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Mindful Schools Programs

What is Mindfulness?

 

What value does mindfulness offer us as individuals, families, cohorts and communities?

 

What role could mindfulness play in your life? 

 

I discovered mindfulness meditation in my early 20's as a part of my healing journey after attempting suicide.  "The Great Depression of 97," as I call it, was a time of giving up and getting lost in hopelessness, I was 19.  A couple of years later, after I had stabilized and began seeking knowledge again, I stumbled upon some of the greatest teachers of my life. His Holiness the Dalia Lama inspired me deeply and led me to begin a practice of meditation.  In 2010, I discovered the powerful teaching/ learning pedagogy, InterPlay (interplay.org) and realized very quickly that these methods were teaching mindfulness through play and were accessible to any and all people, no matter their belief or ability level. In 2015, I was working as a Trauma Outreach Coordinator and doing Resilience Education for the KCPD and other local human service organizations in the KC metro; I realized that I really needed to develop my ability to share the power of mindfulness in a clearly non-religious way.  I had experienced the gift of mindfulness for my self, but I couldn't share it in the same way with most people.  Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction or MBSR is a comprehensive model of teaching mindfulness that has been researched extensively and has been shown to have dramatic results for those who commit to a regular practice. 

 

During this 2 hour Orientation to Mindfulness, participants will:

  • Learn key findings about mindfulness and stress from the work of Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D.

  • Experience 3 different types of mindfulness practice

  • Identify next steps for developing  your practice (apps, daily practice, retreats and finding a teacher)

  • Learn about the Mindful Schools Program that I offer for youth in Pre-K through 12th grade

 

 

An introduction to Mindfulness could be 30 to 60 minutes, if you prefer to fit this into a meeting or integrate into an event.

 

Orientation to Mindfulness

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Mindful Schools

By Beth Sarver

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Mindful Schools Curriculum

Mindful Schools Program Description:

Our in-class, school-wide program may be the most effective way to introduce and integrate mindfulness into your school community. It includes:

  • 16 lessons in each class (visiting classes for 15 minutes 2x/week)

  • Mindfulness bells for each class

  • Mindfulness workbooks for each student

  • A Classroom Teacher Manual for all teachers

  • Three additional 30-minute teacher and staff trainings

  • One additional 1 hr parent training

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Outcomes:

Mindfulness supports the social-emotional goals of many schools in the current educational environment. A growing body of research and neuroscience has shown many benefits of mindfulness:

  • Better focus and concentration

  • Increased sense of calm

  • Decreased stress & anxiety

  • Enhanced health

  • Improved impulse control

  • Increased self-awareness

  • Skillful responses to difficult emotions

  • Increased empathy and understanding of others

  • Development of natural conflict resolution skills

 

The first step is easy and free.  Schedule a 45 minute information session for staff and/ or parents.

Bring Mindfulness 
training to your school. 

Lessons:

  • Mindful Bodies

  • Mindful Listening

  • Mindfulness of Breathing

  • Sending Kind Thoughts

  • Body Awareness

  • Generosity

  • Mindful Seeing

  • Mindful Movement & Walking

  • Kind and Caring on the Playground

  • Mindful Eating

  • Mindfulness of Thoughts

  • Gratitude

  • Mindful Test Taking

  • Mindfulness of Emotions

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Choose your own adventure!

Mindful Schools Curriculum + InterPlay + Brain Education + Arts Integration = Endless Possibilities!

 

In the Spring of 2017, while working at the Academy for Integrated Arts in KCMO, I was blessed to develop a pilot recipe for delivering all of these possibilities to a Pre-K/ Kindergarten class, in collaboration with KU Medical School's Occupational Therapy Masters program.  The images speak for themselves.

 

Brain Sculpture
The Prefrontal Cortex
Embodied Emotions
Collaboration
Embodied Silliness
Mindful Body
Surprise!
Moment of Deep Calm
Peaceful
Community of Practice
Just breathing
A Moment of Peace
Connection
Bottle of Memories
Kindness Tree
Close your eyes
Wild to Anchored
Anchor Breath
Wild to Anchored Again
Mindful Playful
Mindful Anchor
Free 45-minute presentation:

The first step in pursuing an in-class program is to schedule a free 45-minute presentation for your staff. We highly recommend scheduling a free presentation for parents and guardians as well. This presentation includes:

  • Definition and background of mindfulness

  • Summary of the work of Mindful Schools

  • Benefits seen in children

  • Demonstration of some of the lessons we do with the kids so the adults get an experiential understanding of mindfulness

  • Summary of research and neuroscience supporting mindfulness

  • Description of program and what it looks like in the classroom

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