To change behaviours of students, staff and parents, the school’s culture needs to reflect one of mindfulness. This can be created in several ways but broadly involves communication, role modelling and whole-school activities.
Communication
- Newsletter items;
- Notes and flyers home to families;
- Discussion at assemblies;
- Discussion at staff meetings;
- Integration in to daily notices;
- Tips and reminders within school diaries or planners; and
- Information discussed at parent evenings.
Role Modelling
- Leadership Team role model mindful practices in all activities;
- Mindful activities modelled at staff meetings / professional development;
- Staff supported to practice mindfulness in stressful situations; and
- Staff encouraged to role model and help students to use mindful practice while managing student behaviour
Whole-school activities
- Assembly items and discussions;
- Incursions / Excursions;
- Whole-school activities such as Yoga, Zentangling, Meditations; and
- Extra-curricular activities offered (lunch time activities, before or after school).
Examples
What is it
Taking time to meditate or breathe before or during staff meetings.
How it works
Many organisations lead a 5-10 minute meditation before staff meetings. Schools can also commit to doing some deep breaths before a meetings commence.
Instructions
Have a member of the school faculty lead a meditation at the beginning of a staff meeting. You can use one of MMA's scripted or recorded meditations or one of Smiling Minds recorded meditations.
What is it
Using mindfulness to work with young people or staff who are emotionally triggered.
How it works
There are many techniques available for dealing with challenging behaviour in a mindful way. Schools may select a number of strategies to use throughout the school when dealing with behaviour issues.
Instructions
- Doing breath work before dealing with issues
- Dealing with issues in an outdoor setting not in an office
- Committing to a cool off period before discussing problems
- Recognising that some more challenging young people will not be able to take part in normal class activities some days and finding other ways they can help in the school
What is it
3-10 minute daily practice over the PA system.
How it works
Create a school wide commitment for doing one daily meditation over the PA. This can be done at the beginning of the year in school assemblies.
Instructions
Electing a member of staff or student to lead a daily mindfulness or meditation practice over the schools PA system. You can choose a recorded meditation from MMA or Smiling Mind or have a staff member or student deliver the meditation.
What is it
Sustainable way of embedding mindfulness
How it works
Mindfulness is linked to the values program to ensure its sustainability and to demonstrate its clear linkage to the school's current activities
Instructions
Look for ways to link mindfulness to the school's current Values (or similar) program. As every school will have a different set of values or way of embedding values, this integration process will look different in every school. Ideas for linking values to mindfulness include changing some of the values messages to reflect mindful practice.
What is it
Committed meditation after lunch or recess.
How it works
Create a school wide commitment for delivering a 5-10 minute practice after all breaks. Young people can take part in some quite time to calm and prepare for learning.
Instructions
Take part in MMA's Body Breath meditation if there is not much available time. For longer meditations a recording can be played or custom meditation can be delivered by a staff member. Links to suggested recorded meditations:
What is it
Continual promotion of mindfulness messages to families
How it works
Short reminders about mindfulness are added to weekly or fortnightly newsletters or family communication channels
Instructions
Use MMA newsletter items
What is it
Easy fast and effective practice.
How it works
This practice can be adopted school-wide with little training. It's purpose is to calm and reset. This can be done before dealing with issues, after breaks, in meetings, or on-the-spot throughout the day.
Instructions
What is it
Weekly and daily reminders for students and staff
How it works
Tips and reminders placed in the diary or planners before being printed/published by the school
What is it
School-wide wellbeing focused month.
How it works
Dedicating a month in each school year to wellbeing. The month can be advertised to parents, staff and young people and might include a mental health style activity everyday of the month to give young people some understanding of the different tools they can access for personal support.
Instructions
School might engage external facilitators to lead yoga, meditation and mindfulness workshops. Staff and young people might dedicate more time each day to mindfulness and meditation activities. The school might choose this month to learn about emotional regulation and mental health techniques.
What is it
Ongoing regular reminders to the whole-school community of mindfulness
How it works
If using PA announcements etc, the Principal or Deputy integrates mindfulness reminders on a regular basis
What is it
Students witnessing adults role modelling mindfulness
What is it
External agencies reinforcing mindfulness messages
Instructions
If you would like recommendations please contact MMA
What is it
Activities offered to support students who may require additional social or emotional support
How it works
Chess clubs, meditation groups, colouring or yoga sessions etc