take into account a number of criteria, including the age, history, and requirements of the students and staff, the alignment of certain thoughts with academic standards and goals, the strength of the program’s or curriculum’s evidence foundation, the cost, and the viability of its implementation. “For any school to successfully introduce and implement a mindfulness culture, their teachers, staff, and administration, all need to work together. To teach mindfulness to their students, schools must guarantee that their teachers, administrators, and other staff members have the necessary information, abilities, and confidence. Schools can offer their teachers and staff with required coaching, mentorship, or peer learning networks, as needed,” adds Anoop.
Mindfulness programming can vary from school to school, for one school it may be in the form of teachers conducting a breathing exercise in their classrooms as a daily routine, and for other schools, it could be a comprehensive or a multi-session program that may include teachers or even parents as well as pupils. But what matters the most is the intention and communication. Teachers/ Instructors should openly interact with the students so that they are aware of the goals of the activities they are performing and how these could benefit their learning outcomes. And most importantly, for these activities to become habits, these should be performed daily, only then the purpose of mindfulness will be achieved and will benefit students beyond school.
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