Introduction to

Mindfulness for

Educational

Leaders

Melanie Fitzgerald, Ed.S. mafitzgerald@ssdmo.org

Learning Objectives Introduction to Mindfulness

How to use Mindfulness in your

professional and personal lives.

The importance of mindfulness in the

workplace, and how it can enhance

your leadership style

What is Wellness?

Health is a state of body...

Wellness is a State of Being...

What is Health?

MindfulnessAbout 52,000,000 results

MindfulnessAbout 122,000,000 results

What’s Your Number?

Practice Time

What is Mindfulness?

“Mindfulness means paying

attention in a particular way;

On purpose,

In the present moment, and

Nonjudgmentally.”John Kabat-Zinn

“You have got to continue to just stay in the

moment. When you stay in the moment,

good things happen, because everybody’s

just wrapped up in the process”. Steph Curry

Foundations of the Mindful Attitude

5. Non-striving: “Not doing”, accept things

are happening as they should be

6. Acceptance: Completely accepting your

thoughts, beliefs, sensations as they currently

are.

7. Non-attachment: Not attaching meaning

to thoughts and actions. Accept things are

temporary

1. Non-Judging: Be an impartial observer

2. Patience: Things develop in their own time

3. Beginner’s Mind: Observe as if it’s your first

time.

4. Trust: Have trust in yourself, your intuition and

your abilities.

Formal vs. Informal Practice

http://healthland.time.com/2014/01/22/learning-to-pay-attention-5-steps-to-mindfulness-meditation/

“How the mind develops is directly affected

by the experiences that that mind is

encouraged to have.”~ Dan Siegel

Neurons that fire together, wire together

Mindfulness

What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness is three attentional

skills working together:

Growing Momentum

It is a skill that needs to be

practiced, just like music, art, or

sports.

Introduced to medicine in 1979, mindfulness

is used at hundreds of hospitals around the

world, with a rapidly growing research base

that includes neuroscience and cross-

disciplinary studies.

Feb. 2014 TIME cover story

“The Mindful Revolution” described how

mindfulness is being used in corporations,

education, medicine, and even the military.

Mindful Schools was chosen to represent

mindfulness in education.

PBS Specials: Room to Breath and Healthy

Habits of Mind

Non-reactivity, The

ability to let sensory

experience come and go

without push or pull.

Increased awareness of

thoughts, emotions,

senses, and external

behaviors.

The ability to focus on

what you want, when

you want.

© 2015 Mindful Schools

Benefits of MindfulnessAttention

Strengthens our “mental muscle”

for bringing our focus back where

we want it, when we want it.

Adaptability

Becoming aware of our patterns

enables us to gradually change

habitual behaviors wisely.

Compassion

Awareness of our own thoughts,

emotions, and senses grows our

understanding of what other people

are experiencing.

Resilience

Seeing things objectively reduces

the amount of narrative we add to

the world’s natural ups and

downs, giving us greater balance.

Emotional Regulation

Observing our emotions helps us

recognize when they occur, to see

their transient nature, and to

change how we respond to them.

Calming

Breathing and other mindfulness

practices relax the body and mind,

giving access to peace

independent of external

circumstances.

© 2015 Mindful Schools

Mindfulness in Ed = A Three Part Cycle

Chris McKenna 2016 Mindfulness in Education Keynote

© 2015 Mindful Schools

“Your internal state is going to be the determining factor of whether staff and students are going to be able to attune, regulate and learn. “

Chris McKennaProgram Director Mindfulschools.org

Mindful Teaching

© 2015 Mindful Schools

Mindfulness is not:

© 2015 Mindful Schools

Mindless Response Mindful Response

Automatic Pilot Clear and Alert

Reactive Impulsive

Behaviors

Based on Fact

Attention to Past and

Future

Awareness of the

Moment

Judging Non-Judging

Lost in Reaction Calm/Effective

Avoid situations, thoughts

and emotions

Acceptance

Mindfulness in Education

Schools and

organizations are

bringing contemplative

practices to youth in

classrooms.

Mindful SchoolsMission:

Mindful Schools teaches

children in public and private

elementary schools how to be

more mindful of their thoughts

and actions. The program

brings dramatic improvements

in concentration, attention,

conflict resolution, and empathy

among students, building a

calm climate in the classroom.

© 2015 Mindful Schools

Mindful Schools Curriculum

Mindful Bodies

Mindful Listening

Mindfulness of Breathing

Heartfulness

Body Awareness

Generosity

Mindful Seeing

Mindful Movement & Walking

Kind and Caring on the Playground

Mindful Eating

Mindfulness of Thoughts

The Results Are InThis information is based on recent evaluations of 702 Students

59% say it helps them focus better in the classroom

61% say it helps them calm down when they are upset.

93% of students say learning mindfulness has helped them in their life

in some way:

52% say it helps them make decisions.

Teachers say they have seen 78% of their students benefit

from mindfulness.

96% of teachers say they have benefited personally.

94% of teachers say they will continue using

mindfulness in their classes.

Practice Time

What’s your number?

Tools & Apps for Mindfulness

Resources:

❖Mindfulness for Beginners: Jon Kabat-Zinn

❖Sitting Still Like a Frog: Eline Snel

❖Peace Is Every Step: Thich Nhat Hanh

❖Mindful Schools.Org

❖http://www.figur8.net/mindfulness-resources-for-

families/

❖Mindfulness/Yoga In the Classroom and the

Real World Linda Peterson, M.A, LPC Sarah

Bodi, M.A Hixson Middle School.

❖Slideshare Mindfulness and Motivation in the

classroomTeacher Raúl Ramírez A.

❖ Dr. Kasim Al-Mashat: TedxSF How

mindfulness meditation redefines pain, happiness,

and Satisfaction

❖The MindUp Curriculum: Grades Pre-K - 2nd,

Grades 3rd – 5th, Grades 6th - 8th

Harvard Business Review: Mindfulness Can

Literally Change Your Brain: C Congleton, B

Holzel, & S Lazar

Breathe, Chill: a handy book of games &

techniques introducing breathing, meditation,

& relaxation to kids & teens: Lisa Roberts

Melanie Fitzgerald, Ed.S.

mafitzgerald@ssdmo.org

Resources:

Mindfulness for Beginners: Jon Kabat-Zinn

Sitting Still Like a Frog: Eline Snel

Peace Is Every Step: Thich Nhat Hanh

Mindful Schools. Org

Mindfulness with Children: ppp with Daniel

Rechtschaffen

Mindfulness in Play Therapy:Tracy Turner-

Bumberry LPC, RPT-S; March 8, 2014

Mindfulness/Yoga In the Classroom and the

Real World Linda Peterson, M.A, LPC Sarah

Bodi, M.A Hixson Middle School.