Each week we will offer a few bite-sized mindful moments for you to bring to your life and the lives of your students.
MINDFUL MOMENT FOR YOU: Kind thoughts
Pixabay
This time of year, as students have a harder time staying focused and engaging appropriately, it can be helpful to intentionally remind ourselves of what we truly want for them. Before school, consider a student who has been triggering to you.
Close your eyes and picture that student happy. Remind yourself: They want to be happy, to be healthy, to be safe, to feel loved.
Then, wish them that: May you be happy. May you be healthy. May you be safe. May you feel loved. Repeat it a few times. See if you can take a few breaths in and savor any kindness you feel for that student.
MINDFUL MOMENT FOR YOUR STUDENTS: The Snarling Dog
Wiki Commons
As students prepare for the end of the year, their nerves often start to fray and they may show less kindness towards one another. We can encourage our students to hold boundaries and speaking up for themselves in the context of compassion for the other person. It can be helpful to remind students that others tend to be cruel when they are hurting, not as an excuse, but to encourage a thoughtful response.
Try offering this story the next time a student feels like getting revenge:
"You are out for a walk when you come across a dog. As you reach out for it, it starts snarling and lunges. You jump back and start yelling at the dog, when you realize its leg is caught in a trap. The dog was reacting out of its own pain and frustration."