With the events of the pandemic a more urgent light has been shown on mental health and children. We are thinking about the trauma this experience has brought for students and how we can best help them. If we fail to provide social-emotional security their ability to learn will by significantly impacted. Thomas Armstrong's book, Mindfulness in the Classroom: Strategies for Promoting Concentration, Compassion and Calm, addresses meeting the SEL needs of students. Since the book is a pre-pandemic one, its references are particularly important as doable in ordinary times, not just these extraordinary ones that we find ourselves in now.
Armstrong makes a strong case for addressing the needs of students through secular approaches to mindfulness. References, even unintended ones, are likely to derail the work. Throughout the text he comments on how to approach the activity from a non-religious stance.
Since stress is on the rise in children, it is critical to teach students how to deal with it. As stress increases, people lose their ability to cope with challenges, cortisol interferes with learning. He is careful in advising against using mindfulness as a reactive discipline strategy. Mindfulness chairs that are new names for time out, do not contribute to reduced stress and increased capacity for self-control.
He suggests working to help students become aware of being present, being ok with distractions and being able to redirect their thoughts. His book includes an appendix with many resources for mindfulness ranging from apps, to children's books to training materials and sources. This text is more of a rationale for mindful practice than a how to manual.
I found it interesting that he talks about mindful breathing. Being still and thinking about breathing. Since we know that physiologically deep breaths relax the body, practicing mindful breathing before stressful situations, like a test or even the beginning of the day, may help students be more successful in school. If we can give students tools to address stress, we are empowering them in future. Life is, after all, stressful at times.
For someone on the fence about mindfulness, this book presents an easy to read explanation of why it might be helpful to kids. It shares how to keep parents aware of what is involved and how to avoid first amendment challenges. A well written book that outlines a program that could greatly impact students.
