There’s something happening here…
A class of McMillan grade 3 students holding ice cubes, a small group of grade 6 students at Fraser trying to figure out the flavour of a Jolly Rancher without looking, Bateman Career students making a cow from a blank piece of paper, Hansen Social Justice students studying a penny and then looking for “their” penny in a pile of pennies, a group of hairstylist students discussing being present when with a client, a group of Reimer students listening for specific sounds in their environment, a group of educators focusing their attention on their breathing. What do all these experiences have in common?
In all these experiences, students and staff are learning and practicing different ways of being mindful. Mindfulness is intentionally directing our attention on an anchor or point of focus. Jon Kabat-Zinn defines mindfulness as “awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally”. It is a practice that can support well-being, stress reduction, emotional literacy, better focus, improved concentration, decreased stress and anxiety, improved impulse control, increased self-awareness, increased empathy, increased distress tolerance and the further development of executive functioning skills.
Jodie Dueck, grade 3 teacher at McMillan Elementary is introducing mindfulness to her students in a variety of ways. On one occasion, the focus was on mindful eating. Students began by reviewing what mindfulness is with comments about “paying attention to the present moment and being kind to ourselves no matter what thoughts we have”. The students experimented with mindful eating by eating a HI Chew candy, exploring the sounds, tastes, textures, and smells of their candy. One student commented on how surprised she was during this activity. She didn’t think she liked green apple flavours but after this mindful experience, she now wants to try eating a green apple to see what will happen. The lesson finished with students mindfully writing in a journal about their experiences with mindful eating. The day ended with much excitement and curiosity about what food students might try to eat mindfully.
Mindfulness activities can be any length of time and can be incorporated into everyday activities. Whether you are intentionally setting aside time for a formal practice or simply engaging in a regular activity in a mindful way, the benefits of mindfulness can be appreciated by anyone at any time.
Looking to try a mindful activity? Perhaps give this a go: “A shorthand for this mindfulness practice is “mindfulness of doors”, but it involves bringing awareness to any transitions between spaces, when you leave one kind of space and enter another. Before you walk through a door, pause, even if only for a second, and take one breath. Be aware of the differences you might feel in each new space you enter.” (Mindfulness on the Go Cards by Jan Chozen Bays, MD)
Wanting more information about mindfulness for students and staff in the Abbotsford School District? Please contact Leslie.carter@abbyschools.ca.
LESLIE CARTER
District Youth Care Worker for SEL, Learning Support Services
